Special Ed. Teachers- a ? for you

[Missamoncus]

Especially if you teach in Texas. Do you teach in a self-contained classroom? A resource room? Teach or coteach in a general ed room?
What are the differences?What is your day like? I ask because I am going in to the field of special education and it seems every school district ( at least here in Texas ) handles things a little differently. I need all the info I can get.
Would you do something differently if you had the chance? Can you teach in the elementary general ed. classroom with a special ed certification?

thanks, Dear Dis friends,
Melissa

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I teach moderate special needs so the majority of my kids are LD some mild PDD.

I used to teach in a self contained classroom and it was wonderful. The kids made tons of progress and I was able to exit some of them.
This past year our school system went to full inclusion and I had to co teach in a gen ed classroom. It was horrible. The teachers were not cooperative, they did not view the sped kids as THIER kids. They did not let me co teach all that much.While this was upsetting, I found it kind of humorous on their part...if you can teach and have students make progress in sped you can TEACH anything or anyone. The plus side to a minor extent was the socialization however with teacher attitude not equal toward the sped students they still had an uphill battle to become one with their peers.

I teach in the Northeast and the standards are VERY high. Not being able to have the kids all day and concentrate on problem areas is hard. In the past I could stop and work with them on areas of difficulty until they got it now I am on someone else's schedule and the kids are just swept along in their wake.

I guess I would tell you that if you can do a self contained classroom it is MUCH better for the kids educational purposes there are always ways you can work on the social aspect.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am bumping this up.

I am very interested in this thread. My son has a Learning Disability. He has been on a Pull-Out basis. He has been in a regular classroom, but was pulled out to Special Ed every afternoon.

This is now being changed.

They are calling this 'Inclusion'. (They can call it anything the want.) My son will be in a Co-Teaching type of situation. While it is supposed to actually give my DS MORE time of Special Ed instruction. I have feared just what Bella The Ball just posted. The Special Ed teacher and aide may get a little more time with the kids. But, it could just boil down to almost zero actual one-on-one time.

I have had a lot of negative experiences with the attitude and lack of understanding and training with the the classroom teachers. I sat in my DS last IEP meeting (where they were outlining these upcoming changes) just incredulous that in that room with goodness knows how many 'degrees' and how much 'training' and how many years and years of experience, not one person seemed to be vaguely famillar with my DS disability, or had even made any effort to become familiar. Including the Principal and the Special Ed Teacher.


Personally, I would not like to see my son in a self-contained designated Special Ed classroom. I simply do not think that this would be right for him in any way.

I am just hoping that with these changed, all works out for the best!

 

[Karel]

Before I had kids, I taught in special ed schools, so obviously things were very segragated there. I know that there are less and less of these schools as most districts are bringing their kids back for 'least restrictive' enviroment.
But that's one kind of special ed teaching.

In my daughter's school, there is a general mix of special ed and related services. She had pullout basic skills and also resource room replacement. In replacement, it was not the typical curriculm that her class was doing in the classroom. She also had an aide in math class so while she was learning with the whole class, there was someone monitoring her to make sure she understood. (The aide was there for the whole class, not just one on one.)

This aide trend rather disturbs me though, because I think that more and more schools are going with para professionals to assist in the classrooms, rather than a certified teacher.

I also worked this past year as a long term sub resource room teacher. One was a 'replacement' resource room, where the kids came doing their classes reading and math time and I was responsible for their language arts and math. Then they would go back to their class for other subjects.

I also worked as in class support in five different classrooms (every morning) , where I helped kids one on one or in small groups. The goal here was to keep the kids with their class but offer support if needed. I also had the opportunity to teach but really, I felt that was the classroom teachers job - to teach whole lessons.

When I did in class support, it gave me a chance to reteach whatever the student may have not gotten the first time. I could pull kids to the back table to re-explain something or have them finish a test at a slower rate, so that the rest of the class wasn't sitting and waiting for them. Socially, they were still with their class and doing grade level work but had me to refocus them or give them an extra boost, if needed.

I am certified in all three areas - special ed, elementary and early childhood. I wish I had a reading specialist certificate. (or you could get math specialist, if that's your thing)

"Can you teach in the elementary general ed. classroom with a special ed certification?"

Do you mean have classroom with only a sped cert? I would think that it would depend on the district, but I would think no. First, do you need to take the Praxis for a special cert? I had to take it for my elementary cert but I've been told that it's not necessary for sped.

I would go for both elem and sped cert. if possible. Why limit yourself? I was given my second long term sub position specifically because of my sped. They had someone else in the position but needed someone for IEPs.

 

[Missamoncus]

Thanks for the replies , everyone. Yes, I will have to take the PRAXIS before I am certified. I am in a special program for people who have thier bachelors in one area and are going into teaching as a mid-life career change. I will graduate in August 07 with my Masters in Education after one year of intense, graduate level SPED, Curriculum and instruction , and Reading courses. Then , I will work for one year in a supervised capacity and take my exams ( PRAXIS and TEXCET) and then I will be certified SPED K-12. I love the idea of becoming a reading specialist. I wonder what the course load for that would be? Lets keep this thread going !

