Primary Authors: 2018-2019 Co-Teaching Teams
Chesterfield County – Bensley Elementary School
Kindergarten: Kelly McDougald and Caitlin Reynal
Henrico County – Crestview Elementary School
Reading and Math 4: Terri Crenshaw and Virginia Willis
Henrico County – Dumbarton Elementary School
Grade 3: Kerry Ball and Corryn Moore
Algebra 1: Betsey Batten and Nicole Hegedus
Suffolk – Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School
Math 8: Leslie Kelley and Patricia Waegerle
Virginia Beach – Three Oaks Elementary School
Math 4: Allison Sansone and Dena Sciacchitano Math 5: Kathy Horan and Tracey Wernikowski
Gloucester County – Page Middle School
Civics 8: Dana Cooper and Brian Teucke
Spotsylvania County – Livingston Elementary School
Math 4: Michael Hurley and Carolyn Laudicina
Culpeper County – Emerald Hill Elementary School
Math 1: Tammy Bradshaw and Erica Hoy
Culpeper County – Eastern View High School
Algebra 1: Rachel Berkstresser and Caitlin Moss
Loudoun County – Discovery Elementary School
Grade 2: Lisa DiLorenzo and Laura Rosa Grade 3: Danielle Benteler and Sarina Marine Loudoun County – Harmony Middle School
English 8: Meghann Donohue and Teresa Weis
Campbell County – Leesville Road Elementary School
Reading and Math 4: Kim Jacobs and Tina Williams
English 9, 10, 11: David Marino and Rosanne Wykes
Botetourt County – Central Academy Middle School
Math 7 and Pre-Algebra 8: Rebecca Clendenin and Carolyn Hoyt English 8: Pamela Austin and Laura Selkirk
Franklin County – Benjamin Franklin Middle School
English 7: Angela Barbour and Amy Whittaker
Montgomery County – Blacksburg High School
English 11: Cindy Falke and Jennifer Mayotte
Roanoke County – Northside Middle School
Math 6: Molly Carrol and Lynae Young
Roanoke County – William Bird Middle School
Math 7: Jennifer Cain and Jill Meachum
Roanoke County – Hidden Valley High School
World Geography 9: Tammie Sinnes and Shelley Winterer
Tazewell County – Richlands Middle School
Math 6: Virginia Justus and Amanda O’Quinn
Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC)
The Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative has achieved significant success largely because of the dedicated efforts of TTAC coordinators and specialists who facilitated the project throughout Virginia.
The Superintendent’s Regions have played a crucial role in the success of the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative by providing essential support in observing demonstration site classes, assisting teams in preparing their classrooms for visitors, facilitating professional development, and coaching teams through their assignments.
The Training and Technical Assistance Centers (TTAC) in Virginia aim to enhance educational opportunities for children and youth with disabilities, ages birth to 22 By increasing the capacity of schools, personnel, service providers, and families, TTAC addresses the unique needs of these individuals Their mission supports state improvement goals for personnel development, focusing on enhancing the knowledge and skills of those working with disabled youth TTAC offers a range of services, including professional development, regional training, individual consultations, library loans, and referral services.
Each TTAC is staffed with members of the Virginia Strategic Instruction Model (SIM) Professional Developers Network, who have delivered instruction at summer institutes and academies focusing on Content Enhancement Routines and Learning Strategies.
The University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning (KU-CRL) provides instructional coaching for teachers involved in a micro-credentialing process, ensuring the effective implementation of teaching strategies They also support educators seeking credentials to teach these routines to others Over 500 SIM micro-credentials have been awarded to teachers who participated in the Excellence in Co-Teaching summer institutes and academies.
Discover the locations of each TTAC, complete with links to their websites These sites offer a wealth of resources focused on inclusion and co-teaching, featuring articles, training modules, interview podcasts, and videos.
The K-12 Inclusive Practices Guide serves as a valuable resource for school divisions and parents aiming to enhance educational outcomes for students with disabilities It emphasizes the importance of addressing the diverse needs of these students within general education settings to ensure they receive the support necessary for their success.
Real Co-Teachers of Virginia – Elementary
Real Co-Teachers of Virginia – Middle/High
Real Co-Teachers of Virginia Discuss High Leverage Practices (HLPs) – Elementary
Real Co-Teachers of Virginia Discuss High Leverage Practices (HLPs) – Middle/High
The TTAC Online eWorkshops and webshops provide essential insights into co-teaching, featuring videos and lesson plans developed by demonstration site teams as part of the VDOE’s Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative.
