Have you ever wondered, “Just what does a special education teacher do?” This is a highly specialized teaching job that requires a special license on top of the necessary bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. Some states also require master’s degrees. There is a huge shortage for special education teachers at the moment, though, so some states are offering alternative licensure programs to those who qualify. These teachers work with learning disabled students in K-12 schools in a variety of settings, and sometimes they also work with 18 to 21-year-old students teaching basic job skills and life skills.
Special education jobs are one of the toughest jobs out there, but it is also one of the jobs that come with the most rewards. In a K-12 setting, the teacher will typically just modify the general education curriculum to meet the individual needs of their learning disabled students. When working with children with more serious disabilities, however, the teacher may have to instruct the students on basic literacy and life skills. Special Ed teachers who work with infants and toddlers are more focused on socialization and basic lessons that will help prepare the children to adjust to elementary, middle and secondary school.
Since there are so many students with learning disabilities, and more entering the school system every day, there are many career options for special educations teachers. Children with autism, traumatic brain injuries, deafness and/or blindness, emotional disturbances, mental retardation, speech and/or language impairments, orthopedic impairments, and multiple disabilities and specific learning disabilities may all need special attention in school. The techniques used range from small group assignments to problem solving to individual instruction. Teaching these students requires more than just fostering academic progress; the children must also progress behaviorally to succeed. Continue Reading
