2 answers
Piarra
Student
Brighton, Michigan
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How did you know that you wanted to be a special education teacher?
I am an 8th grader and I am doing research on different jobs that I might be interested in. #teacher
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2 answers
Lyndsay Capshaw
Online Math Teacher
57
Answers
Longmont, Colorado
Updated
Lyndsay’s Answer
I went to school to become a special education teacher, however, once in school I realized I was just not the right person to teach special education. Instead, I chose to become an elementary school teacher. The switch in studies was very easy. Changing career choices didn't harm my studies, I didn't take any extra classes, etc. If you think you would enjoy being a special education teacher, I highly recommend pursuing that route. Special education is very scary for a lot of people, including teachers like myself. Special education teachers are highly regarded and it's hard to find great special education teachers. If you can be the light for these special students, please do it.
Bruce Coe
Customer Support
28
Answers
Belmont, California
Updated
Bruce’s Answer
Hi Piarra - My wife was a special education teacher for many years and really enjoyed it. She has also been a classroom teacher.
She is very good at recognizing and understanding a person's stronger and weaker capabilities.
She would usually work with a team of maybe a speech specialist, a classroom teacher, a psychologist, principal, or other specialists to talk about the needs of individual students - a few times each year - and determine a plan for what special instruction and help they think that student needs. The plan is called an IEP - Instructional Education Plan.
Sometimes a student needs a service which that school or district cannot provide, so the student has to go to a different school part time or full time.
Some special ed teachers will have their own room and bring students into it. Others will go into the classrooms where the special ed students are "immersed" in a standard class of their grade level.
Both my kids like Lyndsay went to college declared with one major, but after a term or two at college, changed to a different major. That is not unusual and makes it easier to say what you want to study knowing you can change your mind (the sooner, the better though).
Hope that helps. Good luck!
She is very good at recognizing and understanding a person's stronger and weaker capabilities.
She would usually work with a team of maybe a speech specialist, a classroom teacher, a psychologist, principal, or other specialists to talk about the needs of individual students - a few times each year - and determine a plan for what special instruction and help they think that student needs. The plan is called an IEP - Instructional Education Plan.
Sometimes a student needs a service which that school or district cannot provide, so the student has to go to a different school part time or full time.
Some special ed teachers will have their own room and bring students into it. Others will go into the classrooms where the special ed students are "immersed" in a standard class of their grade level.
Both my kids like Lyndsay went to college declared with one major, but after a term or two at college, changed to a different major. That is not unusual and makes it easier to say what you want to study knowing you can change your mind (the sooner, the better though).
Hope that helps. Good luck!
This is good information! Do you know what made your wife want to pursue special ed?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Piarra & Gurpreet - My wife was very inspired by an early teacher - 4th grade, I think - and stayed friends with her through their lives, and she also had a brother with Down's Syndrome who got very different levels of treatment and help - very bad, and very good. This gave her awareness of some special needs individuals. But she is also a very empathetic person and the idea of helping others was always appealing to her.
I also like to try to help others and I work in tech support. Very different career choices. Stay inquisitive like I can see that you are. That will serve you well, and when you're doing your best, you're helping all those around you!
Bruce Coe