Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 10)What if the biggest barrier to learning isn’t what students know—but how their brains manage focus, emotions, and flexibility?  In this episode, we tap into the wealth of experience that Lynn Everett, Coordinator of Inclusive Practices at the Virginia Tech T/TAC has acquired over her nearly 40 year career in education. Join us as we dive into an executive function and self-regulation skills curriculum for students with autism and ADHD - Unstuck and On Target.More information about this curriculum may be found at their website - unstuckandontarget.com. Their materials include:Solving Executive Function Challenges: Simple Ways to get Kids with Autism Unstuck and On TargetUnstuck and On Target: An Executive Function Curriculum to Improve Flexibility, Planning, and Organization for students ages 8-11Unstuck and On Target: An Executive Function Curriculum to Improve Flexibility, Planning, and Organization for students ages 11-15Unstuck and On Target: An Executive Function Curriculum to Improve Flexibility, Planning, and Organization for students ages 14-22 (releases March 11, 2026)Parent Education Videos in English and SpanishParent Videos Tip Sheet in English and Spanish Unstuck and On Target video library on YoutubeFollow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 9)Engagement isn’t about calling on more students—it’s about designing lessons where everyone participates. Today, we’re learning how from the experts who wrote the book on getting every student engaged. In this episode, we speak with Pérsida and William Himmele, authors and educators, about the 3rd edition of their seminal book, Total Participation Techniques: Making Every Student an Active Learner (ASCD, Jan 2026). This edition builds on years of classroom practice and research to help teachers create deeply engaging learning environments where every student participates and demonstrates understanding. Check out the 1st or 2nd edition from our VT T/TAC Library.Listen as Pérsida and Bill discuss the importance of the Ripple - the idea of prompting each learner to think first before giving them an opportunity to share with peers and finally calling on a few students to report out to the whole class. The Himmele’s shared with us a poster to remind teachers to use the Ripple as well as a planning document for analyzing lessons based on the Cognitive Engagement Quadrants.Total Participation Techniques has been a key strategy during our coaching sessions with many co-teaching teams. The 1st edition contained 37 instructional ideas for engaging all learners. The 2nd edition included 51 techniques along with a chapter dedicated to wrapping up the lesson. We can’t wait to get our hands on the 3rd edition (scheduled to be released on February 13, 2026) to see how many new ideas the Himmele have compiled.Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode8)Sometimes the most effective teaching isn’t taught in a course—it’s learned in the classroom, one student at a time. In this episode, Lauren Catherwood-Ginn, Project Coordinator at the T/TAC at Radford University, reveals that as a new teacher, she had no formal training in co-teaching. Instead, she relied on intuition—working closely with her special education co-teacher to use small-group instruction informed by informal, anecdotal data. A key concern discussed is the piecemeal instruction many students receive from multiple adults throughout the day. This often results in disjointed learning experiences and highly complex schedules for special educators to manage. Lauren emphasizes that school teams need protected time to talk, plan, and problem-solve together in order to create cohesive and meaningful learning opportunities for students. Changes implemented based on the Virginia Literacy Act have led to a shift from the traditional role of reading specialists. Teachers are benefiting from embedded coaching and support that helps improve outcomes for all students.Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 7)Access changes everything! In this episode, Matt Newton, Coordinator of Assistive and Instructional Technology at the T/TAC at Virginia Tech and Statewide Distance Education and Assistive Technology Co-Leader, shares how innovative tools and intentional practices are transforming learning experiences for students and educators alike.Some resources mentioned in this episode include:The Communication Toolkit Podcast interview with Matt Newton focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI).Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services (QIAT) website.Regional T/TACs each have a state Assistive Technology (AT) contact.Google accessibility features.Virginia’s AT Network website.Virginia Assistive Technology Tools and Strategies (VATTS):  Consideration and Assessment Guidance Document.Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 6)Ever consider co-teaching with your Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)? In this lively and in-depth conversation, meet Kristy Hill, Coordinator of Communication and Assistive Technology at the Virginia Tech T/TAC.  Kristy gives us a behind the scenes look at a day in the life of a school-based speech and language pathologist. Other topics include:Considerations for scheduling SLP servicesPotential impacts of coordinating servicesImportance of modeling, wait time, and providing visual cuesCreative ways to train paraeducators especially on the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices Involving families in decision makingBenefits of an SLP addressing Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals through grade level curriculum materialsImpact of House Bill 2219Strategies for transitioning students from being assessed on the Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOL) to Standards of Learning (SOL) - Navigating the TransitionPush-in therapy sessions and billing MedicaidFollow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 5)What happens when families and educators truly partner to support every learner? We sat down with Diann Eaton, Co-Director of the T/TAC at Virginia Tech, to explore how co-teaching and family engagement can transform classrooms and strengthen school communities.During this conversation, Diann mentions a variety of recommended resources for families including:Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) - specific to Virginia - website includes an opportunity to subscribe to their newsletter The Virginia Family’s Guide to Special Education from the Virginia Department of EducationCritical Decision Points from the I’m Determined Project - helps families navigate key milestones during their child’s educationVirginia Family Special Education Connection - comprehensive website to support familiesChoosing Outcomes and Accommodations for Children (COACH 3) - available from our lending libraryFollow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 4)High-leverage practices (HLPs) — it’s one of the biggest buzzwords in special education right now. But how do these practices actually inform what co-teachers do? We sat down with Dr. Jocelyn Washburn, one of the authors of recent HLP books, to dig into her personal experience with co-teaching and how these strategies impact real classrooms.Related books:High Leverage Practices in Inclusive Classrooms - Available for checkout from our libraryHigh Leverage Practices for Intensive Interventions - Available for checkout from our libraryComing in 2026: High Leverage Practices for Inclusive Classrooms 3rd Edition.Learn more about Dr. Washburn’s research and writings. Pillar graphic of 22 HLPs for Students with Disabilities.Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 3)Chapter 1 exploration- Kitty and Sue rank the “Co-Teaching Spokes” from Co-Teaching Do’s, Don’ts, and Do Betters” by Wendy Murawski and Toby Karten. This conversation delves into the principles of co-teaching as outlined in the book 'Co-Teaching Do's, Don'ts and Do-Betters' by Toby Karten and Wendy Murowski. The hosts discuss their rankings of co-teaching priorities, the importance of instructional models, behavioral interventions, and the integration of social emotional learning. They explore the nuances of MTSS and PBIS, and how differentiated instruction and UDL play a role in effective teaching practices. The conversation emphasizes the interconnectedness of these concepts and the need for collaboration between general and special educators.To see the transcript for this episode, click here.TakeawaysThe foundational principles of co-teaching are interconnected.Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) is crucial for special education.Universal Design for Learning (UDL) accommodates diverse learners.Co-teaching models enhance instructional delivery.Behavioral interventions are essential for student success.MTSS and PBIS are frameworks for supporting students' needs.Differentiated instruction tailors learning to individual students.Social emotional learning should be integrated into all lessons.Effective co-teaching requires collaboration and shared expertise.Understanding by design is key to effective lesson planning.To see Figure 1.1, The Co-Teaching SpokesTo see the Relevance Wheel from Total Participation Techniques