Thanks again,
Melissa

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The teachers were not cooperative, they did not view the sped kids as THIER kids.

I am not in the field, but I know someone who has experienced this as a sped teacher. Why is this? I take it it's a common thing in the field? What about the parents, are there any trends you see with them? Thank you. It has been a difficult year for this person and I'm sure it will be helpful to hear others' experiences.

 

[Karel]

Thanks for the replies , everyone. Yes, I will have to take the PRAXIS before I am certified. I am in a special program for people who have thier bachelors in one area and are going into teaching as a mid-life career change. I will graduate in August 07 with my Masters in Education after one year of intense, graduate level SPED, Curriculum and instruction , and Reading courses. Then , I will work for one year in a supervised capacity and take my exams ( PRAXIS and TEXCET) and then I will be certified SPED K-12. I love the idea of becoming a reading specialist. I wonder what the course load for that would be? Lets keep this thread going !

Wow. You will be desirable with your masters but some places may be unwilling to pay a high salary that one might expect with the higher degree.

There is such a wide range of positions for special ed. I would look around - observe or even volunteer - at the different options and see what you like.

Have you worked in sped previously? What made you decide to change over?

 

[Karel]

I am not in the field, but I know someone who has experienced this as a sped teacher. Why is this? I take it it's a common thing in the field? What about the parents, are there any trends you see with them? Thank you. It has been a difficult year for this person and I'm sure it will be helpful to hear others' experiences.

This is not what I have experienced. Yes, I had one teacher who went a little too quickly ( in her lessons) but always included the rr kids in the class. She was always very careful to wait till the pull outs came back to start something.

 

[MareQ]

Not a Special Ed Teacher or even a Teacher at all - Just a mom of a Special Needs child. Just wanted to pop in and thank all of you for choosing your wonderful profession!! If it wasn't for men and women like yourselves - my son would have almost no chance at receiving a great education that is suited to his abilities and learning styles.

I have so much respect for teachers to begin with and ever more for SPecial Ed teachers. THANK YOU!!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I am not in the field, but I know someone who has experienced this as a sped teacher. Why is this? I take it it's a common thing in the field?

My partner and I view ALL of our students as OUR students, no matter if they are spec ed or not. Any good teacher does. I certainly hope that it is a common thing.

 

[Cindy B]

I am in school for my special ed cert/elementary ed cert and wanted to give you some of my observations.

I subbed this past year in specific special education settings. I requested special education as first priority assignments and regular ed from there.

I did it all! Inclusion, resource room, pull out instruction, emotional behavior room, non verbal (autistic) classrooms, job transition classroom (this was older adolescents getting job training). I did all grade levels from Pre K to 12th grade.

I also worked for three years in an inclusion setting as a paraprofessional . I did verbal behavior training with non verbal students and I am a job coach for transition adults.

In NJ, I need my special ed Praxis and cert to teach as a special ed teacher. I will technically be triple certfied... My school requires a double major for all education majors --mine is elementary ed/writing arts. After my bachelors, I am doing a post bacelor certification in special education. I'd love to do my masters, but that is a one step at a time process.


As for pull out versus inclusion, I have to say I prefer inclusion more. Inclusion if offered to the student, gives them peer to peer social interaction that is not available in a pull out classroom. I've seen student perform better academically and socially in an inclusion setting versus pull out. These students want to be with the "regular" kids, at least in the middle school I was working at.


In my district we have 19 schools. All classes and schools have different ways on dealing with special education students. It really all depends on the student, the disability, the class size, etc...

 

[Missamoncus]

Have you worked in sped previously? What made you decide to change over?

No , I have never worked in the field of special education. I have taught performing and visual arts for many , many years. My husband has been a teacher for many years, and after really looking at our family, how we want to live our lives, these changes came about. I have often worked with special students in performing arts. I never will forget choreographing a production
of Barnum with kids 8-18. The beautiful little girl who played Tom Thumb
had Cystic Fibrosis. We had a circus act coordinator from Circus Circus and we really had to put these kids through thier paces physically because they were REALLY doing the circus acts ( the web , Trapeze, Walking the globe,
everything) Well, the first day we went to run 'caterpillers'through the theatre seats and I quietly stopped the little girl playing Tom Thumb and told her she didn't have to run. She very politely told me , " Miss Melissa, I can do anything everybody else can do, it just may take me a little longer. I will go last so I don't hold anybody up and you just go to the next thing when you need to . Don't wait on me. I will run every lap everybody else does , because I am a member of this cast with a job to do , not a 'sick kid' having a theatre experience." And you know what ? She sure as Heck did. I went in to the office and cried like a baby opening night when she came up to me and said , " Miss Melisa, I went to my doctor today and he told me to keep doing whatever I have been doing because my lung capacity has improved !"
That little girl taught me so much.

