General Ed and Special Ed teachers need to work hand-in-glove for the best outcome of Special Education students.

After all, there's no "I" in…oh wait, yeah there is.

1. Collaboration is key.

When working collaboratively, both teachers are responsible for all students, but the SpEd teacher keeps an extra eye out for bumps in the road of learning for kids with IEPs. For the main lessons, the teachers plan together and create lessons that are appropriate for all students, differentiating where needed or wanted.

Collaborative teaching also requires that both teachers, uh, teach. The talents of a SpEd teacher are wasted if he or she is just sitting in the back of the room eating chips and checking for updates on the game.

2. SpEd teachers are a great resource.

Always. Even if they aren’t in your classroom every day—especially since some Special Ed kids will inevitably be in non-co-op classes. This means that you should bend the ear of a teacher who specializes in Special Education to reach kids who may have unique needs, whatever class they’re in.

Got a kid with autism? Ask a SpEd teacher (preferably that kid’s case manager) what strategies have worked for him/her in the past. A kid with a processing disorder? Ditto. And so on.

3. Know your case managers, because they know their kids.

For the most part, case managers have a specific set of kids with whom they work either over the course of one year or over several years. They draft goals and objectives with the student and his/her parents, adding input from teachers. Case managers also follow up with students to ensure that they’re meeting objectives and staying on track.

When you have a SpEd student, it’s best to know who the case manager is so that when things crop up (and they will), you know who to talk to to keep serving the needs of that student.

SpEd teachers have formal training as well as hard-won tips and tricks they’ve collected through the years. Plus, they have the legal knowledge to keep you out of hot water, as well as the know-how to help you most effectively help your kids.

Win-win.

Win.