| Suzanne Graham (540) 831-6846 | Keli Bradbury (540) 831-7733 |
The Learning Disabilities in Mathematics Resources page includes links to two new VDOE companion guides. Check out Students with Disabilities in Mathematics: Frequently Asked Questions and Evidence-Based Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics.
Also check out Co-Teaching Mathematics Instructional Plans that utilize the six common co-teaching approaches: teaming, station teaching, parallel teaching, alternative teaching, one teaching/one assisting, and one teaching/one observing. These plans contain suggestions as to how co-teachers can effectively utilize the expertise of each teacher to enhance lessons and activities in a co-taught classroom. These co-teaching plans were created and modified by a select group of Virginia teachers participating in the Excellence for Co-teaching Initiative. These plans align instruction with the expectations of the 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning, and were vetted by VDOE content and special education specialists.
The goal of the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative is to provide a professional development model that promotes access to the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, recognizing effective co-teaching practices – especially in the areas of reading and math, and supporting teacher leaders.
In 2014, in an effort to promote and improve the implementation of co-teaching throughout Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education chose classrooms across the state that exemplify best practice in co-teaching to serve as demonstration sites, offering opportunities for others to observe model co-taught classrooms in action. These teachers also developed co-taught lesson plans and videos to share. In their videos, teachers showcase not only co-instructing in the classroom, but co-assessing and co-planning as well. A series of webshops showcase the products created by real co-teachers of Virginia.
Teachers and administrators are also encouraged to visit these demonstration sites. Contact the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at Radford University or Virginia Tech to determine which sites are open for visitation..
In addition, teachers who are unable to visit a demonstration site can learn about co-teaching online through the Real Co-Teachers of Virginia webshops. In addition to general information about co-teaching, the webshops include videos of demonstration site co-teachers as they co-plan, co-instruct and co-assess; SOL Enhanced Scope & Sequence Lesson Plans adapted for co-teaching; and a variety of resources. These webshops can be accessed through TTAC Online at Real Co-Teachers of Virginia.