25th July 2019

Career as Special Education Teachers

Becoming a teacher in the special needs field is by no means an easy task. Special education teachers are required to work with students having a wide range of learning, mental, physical, and emotional disabilities. They are required to adapt the general education lessons for teaching child with special needs even when it comes to basic subjects such as math, writing, and reading that the children with varying levels of disability are not able to comprehend. Basic skills such as communication techniques and literacy are also taught to those bearing severe disabilities.

What duties are global SEN teachers required to fulfill?

Certified SEN teachers are typically required to do the following:

• Assess the skills of the student in determining their needs
• Adapting general lessons for meeting the needs of the students
• Developing Individualized Education Programs for the benefit of each student
• Planning, organizing, and assigning activities specific to the abilities of each child
• Teaching and mentoring the students either as a class, in a small group, or in one-on-one conditions
• Implementation of IEPs and assessing the performance of each student
• Discussing student progress with the parents, other teachers, administrators, and counsellors
• Supervising and mentoring the teacher assistants

Global SEN teachers also work with general education teachers, counsellors, administrators, and parents in developing IEPs that specifically address the needs of each of the students. These IEPs are meant to outline the services and goals required for every student such as sessions with special education teachers, counselors, and psychologists. Teachers also get to meet the administrators, counselors, and parents for discussing the various changes and updates to their IEPs.

How can I learn special education?

In order to teach the children with special needs, one needs to exhibit a great deal of patience and compassion. The first thing that you need to do is earn yourself a special education degree. You can either opt for an in-classroom learning or do the same through any online special education courses. In some cases, alternate licensing programs through state-sponsored education can also be obtained. Certain employers demand a far greater level of education such as a master’s degree or equivalent. Interested individuals need to check the specific requirements of their employers before coming to a decision.

The next thing to be done is obtaining a state certification. Every state has the requirement wherein special education teachers must be licensed in order to be eligible for employment. Licensing can be obtained from the state or from district jurisdictions of specific schools. With the help of general licenses, teachers can work with students of only certain disabilities while a license opens up the avenue for operating in specific categories of disabilities.

You also have the option of a specialization in areas such as autism, emotional disturbances, traumatic injuries, speech problems, and hearing problems. These areas of teaching are in high demand and could help you build a highly differentiated career for yourself.

Do special education teachers get paid more?

Typically, the earnings of special education teachers are not more than what general educators earn around the world. However, there can be exceptions. In the event that a particular opening is classified as a highly specialized opening, it would attract a larger salary but also demand that the individual be well qualified. One would think that the average salary of a special education teacher should be more, considering all the additional work that they are required to do but such is not always the case.

Conclusion

Being patient and kind-hearted are the foremost requirements of entering the field of special education teaching. One needs to be passionate about helping the special needs children succeed. Organizational skills, excellent communication and presentation skills, as well as sound decision-making skills are of great importance for the prospective teachers. Those having prior experience in teaching, especially in dealing with kids with disabilities, will stand out from others in the search for a job.