I set out my lessons and notes before school starts, coordinating with students as they come and go. I teach all subjects and work exclusively with students with mental health and behavioral concerns. We work a lot on self regulation. I meet with colleagues throughout the day to align our teaching. After class I have meetings. I help design curriculum to be more inclusive of differently abled learners. I'll update parents on new developments then coordinate the next day and reset to do it again.
CAREER
Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$60,620
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+2.9% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Special Education Teachers, Elementary School Do
Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Other Job Titles Special Education Teachers, Elementary School May Have
Emotional Disabilities Teacher, Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teacher (HI Itinerant Teacher), Learning Support Teacher, Resource Program Teacher, Severe Emotional Disorders Elementary Teacher (SED Elementary Teacher), Special Education Inclusion Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Special Education Team Chair
On most days I will speak with many different teachers either during impromptu discussions or formal meetings to discuss best methods to teach particular students, based on the students' needs. I may have one to three meetings with teams of teachers, school psychologists, parents and others to review student evaluations designed to show their learning strengths and weaknesses. We then decide whether a student needs extra help and what that extra instruction will be.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Administer standardized ability and achievement tests to elementary students with special needs.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to maintain or improve professional competence.
- Collaborate with other teachers or administrators to develop, evaluate, or revise elementary school programs.
- Confer with other staff members to plan or schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
No data currently available.
Stay tuned! We’ll update this section as soon as data is available.Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Special Education Team Chair
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Psychology, General
Graduate
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special...
Suggested Path
Bachelor
American Studies
Graduate
American Studies
Graduate
Special Education and Teaching, General
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Special Education Team Chair
The most important skill I've learned is how to listen to others. Because all of us in schools are always concerned about being negatively judged, we often stop listening -- and spend our time thinking about what we're going to say when the other person is finished talking. Once I learned to listen first and not be afraid to take time to think, I was able to solve many problems without the usual stress that happens in school. Other primary skills needed are time management and organization!
The more exposure you have with different types of children and adults, the more it will help you learn how to deal with the tougher ones.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Middle School Students
Special Education Team Chair
A middle school student who thinks they want to be a teacher should begin by improving their reading and writing skills, as well as learning grammar at a precise level. Without that, you will always struggle with the curriculum you teach. Secondly, begin talking to your teachers about their jobs. Ask if you can help with any tasks. Finally, become a tutor, a classroom aide, or an assistant in any group. Make sure you ask your 'students' and the teacher for feedback.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.