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 3 Episode 2)Ever wonder how authors or presenters develop a passion for their content? Listen as Toby Karten reveals how her cousin sparked her interest in teaching students with disabilities way back in fourth grade. Toby is a prolific author. Throughout this season we will be using Co-teaching Do’s, Don’ts, and Do Betters as the jumping off point for discussion and interview topics for this podcast. To learn more about Toby:Karten’s Inclusion Conversation PodcastThe A.D.M.I.R.E. Framework for InclusionAmazon AuthorASCD AuthorSolution Tree AuthorCorwin AuthorNPR AuthorTo connection with Toby:Facebook: Inclusion Education ServicesInstagram https://www.instagram.com/tobyjkarten/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tkarten/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-karten-2022a621Web: http://www.inclusionworkshops.com/X: TobyKarten@TJK2INCLUDE Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Listen as Dr. Wendy Murawski reveals how she unintentionally became a teacher and fell in love with collaborating with other professionals. Now she travels around the globe championing inclusive education. In this episode she discusses her personal journey of becoming a  co-teaching advocate and some of the research she is conducting overseas in this area.Wendy is a prolific author. Two of her recent books that are highlighted in this discussion are Co-teaching Do’s, Don’ts, and Do Betters and Connecting High-Leverage Practices to Student Success. If you would like to create a professional learning community around one of these texts, here are book study guides to help you structure your learning.Book Study Guide for Co-teaching Do’s, Don’ts, and Do BettersBook Study Guide for Connecting High-Leverage Practices to Student SuccessDr. Murawski’s energy is contagious. If you are looking for an opportunity to engage with Wendy in person, plan to attend the Virginia Council for Exceptional Children Conference in Harrisonburg on November 14-15th. Our second episode (coming in early October), will focus on Wendy’s latest book, Practical Strategies for Managing a Diverse Classroom. In this book, Wendy addresses disruptive behavior, noncompliance, lack of motivation, social-emotional challenges, and so many other practical predicaments facing teachers today. You won’t want to miss this discussion.Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Connect with Wendy at 2teachllc.comSubscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://otter.ai/u/cIXfauY38-brfWgErdMDKqtPILo?utm_source=copy_url.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 15) This discussion features Candace Acousta - the lead English Learner teacher from Galax Elementary School. After describing her professional experience which started in high school, Candace shares how she began her co-teaching journey in a 7th grade English classroom alongside a well-organized general education teacher and flexible special education teacher. This school year, Candace has focused on the needs of newcomers within her school. You won’t want to miss her many ideas related to co-planning, embedding language support, scaffolding participation, and acknowledging cultural assets.This is our final episode for the 2024-2025 school year. Look for our next podcast release in September of 2025 for season 3 of Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee.Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c1UP43SSHcIff5R6wwpILyDA-jSAYzrOZgbbpB49nkE/edit?usp=drive_link.

