Upcoming Workshop
New England League of Middle Schools are leaders in promoting middle level best practices by providing collaborative learning experiences that support students’ intellectual, academic, social, and emotional growth and success.
"Co-Teaching in Middle Schools"
Presenters: Susan Shapiro, M.Ed. & Karen Matso, MSW, M.Ed
Wednesday, June 24 & Thursday, June 25, 2026
Registration begins at 8:30 am
The program runs from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
American International College
1000 State St, Springfield, MA
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OVERVIEW
In this two-day institute, we will coach middle school educators looking to establish or improve practices along a co-teaching continuum, including:
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efficient co-planning meetings.
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effective full or part-time co-taught classrooms.
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shared responsibilities in assessment, instruction, and classroom management.
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improving communication flow and expectations to paraeducators and other school specialists.
The two days will include full group, breakout, and independent work to support co-teaching teams. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework will be foundational in helping teams design inclusive instruction. Special attention will be given to co- planning and communication for classroom teachers, special educators, ELL instructors, and paraeducators.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
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What does an inclusive, joyful, and organized co-taught classroom look and feel like for students and teachers?
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How can more collaborative planning, instruction, and assessment increase access to learning for all students?
OBJECTIVES
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Learn six types of co-teaching models, including variations, that can make the most of student-teacher- para ratios.
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Design systems for co-planning, co-instructing, collecting, and sharing student performance information.
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Consider how skill sets and identities will impact co-teaching at all places on the co-teaching continuum.
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Name potential barriers and design creative solutions to strengthen implementation of co-teaching practices, maximizing the role of paraeducators in the classroom.
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Find tools to support self- and team-assessment of co-teaching.
COST
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$479 for NELMS members (2 days)
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$510 for non NELMS members (2 days)
10% discount to NELMS member schools sending teams of 6+
Lunch will be provided both days.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you use the interactive form, please remember to do a "Save As" after you type in your information to save the form to your computer. Then you can print the form to mail or attach the form to email to NELMS.
Presenter Biographies
Susan Shapiro, M.Ed
Susan Shapiro brings decades of experience offering consultation and professional development to both pre-service and in-service educators about inclusive, accessible learning design. She worked as a Senior Professional Learning Specialist at CAST for seven years and was on the Education Department faculty at Plymouth State University for twelve years. She has provided technical assistance to public schools on the education of students with complex support needs for both UVM’s Center for Disability, Community and Inclusion and UNH’s Institute on Disability. Susan is an affiliate faculty member in the Education Department at UNH-Durham. Currently Susan is the UDL and Inclusive Learning Specialist at Demonstrated Success.
Karen Matso, MSW, M.Ed
Karen is Co-founder and Professional Development Director of Demonstrated Success. She brings 30 years of experience as an educational leader, focusing in literacy, special education and MTSS Framework implementation, curriculum and assessment. She has facilitated professional development and school transformation initiatives in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut. Trained as both a social worker and an educator, Karen is passionate about the power of compassionate adults to change the lives of young people.