Teaching Special Students In General Education Classrooms
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Kathryn Said:
What minors are recommended these days?We Answered:
Special ed is very marketable.Katie Said:
Have Masters in Special Ed....but I don't want to teach Special Ed?? I do have a BS in Childhood question...?We Answered:
It will be difficult, since the need is so great in Special Ed. and that's where a great many of the vacancies are. One thing you might want to try is not to mention that your master's degree is in special ed. in the cover letter when you first write for an interview for a regular ed. position. Of course you will have to include it in your application for the school district, since it will affect your pay, but by then some principal who is not hiring for special ed. may love the idea of getting a teacher like you who wanted a more in-depth background.Jose Said:
Should general teachers be trained on special education issues / teaching ?We Answered:
Oh, yes, that's a big one for me! I think special ed teachers should be better trained then they are. None of the ones I've seen seem to be trained on how to handle the behavior issues that go hand in hand with things like autism, adhd, odd, etc. I don't even agree with integration with kids with those disorders, to be honest. The type of socialization those happens in a regular classroom is not the kind of socialization that children with autism/pdd-nos need. I don't agree with the theory that you throw a child with social issues into a social setting to sink or swim, because all to often, they will sink. They can't force themselves to be social, no matter what we do. If schools were the cure all for social anxieties then we wouldn't have 'social misfits' in school, we wouldn't have shy people, there would be no such thing as introverts. So, it's a failed philosophy, and I think they should be in smaller, special ed classes where the teachers have received MUCH MORE TRAINING than what they are getting now, so they know how to deal with each individual dx and work with them. So, yes, it stands to reason that general teachers should have the same training if they're going to have special kids in there class. It's not fair to expect the kids to react normally when they don't have the skills to do so, to me, that's just cruel. Most of these disorders have sensory issues that make it so hard to perform in a classroom, and those are not addressed in school therapy too often. I chose to homeschool my kids long before my Tim came along with autism/pdd-nos (they're not sure of which dx), but having him, and learning about his needs and his limits confirmed in me to homeschool him, I feel it's the best thing in the world for him. He still socializes, but it's on his terms. I know he can only handle it for about an hour, then he tantrums, so we stay within that guideline. He was on a bowling league this last season and it was about an hour, and he did WONDERFULLY. Anything longer, and it would have been a nightmare!Beverly Said:
Can you help me with my homework?We Answered:
1) I hold an elementary education degree, but I work with regular and special education students. I am qualified to teach all subjects, but I want to go back to school to be more qualified to teach reading.2) My students are in 2nd grade, so about 7-8 years old. They range from a preschool ability to a 4th grade ability.
3) I am qualified to teach all subjects, but for now I only teach reading and math.
4) I use many different techniques with the students. I figure out what is best for them, whether it be an auditory, visual, kinesthetic, or all of the above lesson. I demonstrate how to do something in at least 2 different ways, usually more, to hopefully reach all of the student's preferred way of learning. I select my interventions based on my student's needs.
5) I believe that realizing the importance of my job really effects how I teach and why I teach. My profession is so important, teachers seem to be so underappreciated- but without us- no doctors, lawyers, or anything would be available...it all starts with the basics that we taught in elementary school! The most rewarding part of my job is watching a student understand something new, the look on their face is priceless.
6) I work in a city school right now, and very limited parents are involved with their students. I send home monthly newsletters and contact parents as needed, but they rarely come to scheduled meetings or contact me on their own. In the rural school I was in for a short time, parents were involved much more...parent volunteers, parent notes, parent responses to letters...it was wonderful!
7) Every week I meet with other teachers in the building and collaborate with them. We talk about what is working, what isnt, and what we could improve on next year in the curriculum.
8) Our ESL and special education students are fully immersed in the regular education classrooms. The most that they get is an hour every other day with a teacher specified for their needs. I dont agree with disabled students being fully immersed in regular ed classrooms, I do not think it is in their best interest. My one students has improved greatly just from 1 hr/daily special ed. services as opposed to no services, imagine what he would be like if he were serviced daily for half the day! It would be an immeasureable difference. It is hard for a student on a preschool level in a 2nd grade classroom to learn anything, it is too hard for him. He needs a classroom tailored to his needs more often, if not all the time.