During our last episode with Shelly Boggess from Giles High School, the hot topic of scheduling came up. Today, we are exploring ideas to consider when tackling the master schedule.Links to resources mentioned in this discussion:Scheduling DocumentCreative Co-Planning Ideas  In our next episode (coming in early May), we will discuss co-teaching with Candace Acousta from an English Language Development teacher’s perspective.Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching, such as a Roles and Responsibilities checklist like the Giles team used and an overview of the co-teaching models/approaches.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech.  To get a copy of a transcript for today's podcast click here.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 13) Ever wonder what it takes to be the first school to start a successful co-teaching model within your school division?  Meet Shelly Boggess, Principal of Giles High School. Shelly was the driving force behind the introduction of co-teaching at her school and has remained a steadfast advocate for it. In this conversation, learn about her role as neutral mediator when conflicts arise, her commitment to sending all co-teaching teams to professional development together, her method for creating a master schedule that ensures co-planning time, and so many more important topics. Just in time as you are beginning to plan for the upcoming school year, our next episode (coming in late April) will focus on best practices for scheduling co-teaching.Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech.  Click here for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 12)During our last episode with Keli Bradbury and Suzanne Graham from the Radford University Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) the book, Connecting High Leverage Practices to Student Success: Collaboration in Inclusive Classrooms by Melissa Jenkins and Wendy Murawsk, was mentioned as a go to resource.  Participants in the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative for 2024-2025 are also studying this book and implementing its ideas in their classrooms.  Today, we will zoom in on the importance of establishing and nurturing co-teaching relationships, intentionally discussing roles and responsibilities, as well as the hot topic - specially designed instruction (SDI).Links to resources mentioned in this discussion:Share FormDifficult Conversation FormCheck out this book from our libraryPg 58-59 Table 3.3 Identifying Responsibilities on Collaborative TeamsPg 63 Team Reflection QuestionsPg 249-256 - Appendix A & B - HLP crosswalksHigh Leverage Practices in Special EducationHigh Leverage Practices in General EducationIn our next episode (coming in early April), we will discuss administrative support for co-teaching with Shelly Boggess from Giles High School.Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching, such as a Roles and Responsibilities checklist like the Giles team used and an overview of the co-teaching models/approaches.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to this link.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 11) Join us for our discussion with Keli Bradbury and Suzanne Graham from Radford University’s Training and Technical Assistance Center. Keli and Suzanne were instrumental in supporting Katie Wright and Mandy Seeberger from Giles High School during the past three years. Check out our interview with Katie and Mandy if you missed it. In today’s conversation, learn how Suzanne and Keli introduced co-teaching to a local high school and middle school while they were in the classroom and how it grew to become part of the school culture. Now, Keli and Suzanne use their personal experiences of feeling like an aide and struggling to learn the content to relate to the very real challenges that co-teachers face today.Links to websites mentioned in this discussion:RU T/TAC’s Co-Teaching Resources2024-2025 Excellence in Co-Teaching Demonstration SitesHigh Leverage PracticesIn our next episode (coming in late March), we will focus on Connecting High Leverage Practices to Student Success: Collaboration in Inclusive Classrooms by Melissa Jenkins and Wendy Murawski with a particular focus on relationship building and SDI.Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/KB-SG.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 10)In our last episode, Katie Wright and Mandy Seeberger, Algebra 1 co-teachers from Giles High School, mentioned how Anne Beninghof’s book, Specially Designed Instruction: Increasing Success for Students with Disabilities, has impacted their teaching this school year. In today’s discussion, we delve deeper into topics that came up during that conversation including being reflective teachers, intentionally planning with SDI in mind, and encouraging metacognitive skills in our students. Here are links to some resources mentioned: Planning matrix SDI questions bookmark Graphic of incidental benefitKatie and Mandy are one of the statewide co-teaching demonstration sites: 2024-2025 Excellence in Co-Teaching Demonstration Sites.In our next episode (coming in early March), we will interview Keli Bradbury and Suzanne Graham to find out more about their personal experiences with co-teaching and the support they provided to Katie and Mandy.Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching, such as a Roles and Responsibilities checklist like the Giles team used and an overview of the co-teaching models/approaches.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/13VXBOEVAw7-WTjYY1fk3KubU0W2QBejhidgcNTUdoM8/edit?usp=sharing .

