Education of a Special Calibur

Answer 1

The Teacher

A special education teacher is one who works with students who have some form of special need. Many of the students are disabled physically and mentally. Some may only be mildly disabled and just require an extra push to learn the lesson, while other students may be severely disabled and require much more than a small push These severely disabled students may require special physical caring for. Examples include being fed or even being taken to the restroom. Not all special education teachers deal with such severe cases; some may only have to help a student with a language impairment or an attention disorder.

The Education

Special education teachers are much like most other types of teachers. They are required by all states to be licensed. To obtain a teaching license the teacher must at least have a bachelor’s degree and he or she must complete an approved training program in the special education field. Some states even require a master’s degree for a teacher to work in this area of education. Most universities offer courses and programs specifically aimed at special education. Special education teachers often go through longer periods of training than other types of educators. Some institutions are even asking teachers to have a fifth year or other graduate-level training for the field. The final year of the training usually takes place in a classroom where the teacher can be supervised by a certified professional.

Additional Needs

Education is only a portion of what a special education teacher needs to be successful. Due to the unique environment that the special education teachers work in, other qualifications are needed. Patience is important for all educators to have but especially those working in special education. Many of the students that are being taught are stubborn on top of their special needs. The difficulty obviously varies from student to student but a special education teacher above all needs to remain patient. The teacher must also have exceptional motivation skills. In order for the students to learn they must want to learn. Communication is also a huge obstacle for the special education teacher, and often the need to compromise and cooperate comes into play with relaying the lesson to the student.

Salaries

On average, special education teachers make between $34,369 and $50,518 per year before taxes. Teachers also receive a yearly bonus which is based on many different things but averages from $411.16 to $2,026. Salaries vary from state to state and from school to school. The amount of education and the length of time spent working in the field can also have an effect on the pay.

Advancement

Special Education is a unique branch of education and has limited paths for advancement. Teachers can move up to higher paying schools or they can become a Director of Child Care. A special education teacher can also move on to being a different type of teacher and take the path of a specific subject to become a doctor in the chosen field.