Co-Teaching That Works: Laying the Foundation for Real Inclusion

Co-teaching is more than sharing a room. It’s about sharing a vision, two educators working side by side, blending their expertise to support all students, especially those who need differentiated instruction the most. But how do you make co-teaching truly effective, not just in theory, but in everyday practice?

At Layered Education, we believe co-teaching works when it is intentional, relational, and equitable. This blog post explores the foundational practices that make co-teaching thrive in inclusive classrooms from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

What Is Co-Teaching?

At its core, co-teaching is a service-delivery model where two certified professionals, often a general education teacher and a special education teacher, collaborate to plan, instruct, and assess the same group of students in a shared space. It’s grounded in:

• Parity (shared responsibility and status)

• Collaboration (both teachers are equal partners)

• Student-centered inclusion (students learn together, supported by diverse expertise)

This isn’t a push-in model or a split classroom. Co-teaching is a shared partnership where both teachers bring their strengths to ensure all students have access to high-quality, grade-level content.

Why Co-Teaching Fails—and How to Avoid It

Many co-teaching arrangements fall short because they lack structure, support, or clarity. Without leadership backing, common planning time, and professional development, co-teaching often turns into a glorified aide model, with one teacher leading and the other “assisting.”

Here’s how to avoid that trap:

• Leadership Buy-in: Administrators must value and schedule dedicated planning time.

• Defined Roles: Both teachers must be clear on who leads what, and when.

• Ongoing Coaching: Like any skill, co-teaching requires professional growth and support.

The Five Pillars of Successful Co-Teaching

According to Glynis Shulters, successful co-teaching isn’t just about what happens during the lesson. It starts long before instruction and continues long after. Here are the five essential components:

1. Strong Relationships

Co-teaching is like a marriage, it requires trust, vulnerability, and constant communication. Teachers must:

• Get to know each other’s values and strengths

• Establish shared norms (e.g., conflict resolution, lesson ownership)

• Use fun and low-pressure “get-to-know-you” games to build trust

When two teachers function as one team, students benefit from a unified classroom culture.

2. Shared Vision and Goals

When co-teachers align on what success looks like for students, daily decisions become easier. Shared goals clarify:

• What both teachers want students to experience

• Who does what (roles, grading, instruction)

• How progress will be measured

A strong vision turns two voices into one message of high expectations and belief.

3. Defined Roles and Responsibilities

Without clear roles, classrooms fall into chaos, or worse, one teacher becomes the “assistant.” Glynis encourages co-teachers to:

• List and divide instructional tasks

• Switch lead roles throughout lessons

• Use tools like parity checklists and shared planning templates

Clarity equals consistency, for teachers, students, and families.

4. Parity and Visibility

To truly model equity, both teachers must be equally visible and valued. This means:

• Both names on the board, schedule, and parent emails

• Rotating lead roles in instruction

• Speaking in “we” language (“our students,” “we decided…”)

Parity changes how students see teachers, and how they see themselves.

5. Aligned Policies and Norms

Discipline, grading, participation, every classroom routine must feel co-owned. Students thrive in environments where expectations don’t shift based on who’s in front of the room.

• Align on logistics: bathroom use, late work, tech rules

• Create common behavior expectations and parent communication norms

• Use co-developed procedures for routines like turning in work or asking for help

Real Talk: It’s Not Always Easy

Even when teachers respect each other deeply, co-teaching can be messy, emotional, and complex. But with honest conversations and a shared commitment to the “why,” you can overcome the tough moments.

Co-teaching that works is co-teaching that evolves. It’s not static, it’s responsive. The best co-teaching teams constantly reflect, realign, and reinvest in each other for the benefit of their students.

Final Thoughts

Inclusive education is not a buzzword, it’s a right. And co-teaching is one of the most powerful tools we have to make that right a reality for all students.

At Layered Education, we believe co-teaching only works when both educators are seen, supported, and equipped. When schools commit to building strong partnerships rooted in trust, shared responsibility, and vision, classrooms become inclusive communities where every learner can thrive.

Stay tuned, our next blog will explore co-planning strategies that actually work (and don’t eat up your weekends!).