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 9) Imagine being able to play back your class and reflect on your successes and areas for improvement— well, Katie and Mandy are doing just that, and it’s revolutionizing the way they teach. In their third year of co-teaching together, Katie Wright and Mandy Seeberger from Giles High School wouldn’t want to teach Algebra 1 any other way. This dynamic team is in their first year of participating in the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative as representatives of Region 7 in Virginia. In this episode, Katie and Mandy share their insights on the vital role administrative support plays in co-teaching. They discuss the supports they received as new co-teachers, the challenge of co-planning for specially designed instruction (SDI) effectively, the incidental benefit to students without IEPs or 504 plans, and ways to encourage students to reflect on their learning, among other topics. By the end of this episode, we challenge you to think about one way you can improve collaboration and reflection in your own school—whether you're in the classroom or behind the scenes.Here are the links to some of the items Katie and Mandy referenced in this conversation:Mobile desksRoom dividersIn our next episode (coming in late February), we will revisit Anne Beninghof’s book,Specially Designed Instruction:  Increasing Success for Students with Disabilities with a particular focus on planning for SDI by identifying specific IEP goals to target and considering student access to the curriculum by encouraging executive functioning skills. Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year.Please visit ourwebsite for links to additional resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to ________ .

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 8) Our last conversation with Dr.  Margaret Weiss (Season 2 Episode 7) inspired us to dig deeper into Anne M. Benninghof’s book, Specially Designed Instruction Increasing Succes for Students with Disabilities. This book works to clarify these 3 questions about SDI: What is SDI? Who is responsible? How do we make it happen? In this podcast episode we focus on Planning Step 1: Clarifying the Learning Target and Planning and Step 7: Boost Participation.  Here are additional resources that may help support the ideas discussed: Anne Beninghof’s Planning Steps for SDI Anne Beninghof’s  website https://www.ideasforeducators.com/  The 5 Levels of Engagement by Schlechty: A Simple Guide by John Spencer (4:07 YouTube video) John Hattie’s Visible Learning Hattie Ranking: 252 Influences And Effect Sizes Related To Student Achievement  Guidelines and Suggestions for Choral Responding Prepared by the Center on Innovations in Learning (Sept. 2016) Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching and also access our lending library where you can check out Ann Beninghof’s book Specially Designed Instruction Increasing Succes for Students with Disabilities. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech.  Click to get a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 7) Do you ever wonder what the future of co-teaching may look like? If so, this conversation with Dr. Margaret Weiss from George Mason University is for you. Peggy is at the forefront of co-teaching research in Virginia. Along with other colleagues, she has developed a framework that identifies three key elements of quality co-teaching. Among her many contributions to the field of co-teaching is a lesson planning app that is currently being used by the 2024-2025 cohort of the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. Learn  what drives Peggy to improve teacher preparation and provide educators with the supports they need.  In our next episode (coming in late January), we will feature Anne Beninghof’s book, Specially Designed Instruction:  Increasing Success for Students with Disabilities. Anne provides helpful tips on identifying learning targets and increasing student engagement; Peggy emphasized both of these areas during today’s conversation.  Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching, such as tools to assist with co-planning. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. Here is the link for a copy of today’s transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 6) Our last conversation with Melissa Gunter (Season 2 Episode 5) inspired us to dig deeper into Wendy Murawski’s latest book, Practical Strategies for Managing a Diverse Classroom. This discussion focuses quick tips to enhance your co-teaching including: Strategies for intentional data collection Ways to utilize music during transitions Preplanning a variety of student groupings Ideas to lower the volume of voices in the classroom Our next episode (coming in January) will feature a mystery guest.    Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to .

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 5) Meet Melissa Gunter, Coordinator of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), High Leverage Practices (HLPs), and Math Instruction at the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) at George Mason University (GMU). Listen to learn more about the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative which includes demonstration sites in every region of Virginia. Discover how Melissa built trust over time with her administrators and advocated for student groupings and schoolwide schedules that maximized her effectiveness as a co-teacher.   Here are the locations of the 2024-2025 Excellence in Co-Teaching Demonstration Sites. In our next episode (coming in early December), we will revisit Dr. Wendy Murawski’s book, Practical Strategies for Managing a Diverse Classroom and delve deeper into some of the specific strategies suggested in the chapter on Co-Teaching.  Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b5HQnbcEL0bilzOorwChYf4LnzIC9MeY/view?usp=drive_link .