9) I think that special education teachers should be responsible for the IEP and materials for the special education student more than 75% of the time. The regular education teacher has at least 20 more kids to teach, and for the regular ed teacher to tailor to the 1 or 2 special ed students is not only hard, but unfair. There are 20 other students that are near/on grade level that could be learning their material and they need all of the teacher's attention. I think that it is unfair for general edu. teachers to have special ed. students in their classrooms. It is not leaving the special ed students out of "regular" education but just having them have a tailored education perfect for them in a classroom filled with students like them..instead of being teased by "regular" ed students.
10) I meet with special ed and regular ed teachers on a weekly basis and we email probably every other day
11) I would not include special ed students in regular ed classrooms 100% of the time. I think that they should be in a special ed classroom for at LEAST 50% of each day, so that they can benefit from lessons taught at their level and speed.
Hope this helps!
Rita Said:
Teaching general educators?We Answered:
Write the first handout with the words completely backwards such asdoog gninorm, I epoh uoy nac daer siht ereht lliw eb a tset revo gnihtyreve ereh. (says, "Good morning, I hope you can read this there will be a test over everything here.") You of course would want to writer whole page of information but this gives you the idea. Then, start asking questions QUICKLY expecting answers quickly. Then, have a discussion about how kids don't always see exactly what everyone does. Or you could code the different letters and give the teachers what letter means what letter but then after giving them about 2 minutes to translate what it says, again ask quick questions wanting answers right after the question is asked. This will show that even with modifications, the teachers still need to be a little patient because the student will still need time to decode what the modifications are telling him or her. Or that all modifications are not good modifications and that if they feel that a modification is not working, maybe they should come together with the special ed teacher to find something that will be more helpful to the student.
Danny Said:
Those who have taught both Special Ed. classes and regular ed. classes....which do you prefer better?We Answered:
HI!There is an issue not being addressed here, if you change positions, how much longer will you need to work to get tenure. Also, will this lower your pay rate.
Now, I have taught both Special Ed and Regular Ed on a secondary level. I discovered in the inclusive environment that the average "regular" ed child often appears more needy than the special ed kid.
Don't feel bad about not wanting to work with ED children. My first year as a teacher I worked with severe ED kids, and I will never--ever--do it again.
Life has a way of dealing curve balls. Staying as a 2nd Grade Teacher does not mean all your kids will be angels either. I have to say I am spoiled this year. For the last 8 years I taught Social Studies to LD students in 12:1:1 environments and in inclusive ones. But this year I have MR students, and or the first time I have had a class of students for an entire year with no issues. I never had to send one child out of the room! I never even had to call a parent because of bad behavior!
There is one other issue you need to know about being a Special Ed Teacher. Everyone believes you are a genius. On the secondary level, one year you could be teaching English, the next year you could be teaching social studies or you could be teaching 9th grade Algebra and Biology.
Still, there is one more issue, it is making sure that the law is complied with for your students. Many administrators hate having children with special needs in "their" school. You have a responsibility in this position to make sure your boss knows what your legal responsibilities are and why you have to do certain things. Its a tough place to be.
I guess if I were you, I would ask:
1) Am I happy doing what I am today?
2) Am I ready for a change?
3) If I were to change positions, what would I like to do in the Spec. Ed. Teacher role?
Best of luck to you as you seek your answers to your quest!
Dwight Said:
Has any one got an idea how to obtain a teaching position?We Answered:
Why not talk to your college's career center or your advisor since you are a graduate student in special education (I assume you mean you are working on a master's degree or doctorate, etc.). Even if you have completed your graduate degree, surely your college offers some assistance in obtaining employment. As for not even bothering with the BOE's website, probably a bad idea. You have to keep trying, even if you run into some dead ends. Also, have you considered trying to find out which teaching area (math, science, etc.) is most in demand and taking/passing the certification course in those areas. I know here the most "in demand" teaching positions are math and science (yep, and with me being a social studies/language arts person too--LOL). Keep trying--times are tough jobwise everywhere right now.