Preservice general educators using co-teaching models in math and science classrooms of an urban teacher residency programme: learning inclusive practices in teacher training

ABSTRACT

As schools adopt more inclusive practices, educators increasingly collaborate and co-teach to meet the needs of diverse learners. Co-teaching has been found to have benefits for students across elementary and secondary grades. However, there is a need for teacher educators to provide more preservice training in collaboration and in co-teaching. This mixed method study describes the experience of 20 general education teacher candidates, or residents, using co-teaching models to differentiate instruction with their mentor teachers in high school math and science classrooms of a yearlong urban teacher residency programme. Data included surveys on co-teaching and resident evaluations of lessons co-taught with their mentors, and how these practices influence inclusion of children with special needs. Findings indicate some comfort and effectiveness at implementing co-teaching models in the residency. Implications for preparing preservice general educators using co-teaching models in residency are shared.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-teaching
• teacher residency
• teacher preparation
• preservice general educators

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Leila Ansari Ricci, Ph.D., an Associate Professor at California State University, Los Angeles, is the program coordinator of the Special Education pathway of the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency Program.

Kimberly Persiani, Ed.D., a Professor at California State University, Los Angeles, is the program coordinator of the Single Subject pathway of the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency Program.

A. Dee Williams, Ph.D., a Professor at California State University, Los Angeles, is the Principal Investigator of the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency program.

Yvonne Ribas is the Recruitment Director of the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency program.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by U.S. Department of Education.