Special Education Teachers

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Duties

The following is a typical day in the life of a special education teacher:

• Determine the educational requirements of pupils by evaluating their current abilities and knowledge.
• Adapt standard classes to suit the requirements of pupils.
• Plan each student's education according to their unique needs using IEPs.
• Each student's level of ability should be taken into consideration while planning activities.
• As a class, in small groups, and one-on-one, teach and guide pupils.
• Implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and monitor students' progress.
• Adjust IEPs as needed to take account of kids' achievements and set new ones.
• Discuss student success with parents, other instructors, counselors, and administrators.
• Oversee and guide teaching assistants who assist children and youth with special needs.

From preschool through high school, special ed instructors work with kids with disabilities. Their focus is on working with kids who have a wide range of special needs, including those related to mental health, physical health, and learning. Study methods like underlining and making flashcards, for example, are taught by certain tutors. The pupils who have physical limitations may utilize a wheelchair or other adapted equipment while working with others. There are also others who deal with pupils who have sensory issues, such as those who are deaf or blind. People with autism spectrum disorders or mental problems like anxiety and depression may also benefit from their services.

A team of experts, administrators, teachers, and parents work together to create Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) establish their educational and behavioral goals, as well as the services they will receive, such speech therapy. There are also meetings between teachers and parents when they discuss IEP updates and modifications.

Teachers in special education must be able to use and adapt to new technology. Computers are commonly used by teachers to keep track of their students' progress, design lessons, and maintain IEPs up to date. Braille printers and computer software are also used by certain educators to help them interact with their students.

Due to the nature of their profession, special education instructors are required to do a wide range of tasks.

In some special education classes or resource centers, only pupils with disabilities are present. Teachers in these environments prepare, adjust, and deliver lessons that are tailored to each student's unique learning preferences. Students are taught either one-on-one or in small groups.

Teaching kids with impairments in mainstream classrooms is the responsibility of special education instructors. With the help of general education teachers, they help students with impairments better comprehend the material.

Students with moderate to severe impairments are the focus of certain special education teachers. These teachers work with pupils who may be eligible for services until the age of 21 to help them learn basic living skills such as cooking and cleaning. Students with mild impairments can learn how to live independently, obtain work, budget their time and money, and more, in certain programs. See occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants and aides for further information on other professions who help people with disabilities learn the skills they need to live on their own.

Education

At least a bachelor's degree is required by all states for special education instructors in public schools. Some states require special education instructors to have a bachelor's degree. Others enable students to major in education or a topic area, like as mathematics or physics, and minor in special education; others allow them to minor in both fields.

Pupils pursuing a bachelor's degree in special education study about the many sorts of impairments and how to effectively communicate this information to their students. Programs often include a student-teaching program, in which future teachers engage with a mentor and gain classroom experience. A master's degree may be required by some states to become fully licensed as a special education teacher.

Typically, special education instructors at private schools must hold a bachelor's degree.

Registration, Licenses, and Certifications

Teachers in public schools in all states must be licensed in the grade level they teach. The term "certification" is commonly used to describe a license. Teachers at private schools are often exempt from having to obtain a license.

Certification or licensure requirements vary from state to state, but often include the following:

• An undergraduate degree with a grade point average of at least 2.5.
• Completion of a student teaching internship.
• Obtaining a clean bill of health.
• Tests that indicate the candidate's understanding of the topic they plan to teach, as well as general certification tests.

Visit Teach.org or contact your state's board of education for information on teacher training programs and certification requirements.

For those with a bachelor's degree, every state has an alternative route to certification or licensure. Students in these programs learn about alternate teaching strategies and child development. After successfully completing the program, candidates are granted full certification. In some programs, prospective teachers must first complete education coursework before they can begin teaching. A master's degree can be earned by teachers who have completed either sort of training.

Advancement

More experienced teachers can become mentors, providing guidance and support to less experienced colleagues. Lead instructors are another option.

School counselors, instructional coordinators, and principals at the elementary, middle, and high school levels are all options open to current educators. These occupations often need postsecondary training, a graduate degree, or a professional certification. Higher education administration and leadership degrees can be beneficial.

Criteria to Be Considered

Confidence in your ability to communicate. In order to teach kids with learning problems, special education teachers must use language that they can understand. They must also develop IEPs and communicate kids' progress to other specialists, administrators, and parents, as well as general education instructors.

The ability to use critical thinking. Teachers in special education must be able to monitor pupils' development and change teaching accordingly.

Personality traits. IEPs are developed by special education instructors in collaboration with a group of educators and the student's parents. Thus, they must be capable of forging strong working connections in order to be successful.

Patience. Teaching kids with disabilities, who may lack fundamental skills, show behavioral or other issues or require multiple attempts to grasp content, requires special education teachers to remain cool and composed.

Resourcefulness. Teachers of kids with disabilities must come up with new and creative ways to convey knowledge to their students. Teachers in general education can use them to better meet the educational requirements of their pupils who have special needs.

Pay

In May 2020, special education instructors earned an average salary of $61,500 per year. There are two extremes of earnings in each given occupation: those earning more than the median and those earning less. Less than 40,820 dollars was earned by the bottom 10 percent, while more than $100,570 dollars was earned by the top 10 percent.

Job Projections

Special education teachers' overall employment is expected to expand by 8% between 2020 and 2030, which is roughly the same rate as the average for all professions.