This document provides links to various eWorkshops and webshops, allowing readers to create a free TTAC Online account with their email and password After logging in, users can easily navigate between links Virginia teachers may earn recertification points by participating in these online trainings Upon completing a webshop and its evaluation, a certificate of completion will be generated, detailing the time spent on the webshop, which can be submitted to a supervisor for recertification points All certificates are stored in the My TTAC Online Account.
Virginia Tech Co-Teaching Resources
This link on the Virginia Tech TTACC website includes webinars, podcasts and free downloadable resources shared by leading co-teaching advocates
William and Mary Co-Teaching Considerations Packet
“This Considerations Packet provides basic information to professionals currently engaged in or considering adopting a co-teaching model to support students with mild/moderate disabilities in general education classrooms.”
GoOpenVA empowers Virginia educators and learners to create, share, and utilize digital resources, aiming to ensure equitable access to high-quality learning materials across the state and fostering innovative teaching and learning methods for everyone.
While this list is not comprehensive or officially endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education, the web resources provided in the following sections have been recommended by the main authors and contributors to improve co-teaching practices.
Resources of Contributors to Annual Initiative Institutes
“This website is dedicated to providing information and resources to educators and parents about co-teaching and helping them in problem solving to ensure student success.” (Marilyn Friend, Inc.)
Inclusion and Beyond (Lisa Dieker)
This website showcases video interviews of Dr Dieker discussing students with disabilities and co-teaching, as well as other resources
The Inclusive Schools Network (ISN) is an online educational resource dedicated to families, schools, and communities, aimed at promoting inclusive educational practices Sponsored by Stetson and Associates, Inc., ISN's mission is to inspire and empower individuals to create and implement effective inclusive schools by sharing valuable insights, best practices, and fostering connections.
KU-CRL Content Enhancement Routines
The Content Enhancement instructional method utilizes effective teaching strategies to structure and deliver curriculum content in a clear and accessible way Educators select essential content and employ a well-crafted teaching routine that actively involves students, enhancing their engagement and understanding of the material.
Learning Strategies - The Strategic Instruction Model (SIM)
Students utilize SIM Learning Strategies to enhance their comprehension and problem-solving abilities This instructional approach emphasizes active learning, encouraging students to engage with information more effectively.
Resources and Teaching Tools - Instructional Coaching Group
This collection of coaching resources features the Radical Learners blog, Jim Knight’s books, and a variety of complementary tools, including videos, presentations, coaching toolkits, and research articles These resources are specifically designed to support coaches, teachers, and leaders in advancing their professional development.
Co-Teaching Core Competency Framework
The innovative competency-based framework emphasizes easily identifiable and assessable domains and competencies, enabling quick observation and refinement This approach empowers teams to collaborate independently, with peers, or alongside administrators to pinpoint areas for improvement based on observational data.
The IRL serves as your comprehensive portal to a variety of modules, case studies, and activities It allows you to customize your search by topic, resource type, media format, age group, and grade level, covering everything from accommodations to transitions and beyond.
Our services and resources empower K-12 teachers to effectively design and facilitate high-quality Project Based Learning We also support school leaders in fostering a culture that enables teachers to implement impactful projects for all students.
Technology Resources Recommended by “Real Co-Teachers of Virginia”
Audio Exam Creator offers a fast and simple solution for recording test questions for students with print disabilities requiring read-aloud accommodations The free Audio Exam Player allows students to independently listen to test questions in either human or mechanical speech, enhancing their exam experience Many students who previously declined read-aloud testing are now enthusiastic about using this app for their assessments.
“Engage and empower every voice in your classroom or at home by recording and sharing short, awesome videos together!”
Google Keep allows you to effortlessly capture ideas using your voice, enhance notes with images, and manage your tasks by checking them off your to-do list This versatile tool enables you to create, share, and collaborate on notes and lists with others With seamless synchronization across all your devices, your notes and lists are always accessible, no matter where you are.
“Nearpod is an instructional platform that merges formative assessment and dynamic media for collaborative learning experiences.”
“Collaborate better Be more productive Make beautiful boards, documents, and webpages that are easy to read and fun to contribute to.”
“Free gamified quizzes for every subject to play in class and at home Pick an existing quiz or create your own for review, formative assessment, and more.”
A SMARTBoard, developed by SMART Technologies, is an interactive, touch-sensitive display that connects to a projector and a computer, offering users an enlarged version of their computer screen for enhanced collaboration and engagement.