Teachers-special educationSpecial education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. A small number of special education teachers work with students with mental retardation or autism, primarily teaching them life skills and basic literacy. However, the majority of special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities, using the general education curriculum, or modifying it, to meet the child�s individual needs. Most special education teachers instruct students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school level, although some teachers work with infants and toddlers. The various types of disabilities that qualify individuals for special education programs include specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, multiple disabilities, hearing impairments, orthopedic impairments, visual impairments, autism, combined deafness and blindness, traumatic brain injury, and other health impairments. Students are classified under one of the categories, and special education teachers are prepared to work with specific groups. Early identification of a child with special needs is an important part of a special education teacher�s job. Early intervention is essential in educating children with disabilities. Special education teachers use various techniques to promote learning. Depending on the disability, teaching methods can include individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments, and small-group work. When students need special accommodations in order to take a test, special education teachers see that appropriate ones are provided, such as having the questions read orally or lengthening the time allowed to take the test. Special education teachers help to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each special education student. The IEP sets personalized goals for each student and is tailored to the student�s individual learning style and ability. The program includes a transition plan outlining specific steps to prepare special education students for middle school or high school or, in the case of older students, a job or postsecondary study. Teachers review the IEP with the student�s parents, school administrators, and, often, the student�s general education teacher. Teachers work closely with parents to inform them of their child�s progress and suggest techniques to promote learning at home. Special education teachers design and teach appropriate curricula, assign work geared toward each student�s ability, and grade papers and homework assignments. They are involved in the students� behavioral and academic development, helping the students develop emotionally, feel comfortable in social situations, and be aware of socially acceptable behavior. Preparing special education students for daily life after graduation also is an important aspect of the job. Teachers provide students with career counseling or help them learn routine skills, such as balancing a checkbook. As schools become more inclusive, special education teachers and general education teachers are increasingly working together in general education classrooms. Special education teachers help general educators adapt curriculum materials and teaching techniques to meet the needs of students with disabilities. They coordinate the work of teachers, teacher assistants, and related personnel, such as therapists and social workers, to meet the requirements of inclusive special education programs. A large part of a special education teacher�s job involves interacting with others. Special education teachers communicate frequently with parents, social workers, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school administrators, and other teachers. Special education teachers work in a variety of settings. Some have their own classrooms and teach only special education students; others work as special education resource teachers and offer individualized help to students in general education classrooms; still others teach together with general education teachers in classes composed of both general and special education students. Some teachers work with special education students for several hours a day in a resource room, separate from their general education classroom. Considerably fewer special education teachers work in residential facilities or tutor students in homebound or hospital environments. Special education teachers who work with infants usually travel to the child�s home to work with the child and his or her parents. Many of these infants have medical problems that slow or preclude normal development. Special education teachers show parents techniques and activities designed to stimulate the infant and encourage the growth of the child�s skills. Toddlers usually receive their services at a preschool where special education teachers help them develop social, self-help, motor, language, and cognitive skills, often through the use of play. Technology is playing an increasingly important role in special education. Teachers use specialized equipment such as computers with synthesized speech, interactive educational software programs, and audiotapes to assist children. Related news articles Day in life of teacher exhausting - 16 Oct 2006 Greeley Tribune,3:45-6:00 pm: Share strategies for helping a former student with fourth-grade teacher. Conference with special ed teacher. Prepare ... Country video filmed in Oxford - 16 Oct 2006 The Arkansas City Traveler Online,Metz has taught several subjects at various grade levels for over 30 years. She's currently an Oxford special ed teacher for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. ... Free Press allowed access to juror list in sex-abuse trial - 16 Oct 2006 Detroit Free Press,A special ed teacher assigned to the room testified such an assault could not have taken place there, since children eat in the room, supervised by adults. ... Special ed teacher arrested on porn charges - Oct 5, 2006 Newsday,BY MICHAEL FRAZIER. A special-education teacher for Lawrence Middle School was arrested Thursday on child pornography charges after ... