Teaching Special Education Needs
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Louis Said:
Could you make a connection with teaching people "special needs" &being a doctor for ppl w/ mental disorders?We Answered:
It seems to me that you just want to help people who are different in the best way that you can. Remember, to be a psychiatrist, you do have to go through medical school, which takes a really long time. Best of luck hon!Clarence Said:
Teaching Credentials - Special Needs Teacher?We Answered:
If you already have your Associates Degree, then the next thing would be to apply to the College of Education at the University of your choice. Once accepted, the student advisors will let you know what classes you will need to complete your degree, which would be a BA in Special Education. That would also include an internship for at least one semester. You are already half way there so keep going!Ruby Said:
I need to know the steps Ihave to take to become a special education needs teaching?We Answered:
Experience as a support worker is essential....Also,if not already, brush up your literacy and numeracy skills to at least Level 3 (Top grade GCSE), as most teaching jobs require this, if not higher.
Experience is vital though, support work in a school, colege, day centre, charity etc etc
good luck,
mrben
Rodney Said:
Switching careers - I want to teach special education - please give advice?We Answered:
Start with your State Dept of Education teacher certification requirementshttp://www.teacher-world.com/statespages…
You didn't say what level you were aiming for, elementary or secondary...but it will be a different credential depending on the level you teach. There may also be a requirement for practice teaching as part of your new course work for credentialing. And there may be some other exams AFTER you complete your studies (e.g. PRAXIS, more info at http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menui…
Some general background on becoming a special ed teacher can be found at
http://www.alleducationschools.com/faqs/…
Find a school near you that has a teacher training/credentialing program with a special education program and get the college catalog
Get a copy of your transcripts for your existing degree.
compare/contrast the course work for your prior degree with the requirements for the new degree in special ed...that should be your starting point to assess the course work you need to do. It would be unlikely you have to start from zero. the first 2 years of an undergrad program are mostly general ed and similar from school to school
Possibility of spring boarding from your exist BA to an MA in special ed should be explored with counselors at the university you would attend. If this is possible, there may be upper division undergrad courses you may need to "make up" or that may be pre-requisites to some of the MA course work...so be prepared there may be extra work/time/costs here.
Possible work experience credit? some schools allow this, but you have to ask and see. Here's a good way to connect your current work and previous degree to your new effort.
Use the US Dept of Labor SCANS checklists to do a personal inventory, another inventory of your current job description, and an inventory job description for special ed teacher. The checklists are essentially a list of knowledge/skills employers expect you do to once they hire you.
Armed with these inventories, compare/contrast them to see how you (as an individual) and what you actually do on your current job stack up to what is needed to be a special ed teacher. A close match is good...a not so close match shows what you need to get from your new education in order to qualify for your new special ed teaching job.
Look over the course work and do a SCANS inventory of the course work...and what you should learn from each course. Compare/contrast that to your existing job. If any of the course work obviously improves your ability to do your existing job, the education expenses may be tax deductible (see http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ and talk with your tax adviser.) And check with your current employer about possible tuition reimbursement is some courses do relate to your current job.
Well, this is probably the tip of the iceberg...but your State Dept of Education is the starting point.
Hope this helps....best wishes for a smooth and successful transition.
Frances Said:
Is There a special course for people who want to teach Special Education Needs in the UK or USA?We Answered:
I'm a teacher, and usually the way is to get into education to start with and then express an interest and of course do extra work for a few years until you have experience enough to apply for a job doing that - well that's how it seems to work in secondary schools. Also, people I know have managed to find jobs in special needs schools too.I was talking to one of our GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) students the other day though, and she is doing her course jointly with her specialist subject and with the SEN department. Maybe that is something that you could look into - the GTP course is a good one since you are based in school all year rather than at college (and get paid!), and it does seem to offer a little more flexibility, depending on the school that you work at. I believe that generally you find the school yourself.
Good luck with it - I find teaching the neediest classes far more rewarding personally, it feels like far more of an achievement to help them than the more academically gifted ones, somehow.
Have a look at this site: http://www.tda.gov.uk/Recruit/thetrainin…