How to Become a Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers provide tailored instruction for children of all ages with learning, physical or emotional disabilities. This career is ideal for individuals who possess a passion for helping others and are highly organized.

How to Become a Special Education Teacher

The most effective path towards becoming a special education teacher is by earning your bachelor’s degree in special education. This four-year degree provides coursework on general education topics as well as professional topics like educational psychology, curriculum modification and special education law. Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience through field experience and an internship!

Alternatively, you can earn an alternative certification that allows you to start teaching quickly after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. This path tends to be less costly than the traditional bachelor’s degree path.

You could also pursue a master’s degree in special education, which provides more specialized instruction for working with individuals with specific disabilities. Some schools may pay for the extra degree, so make sure to check with potential employers first.

Character Traits That Define the Best Special Education Teachers

The ideal special education teachers demonstrate compassion and patience, along with constant reassessment of their approach to students with differing needs. They are capable of reinspiring students in lessons when they’ve fallen behind, and they celebrate small victories to celebrate student success.

Creativity is another essential trait for special education teachers. Their job requires them to adapt general lesson plans and content in order to meet the needs of all their students, necessitating them to find engaging ways of teaching various subjects.

Maintaining their IEPs is a major responsibility for special education teachers. They must review each student’s IEP, including areas of need, accommodations and service minutes to guarantee they’re meeting the demands of their specific student population.

Organization is essential in guaranteeing all students in the classroom receive the support they need to reach their learning objectives. This may involve creating a binder or other system for organizing all information centrally and reviewing students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) prior to each school year.

State requirements for becoming a special education teacher vary, but generally require you to earn your bachelor’s degree and pass state-approved assessments. Additionally, you must pass the state licensing exam in your desired special education area in order to acquire teaching license.

Becoming a special education teacher can be both challenging and rewarding. The field is rapidly growing, with an increasing demand for qualified professionals in this area. With so much potential, becoming one of the few is sure to come with its share of challenges.

How to Become a Teaching Assistant

The initial step in becoming a teaching assistant is finding an accredited college or university that offers this option. This is an ideal way for individuals to gain experience teaching special education classes without taking on full-time teaching positions.

After earning experience as a teaching assistant, it’s time to decide what type of special education teacher you want to become. This will determine your next steps; applying for an educational position within this field.