Becoming A Special Education Teacher

Things to know about before becoming a Special Education Teacher…

First and foremost, being a Special Education Teacher takes someone who is passionate about teaching and has an ability to work well with children who have special needs. Children with learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities can truly benefit from working with special education teachers, as special education teachers ensure that the lessons and teaching strategies are specific to their students’ learning abilities. Special education teachers can teach a range of subjects depending on the severity of the student’s disability, subjects such as English, math, science, social studies, foreign languages, art, independent living skills, etc.

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The education requirements for a special education teacher vary by state. Generally, most school districts require at least a bachelor’s degree with a minor in special education, but most prefer a bachelor’s degree specializing in special education, and some states require a master’s degree specifically in special education after earning a teaching certification. You can check out your state’s special education teacher requirements by visiting their Department of Education website.

After graduation teachers can find work in both public and private school settings, all states require public school teachers to be licensed. However, this is not always a requirement in private schools. Public school teachers are also sometimes required to complete annual professional development courses to maintain their teaching license and most states require all teachers to pass a background check.

Special education teachers can teach at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. With further education they can advance into careers as school counselors, librarians, or principals. Veteran teachers can also become mentors or lead teachers to help less seasoned teachers improve their teaching skills.

But, before you consider becoming a Special Education Teacher you should ask yourself if you have these essential qualities…

• Proficient Communication Skills – Special education teachers must be able to communicate with the student’s general education teachers, parents, and school officials and counselors.
• Ability to Think Innovatively – Special education teachers often need to think creatively to effectively teach their students in a way that meets each student’s individual learning style. At the same time, they must also be able to think in a methodical manner in order to properly analyze a student’s progress or lack thereof and to develop new approaches to teaching if the current ones aren’t successful.
• A High Level of Patience – Teaching students’ with special needs or disabilities can be challenging and requires a lot of patience. Special education teachers must be able to remain calm when a student struggles or becomes frustrated with their ability to learn.
• Good Interpersonal Skills – To be a great Special Education Teacher you must really love working with children! Children are not always cute and cuddly, they can be quite messy and noisy at times, add this with the child’s disability and you can easily become overwhelmed. That is why it is essential for special education teachers to have all of the above qualities. But, in the end you will find being a Special Education Teacher to be one of the most rewarding careers ever!

Are you a Special Education Teacher?

If so, we would love for you to contribute in our comments section.