what it like to teach students with special needs

Inquire any instructor and they'll tell y'all working with special education students can exist challenging. In that location's paperwork, varying workloads and, some would say, an under-appreciation from others for the difficult work they do.

We asked experts who are experienced in teaching students with special needs to provide a little insight into their daily duties and so you have a meliorate understanding of what information technology takes to succeed in this specialized branch of educational instruction.

What you should know about working with children with special needs

When considering any career path, it helps to have a behind-the-scenes look at the road alee. Consider this expert insight your test drive to know if you take what it takes to work with special needs students.

1. Information technology will be stressful

Stress is unavoidable in most educational activity jobs merely peculiarly and then when teaching special instruction students—no matter how talented you are equally an teacher. Students with special needs oft crave more attending than students without special needs to ensure they're making progress, so teachers are susceptible to existence spread likewise thin. Too looming big as a source of stress is the potential for a student "meltdown."

Former special education teacher Jeaninne Escallier wishes an experienced teacher would take shown her the most effective means to handle these situations before she faced one on her ain. "Emotionally disturbed students sometimes lash out at the teacher and other students."

Escallier says it's important for special education teachers and administrators to make sure there's enough coverage for each student in their class to assistance prevent dangerous situations. In addition to having plenty help on hand, you lot need to be able to remain calm to keep things from getting out of command.

"Many autistic children express their desires by screaming," Escallier says. "Adults must remain calm and always in control to make the children feel condom and loved."

2. Yous'll wear multiple hats

"A special education teacher is more than than a classroom teacher," Escallier says. "He or she is a customs advocate and liaison for services that will make that child successful in life, not just in school."

Your chore championship might read "special education teacher," simply there are plenty of unofficial duties that come up with the job. Not just are you lot a teacher, but you'll get an advocate, a coordinator and a counselor.

Educational therapist Erin Smilkstein says counseling and communicating with the parents of children with special needs is a huge part of the job. Parents, unlike special education teachers, take no specialized preparation and may lean on your expertise.

"I counsel parents a lot," Smilkstein says. "I sit with them and guide them through the process of how to talk and work with their children—sometimes I say I am more than of a parent support than a instructor."

3. Bacon information

Life as a preschool special education teacher can be demanding, but they are compensated at a higher rate than other preschool teachers. The Agency of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2017, the median almanac salary for preschool special educational activity teachers was $53,640.ⁱ Compare that to the $28,790 median almanac salary the BLS reports for preschool teachers, and it's clear a premium is typically placed on education professionals with the specialized training needed for teaching students with special needs.²

iv. Paperwork isn't optional

Grading assignments and tracking scores is something that goes paw in mitt with teaching. When information technology comes to working as a special education teacher, it's of import to know that you volition most likely have more paperwork than teachers of traditional students.

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for students with special needs mean you will likely spend a considerable corporeality of time filling out paperwork that measures pupil progress. Escallier says the near challenging function of her time as a special instruction teacher was finding a residuum betwixt her piece of work and her private life, especially with the added "homework."

"I worked tardily nights and all weekend on these [IEPs] considering I still had to teach and maintain classroom control during educational activity hours," Escallier says.

While these individualized plans will require additional work, it's important to think their purpose. Special needs students tin't exist expected to learn and progress at a compatible pace; these plans aid set and track learning goals and objectives that are appropriate for each educatee'south needs.

5. Employment of special instruction professionals remains steady

Demand for teachers in general isn't particularly volatile—barring large changes to regime policy, employment opportunities should stay on a steady course. The BLS projects an eight percent growth in employment for M-12 special instruction teachers by 2026, which is only slightly in a higher place the 7 percentage national average projected growth in employment for all occupations.ⁱⁱ

It's worth noting that preschool special education teachers are an exception, with employment growth projected to increase 11 percent through 2026.ⁱⁱ

half dozen. There is no "typical" pupil

Office of the challenge of being a special education teacher is managing the wide variety of students and their capabilities. For case, a child who is nonverbal needs an entirely different approach to instruction than a student with Attending-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This requires teachers to be flexible in their education styles while keeping realistic the expectations they accept for students.

Smilkstein says many people assume students in special education classes simply have emotional or behavioral problems and write off their potential or power to acquire. The key for Smilkstein is to keep everything in perspective.

"[These] kids work as hard every bit they can, but they will too protect themselves from pain," she says. "That tin often look similar they take behavioral problems or unwillingness to work when they fear another failure is going to happen."

7. Having fun is crucial

"The emotional component of learning for a pupil with special needs is then important to address," says Smilkstein. "You'll find you reach more when you set out acknowledging that education needs to be a good feel for the child."

In all likelihood, you've had to slog through a boring grade or two in your lifetime. Boredom saps the free energy out of a classroom and can be a real detriment to student learning. Information technology's important for teachers to comprehend fun in their lessons—besides, how many jobs actually encourage existence a little goofy? Smilkstein says that even though people might think of her job equally serious, intensive work, she plays and laughs with students multiple times a day.

8. Information technology can be an uphill battle

Simply put, it takes skill and plenty of patience to explain a concept to a child—whether they have special needs or not! Both students and teachers will have to bargain with the frustration of non grasping an elusive concept, just Smilkstein says it's important to comprehend the challenge.

"Something that is very helpful to proceed in mind is that kids are trying to practice their best," says Smilkstein. "Equally much equally you may find yourself creating labels like 'He's lazy' or 'She'south impossible,' you need to continue to look at yourself as the key problem solver, with learning as the puzzle."

9. It'south all worth information technology

"There is nothing more satisfying than watching a kid learn something new and the way information technology changes their self-esteem and confidence," Escallier says.

Don't let the frustration and stress that comes with existence a special education teacher fool you into thinking it'southward all bad—there are enough of rewarding moments as well. Smilkstein says the most rewarding part of her job are the moments when pupils make a breakthrough. These breakthrough moments are especially sweetness for both teachers and students as they know firsthand the hard work and heartache that went into the achievement.

The reward of the job isn't strictly coming from the satisfaction of your students, either. Parents of children with special needs have certainly had times of feeling overwhelmed and know how hard-earned progress can be. Because of that, you lot can look to receive some truly heartfelt praise and gratitude.

"The most rewarding part of my time in special pedagogy was getting children into the right programs for their needs," Escallier says. "And so many parents have chosen me their savior because I never gave up on their kid until they got the care they needed."

The bottom line

Teaching special needs students is no picnic—stress and paperwork can brand even the virtually cheerful people grumble a bit—but there are plenty of moments that make the job very rewarding. It's important for would-be special didactics teachers to be fully committed to their work as this is non a career that lends itself to a halfhearted effort. Here'south the skilful news—if you take the right attitude and are willing to put in the piece of work, yous are well on your fashion to working in this enervating simply gratifying career.

If working with children with special needs appeals to y'all, you'll desire to bank check out the Rasmussen College Early Childhood Education Associate's caste program—which features a Special Needs specialization designed to equip you with the skills needed to effectively work with these students.

^aneBureau of Labor Statistics, U.Due south. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2017, [information accessed January 29, 2019] https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes252051.htm. Information represents national, averaged information for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of pedagogy and experience. Employment conditions in your expanse may vary.
²Agency of Labor Statistics, U.South. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [information accessed Jan 29, 2019] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/. Data represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of instruction and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

*Graduates of Early on Babyhood Education programs at Rasmussen College are not eligible for licensure equally a teacher in an uncomplicated or secondary school. A Bachelor's degree and a land teaching license are typically required to piece of work as a teacher in public and private school settings.
EDITOR'S Annotation: This commodity was originally published in June 2015. It has since been updated. Insights from Escallier and Smilkstein remain from the original article.

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Source: https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/working-with-special-needs-students/

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