A Guide to Co-Teaching with Paraeducators

To meet the demands of today's rigorous standards in inclusive classrooms, teachers are increasingly relying on paraeducators' assistance. This comprehensive guide highlights the benefits and challenges of collaborating with classroom assistants so that students with special needs have access to a highly qualified curriculum in the general education classroom and the individualized attention that promotes learning for all students.
Masterfully woven throughout the book are accounts of three paraeducators whose experiences, challenges, and rewards illustrate the unique roles and responsibilities that paraprofessionals carry out in K-12 classrooms. These vignettes demonstrate how educators and paraeducators can effectively collaborate in a climate of high-stakes testing, accountability, NCLB, and the reauthorization of IDEA 2004.

Ann I. Nevin is professor emerita at Arizona State University and visiting professor at Florida International University. The author of books, research articles, and numerous chapters, Nevin is recognized for her scholarship and dedication to providing meaningful, practice-oriented, research-based strategies for teachers to integrate students with special learning needs. Since the 1970s, she has co-developed various innovative teacher education programs that affect an array of personnel, including the Vermont Consulting Teacher Program, Collaborative Consultation Project Re-Tool sponsored by the Council for Exceptional Children, the Arizona State University program for special educators to infuse self-determination skills throughout the curriculum, and the Urban SEALS (Special Education Academic Leaders) doctoral program at Florida International University. Her advocacy, research, and teaching spans more than 38 years of working with a diverse array of people to help students with disabilities succeed in normalized school environments. Nevin is known for action-oriented presentations, workshops, and classes that are designed to meet the individual needs of participants by encouraging introspection and personal discovery for optimal learning.

"Easy to read and understand, this book contains many examples, resources, and up-to-date information pertinent to the role of paraeducators."