Activity 1
What Special Education Teachers Do
Initiate a discussion with the Explorers by asking: What do you think the responsibilities of special education teachers are? Be sure that all of the following have been addressed.
Special education teachers are responsible for a multitude of activities. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Working with students who have emotional, physical, learning, or mental difficulties
- Writing, maintaining, and monitoring an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student
- Collecting data to show growth and/or to develop goals for students
- Writing and presenting lesson plans based on state standards, IEP goals, and/or necessary life or job skills
- Training and/or working with aides or paraprofessionals
- Meeting with parents a minimum of once a year but maintaining open communication on a regular basis throughout the year
- Collaborating with regular education teachers
- Collaborating with other special education teachers
- Modifying the general curriculum to a level more appropriate for individual students
- Maintaining certification based on state requirements
- Attending professional development provided by the school, district, community, and/or state
Areas of Special Education
Ask Explorers to name different areas of special education. These may include the following:
- Intervention specialist—mild to moderate or moderate to intensive (these may vary from state to state)
- Behavior specialist
- Special education (or pupil services) director, supervisor, or administrator
- Deaf or hard of hearing specialist
- Early childhood specialist
- Visual impairments specialist
- Educational aide/paraprofessional
Work Environment
Ask if Explorers know what types of environments special education teachers work in. Begin a discussion, being sure to address the following:
- Generally, special education teachers, or intervention specialists, work in a school setting. They have daily classroom schedules with the same students each day.
- Intervention specialists can also be employed by a school district, a charter school, a private school, or a county board of developmental disabilities.
- Work generally occurs during a nine- to 10-month period, but some may work year-round.