Inclusion teachers are in classrooms every day and support general education teachers in math, science, social studies and language arts. As classroom facilitators, they assist their teacher partners with small group instruction, test administration, individual teaching and classroom management. Facilitators assist general education teachers with other duties by posting student artifacts, changing bulletin board displays, modifying tests for better comprehension or making accommodations such as testing students in small groups, or compiling demographic information.
As a co-teacher, the role of an inclusion teacher role is more involved. The distinctive feature of cooperative teaching is that the teachers collaborate, working together in the same classroom most of the day. Inclusion teachers play a vital role in classroom planning with general education teachers and may teach whole classes or parts of lessons on alternate days. They grade assignments and administer tests in whole group or small group. Because inclusion teachers assist in general education settings, they help all students, not just those with special education needs.
Inclusion teachers serve as case managers for special education students assigned to their case load. Inclusion teachers work from the student Individualized Education Program, which is a written legal document crafted by a team of school professionals and parents. The IEP includes information on academic performance, emotional and behavioral goals. Teachers have a legal responsibility to implement the requirements outlined in the IEP. Usually they compile the needed information in a notebook as an accessible resource. Inclusion teachers lead admission, review and dismissal meetings. These meetings consist of teachers, special education teachers, parents and administrators. Meetings are used to evaluate educational issues for students on an IEP, such as student progression and transitional plans for the upcoming year.
Inclusion teachers serve as parent liaisons for teachers. The inclusion teacher opens up a line of communication with parents to provide progress updates and receive feedback, ensuring clear communication among the parents, teachers and special education teachers. Inclusion teachers contact parents for scheduling admission, review and dismissal meets, and update parents on student progress. They discuss the student's progress and attendance, and notify parents if special accommodations need to be made for student transportation to and from school.