| The researcher conducted a multiple case study of co-teachers on the middle school level to determine their perspective of the challenges of co-teaching and to research what strategies would best address these challenges. The primary research question was "What do Coweta County middle school co-teachers perceive as the challenges of co-teaching at their school?" The secondary research question was, "What can teachers and administrators do at the classroom, school, and district levels to overcome these challenges to co-teaching?" Quantitative data were gathered through surveys that were distributed at each middle school, and qualitative data were gathered through a interviews and group discussions at each middle school. The participants were purposively selected from six Coweta County middle schools.;Data from the surveys show that while there are many similarities in perceptions of co-teaching between co-teachers and special education teachers, there were also several differences that need to be explored qualitatively to determine what co-teachers perceived to inhibit the co-teaching process. Data from the interviews was coded and categorized, and several general perceptions emerged in each category. In each category, co-teachers identified their perceptions obstacles and/or challenges to co-teaching; however, they were also able to identify what they perceive as strategies to meet these challenges. |