 

[Louise-Montreal]

No , I have never worked in the field of special education. I have taught performing and visual arts for many , many years. My husband has been a teacher for many years, and after really looking at our family, how we want to live our lives, these changes came about. I have often worked with special students in performing arts. I never will forget choreographing a production
of Barnum with kids 8-18. The beautiful little girl who played Tom Thumb
had Cystic Fibrosis. We had a circus act coordinator from Circus Circus and we really had to put these kids through thier paces physically because they were REALLY doing the circus acts ( the web , Trapeze, Walking the globe,
everything) Well, the first day we went to run 'caterpillers'through the theatre seats and I quietly stopped the little girl playing Tom Thumb and told her she didn't have to run. She very politely told me , " Miss Melissa, I can do anything everybody else can do, it just may take me a little longer. I will go last so I don't hold anybody up and you just go to the next thing when you need to . Don't wait on me. I will run every lap everybody else does , because I am a member of this cast with a job to do , not a 'sick kid' having a theatre experience." And you know what ? She sure as Heck did. I went in to the office and cried like a baby opening night when she came up to me and said , " Miss Melisa, I went to my doctor today and he told me to keep doing whatever I have been doing because my lung capacity has improved !"
That little girl taught me so much.

Amazing what kids can teach us if we listen Thanks for sharing that wonderful story!

 

[paigevz]

I am a general ed. teacher.

I teach special education children in my classroom because we are moving towards full inclusion. Presently, some children are still leaving for resource classes only in the areas that they have not yet been able to do successfully in the classroom..........often because of issues with behavior/attention/sensory rather than academic needs.

They cluster our students with one teacher, but we do rotate children for reading groups, science and social studies.

Our special education teacher offers a safe place for a student to go when overwhelmed. She makes and carries out plans for those who are with her for any subject area full-time. When all her students are in the other classrooms, she moves from class to class checking for understanding and work completion. She makes sure we have their IEPs and we understand their accommodation needs. She also helps us when we have questions or issues arise.

I ask for the IEP students to be placed in my room. I don't like how some of the other teachers ignore them or give them busy work. I like to include them in what we are all doing at their level if possible. I find that they often push themselves more that way. The IEP kids I had this year were at K level at the beginning, and on mid to end of second level by the end of the year (second grade). This isn't because I work miracles........it's because they pushed themselves to keep up and surpass expectations of them.

I have 4 IEP students on my list for next year, and I am so excited to see what they will do with all our new programs. These are meant to give a solid foundation from the ground up and I think these kids will excel with the repetition inherent in the programs.

Oops........I'm monologuing again. Off to read other responses now!

 

[Missamoncus]

that they often push themselves more that way. The IEP kids I had this year were at K level at the beginning, and on mid to end of second level by the end of the year (second grade). This isn't because I work miracles........it's because they pushed themselves to keep up and surpass expectations of them.


That is wonderful! This is what is hoped for with inclusion. Do you work for a larger, more metropolitan school district or a rural one?

Melissa

 

[paigevz]

Larger. It began as a small town long ago, then Fort Worth has grown into it. 20 years ago it was suburban. Now, it is virtually indistinguishable from Fort Worth, especially towards my end. Kids who live across the street from some of ours go to Fort Worth schools. I'd tend to describe it as more urban now, though most who live/work there still call it suburban.

 

[Jilliebean]

Melissa,

I went through a similar post-bac certification program. I already had a B.S. in Math and went back and got the certification in special education. I started out working towards a second degree in early childhood ed but during one of my first semester of classes towards that degree I took a special education survey class where we observed and interviewed teachers in special education classes and I loved it. I finished that semester and then switched over to the special ed certification immediately.

I'm teaching in a self-contained middle school classroom and that was my first choice. Most of the students in our school who receive SPED services receive them in a resource classroom or in collaborative regular ed classroom. In my opinion the big benefit of having a self-contained classroom is having the same core group of students all day. You really get to know them and what their learning needs are. The downside is having to plan and prepare for teaching all four subjects.

Anyways, congrats on your career choice! It's a great job!

 

[Karel]

In NJ, I need my special ed Praxis and cert to teach as a special ed teacher. I will technically be triple certfied... ...

And I was told that it wasn't necessary for sped teachers to have the Praxis (by the CST I'm working for). Or maybe I'm grandfathered in because I graduated many moons ago. We were the first class in NJ that had to take the National Teacher exam. When we started our senior year, we were worried about our comprehesives and then the NTE popped up but no one really cared.

The state rules can be very unclear. I'm trying to figure out the whole Highly Qualified thing too...

 

[Cindy B]

And I was told that it wasn't necessary for sped teachers to have the Praxis (by the CST I'm working for). Or maybe I'm grandfathered in because I graduated many moons ago. We were the first class in NJ that had to take the National Teacher exam. When we started our senior year, we were worried about our comprehesives and then the NTE popped up but no one really cared.

The state rules can be very unclear. I'm trying to figure out the whole Highly Qualified thing too...

I think thats it. I'm still in school, so I 'm going by the current rules as of TODAY to finish my school. I would think you are grandfathered in. But the rules change quickly, so you may have been fine.