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 4) During this episode, Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade discuss a chapter Dr. Wendy Murawski co-authored on Co-Teaching Models from English Learners with Learning Disabilities: A Collaborative Practice Guide for Educators edited by Richard Boon and Vicky Spencer and a new book by Andrea Honigsfeld and Audry Cohan titled Collaboration for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities: We Share the Students. Learn along with us some strategies to specifically address the unique needs of multilingual learners with disabilities in a co-taught setting. Check these books out from our library by visiting our website. Our next episode (coming in late November) will feature our conversation with Melissa Gunter. Melissa has been instrumental in coordinating the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative for the 2024-2025 school year. During our discussion, Melissa shares about her personal journey of becoming a more effective co-teaching partner and advocating for the students. Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i6OCtqbMQOZ0v7BzJnN2QpuPnQDxewF-NEgi2ZqTCV0/edit?usp=sharing_.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 3) Meet Dwana Cooper, Coordinator of Specially Designed Instruction for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Listen to discover how Dwana intuitively developed an inspiring co-teaching partnership with an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher (common terminology from the 1990s) during her first year as a special educator. Among the many other topics that Dwana touches on during this conversation, find out about her vision for the new co-teaching teams that joined the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative and Dwana’s passion for the power of collaboration among educators. Our next episode (coming in early November), will focus on co-teaching specifically for multilingual learners with disabilities. We plan to feature two resources related to this topic: A chapter Dr. Wendy Murawski co-authored on Co-Teaching Models from English Learners with Learning Disabilities: A Collaborative Practice Guide for Educators edited  by Richard Boon and Vicky Spencer Collaboration for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities: We Share the Students by Andrea Honigsfeld and Audry Cohan Follow this podcast so you won’t miss future discussions with distinguished co-teachers twice each month during the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to transcript.

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 2) Listen as Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade discuss their personal journeys  into co-teaching from the perspective of a general education teacher (Sue) and a special education teacher (Kitty). After our interview with Dr. Wendy Murawski (Season 2 Episode 1), we ordered a couple copies of her latest book, Practical Strategies for Managing a Diverse Classroom, and immersed ourselves in actionable teaching strategies addressing a wide range of topics including behavior, motivation, social-emotional challenges, academics, and so much more.  This book has a unique structure that we highlight during our conversation.  Given the wealth of insights we found in this resource, we plan to revisit ideas from the book throughout this season. To ensure that you do not miss one of our discussions on co-teaching, follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year. Our third episode (coming later in October), will feature our discussion with Dwana Cooper, Coordinator of Specially Designed Instruction for the Virginia Department of Education. You won’t want to miss this discussion where Dwana talks about her first teaching experience and how it ignited her passion for educating multilingual learners as well as students with disabilities. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Follow Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rhyZ3hHlrfFFPJSfHcnD7AGseJge6H9SkJv-O4R_VQU/edit?usp=drive_link

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 2) Listen as Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade discuss their personal journeys  into co-teaching from the perspective of a general education teacher (Sue) and a special education teacher (Kitty). After our interview with Dr. Wendy Murawski (Season 2 Episode 1), we ordered a couple copies of her latest book, Practical Strategies for Managing a Diverse Classroom, and immersed ourselves in actionable teaching strategies addressing a wide range of topics including behavior, motivation, social-emotional challenges, academics, and so much more.  This book has a unique structure that we highlight during our conversation.  Given the wealth of insights we found in this resource, we plan to revisit ideas from the book throughout this season. To ensure that you do not miss one of our discussions on co-teaching, follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year. Our third episode (coming later in October), will feature our discussion with Dwana Cooper, Coordinator of Specially Designed Instruction for the Virginia Department of Education. You won’t want to miss this discussion where Dwana talks about her first teaching experience and how it ignited her passion for educating multilingual learners as well as students with disabilities. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Follow Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to ______________________________

Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee (Season 2 Episode 1) Listen as Dr. Wendy Murawski reveals how she unintentionally became a teacher and fell in love with collaborating with other professionals. Now she travels around the globe championing inclusive education. In this episode she discusses her personal journey of becoming a  co-teaching advocate and some of the research she is conducting overseas in this area. Wendy is a prolific author. Two of her recent books that are highlighted in this discussion are Co-teaching Do’s, Don’ts, and Do Betters and Connecting High-Leverage Practices to Student Success. If you would like to create a professional learning community around one of these texts, here are book study guides to help you structure your learning. Book Study Guide for Co-teaching Do’s, Don’ts, and Do Betters Book Study Guide for Connecting High-Leverage Practices to Student Success Dr. Murawski’s energy is contagious. If you are looking for an opportunity to engage with Wendy in person, plan to attend the Virginia Council for Exceptional Children Conference in Harrisonburg on November 14-15th.  Our second episode (coming in early October), will focus on Wendy’s latest book, Practical Strategies for Managing a Diverse Classroom. In this book, Wendy addresses disruptive behavior, noncompliance, lack of motivation, social-emotional challenges, and so many other practical predicaments facing teachers today. You won’t want to miss this discussion. Follow this podcast to receive content from distinguished co-teachers twice each month throughout the school year. Please visit our website for links to additional resources related to co-teaching. Connect with Wendy at 2teachllc.com Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://otter.ai/u/cIXfauY38-brfWgErdMDKqtPILo?utm_source=copy_url.

Join Kitty Wade and Sue Schulz from the VDOE T/TAC at Virginia Tech as they continue their conversation with Jason Matlock, Principal of Damascus Middle School in Washington County about supporting co-teaching as an adminstrator.

Join Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade for a discussion with Jason Matlock, Principal of Damascus Middle School in Washington County, Virginia. Drawing on his experiences as a special education teacher, Mr. Matlock emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting co-teaching partners, values teacher feedback, and prioritizes the schedules of inclusion classes when creating the master schedule. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E15Transcript.

Join Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade as we continue our conversation with Amber Watson and Melanie Smiley, 6th grade math co-teachers from Virginia Middle School in Bristol, Virginia. In this episode, they describe how they approached their administrators at the beginning of this school year to advocate for a different schedule. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/Transcript-S1E14. Our next episode will feature a surprise guest.

Join Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade as we continue our conversation with Amber Watson and Melanie Smiley, 6th grade math co-teachers from Virginia Middle School in Bristol, Virginia. They are in their second year co-teaching and share how they plan for instruction. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/Transcript-S1E13. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Amber and Melanie.

Join Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade for a discussion with Amber Watson and Melanie Smiley, 6th grade math co-teachers from Virginia Middle School in Bristol, Virginia. They are in their second year co-teaching and share how they plan for instruction. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/Transcript_S1E12. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Amber and Melanie.

Join Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade as we continue our conversation with Serena Moore and Michelle Hazleton, 9th grade English co-teachers from Radford High School in the City of Radford. In this episode, they share about their nontraditional pathways to teaching, intentional planning that takes advantage of their individual strengths, and selecting instructional approaches. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E11Transcript. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Amber Watson and Melanie Smiley from Virginia Middle School in Bristol, Virginia.

Join Sue Schulz and Kitty Wade for a discussion with Serena Moore and Michelle Hazleton, 9th grade English co-teachers from Radford High School in the City of Radford. They are in their second year co-teaching and share their thoughts about how to establish an effective relationship and share responsibilities. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E10transcript. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Serena and Michelle.

Join us for the 3rd and final part of our discussion with Donna Cox and Kit Williams, 9th grade World History co-teachers from James River High School in Botetourt County. This dynamic pair is participating for the second consecutive year in the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). To schedule a classroom visit, please contact Sue Schulz, Kitty Wade, Donna Cox, or Kit Williams. In this episode, Donna and Kit talk about how they elicited the help of a colleague to repeatedly act out during a faculty presentation. Their “plant” allowed them to model how they address cell phone use by students during class as well as other common classroom disruptions. Donna and Kit also describe their beliefs about teacher parity. Finally, you won’t want to miss their suggestions of creative ways to co-plan. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E9transcript. Our next episode will be released on February 26th.

Join us for part 2 of our 3 part discussion with Donna Cox and Kit Williams, 9th grade World History co-teachers from James River High School in Botetourt County. This dynamic pair is participating for the second consecutive year in the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. To schedule a classroom visit, please contact Sue Schulz, Kitty Wade, Donna Cox, or Kit Williams. In this episode, Donna and Kit talk about their presentation for the Virginia Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Conference. They discussed establishing routines and procedures (including for student absences), incorporating intentional movement breaks, providing clear expectations, utilizing private discipline, giving students a clean slate every day, and maintaining flexibility through it all. Donna and Kit also offer advice to new co-teaching partners. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E8Transcript. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Donna and Kit.

Join us as we talk with Donna Cox and Kit Williams, 9th grade World History co-teachers from James River High School in Botetourt County. This dynamic pair is participating for the second consecutive year in the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. To schedule a classroom visit, please contact Sue Schulz, Kitty Wade, Donna Cox, or Kit Williams. In this episode, Donna and Kit attribute the  success of their students and minimal classroom disruptions to structure, scaffolded supports, and high expectations. Visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.lyS1E7transcript. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Donna and Kit.

Join us as we continue our conversation with Jeanie Flad and Lauren Wyatt, 4th grade co-teachers from Gilbert Linkous Elementary in Montgomery County. This pair of seasoned teachers discuss how they share plans, the use of data meetings, benefits of having different personalities, and tips for establishing an effective partnership. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E6Transcript. Our next episode will feature high school co-teachers from James River in Botetourt County.

Join us as we talk with Jeanie Flad and Lauren Wyatt, 4th grade co-teachers from Gilbert Linkous Elementary in Montgomery County. We think you will understand why both teachers have been named teacher of the year at their school. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E5Transcript. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Jeanie and Lauren.

Enjoy our continued conversation with Brittany Mallette and Justin Carter, 3rd grade English Language Arts co-teachers from Christiansburg Elementary School in Montgomery County, Virginia. These early career teachers discuss their use of station teaching, flexible grouping, and the importance of teaching students clear expectations for small group work. Informed by the Science of Reading, Brittany and Justin have incorporated many new strategies this year including Elkonin boxes, word mapping, graphic organizers, and visual supports. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching.Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E4Transcript.

Meet Brittany Mallette and Justin Carter, 3rd grade English Language Arts co-teachers from Christiansburg Elementary School in Montgomery County, Virginia. These early career teachers discuss how they formed the framework for their co-teaching relationship. Driven by their passion for student success, Brittany and Justin prioritize open communication and parity in the classroom as they enjoy learning together everyday. Please visit our website for links to resources related to co-teaching. Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E3Transcript. Our next episode will continue our conversation with Brittany and Justin.

Join us as we continue our conversation with Amber Benson and Ruby Voss, co-teachers from Northside Middle School. We discuss Data @ the Door. Click here for our show notes with links to topics mentioned in today's interview as well as ways to follow BensonVoss.

Join us a we talk with Amber Benson and Ruby Voss, Math 8 co-teachers from Northside Middle School in Roanoke County. With contagious energy and enthusiasm, these co-teachers champion the learning of all those they meet. “BensonVoss” are participating in the Virginia Department of Education Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative for the 4th year straight. Last fall they received the National Educator of the Year Award from the Association for Middle Level Education.  Contact us if you would like to visit this team, or any other from the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. In this episode, BensonVoss highlight topics they frequently present on as well as share tips on effective communication. For more information on these, click on the links below: High Leverage Practices Building Positive Relationships with Students Spiral Assessment Data at the Door (Check back for a future interview segment on this.)  Please visit our website for a link to our full interview and additional resources related to co-teaching. Connect with BensonVoss on  Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BensonVossMath8/ Twitter https://www.twitter.com/BensonVoss Check out their many instructional videos on YouTube @BensonVoss Subscribe to Co-Teachers in Classrooms Getting Coffee for bimonthly interviews with co-teachers brought to you by the Training and Technical Assistance Center at Virginia Tech. For a copy of today’s transcript, go to https://bit.ly/S1E1Transcript.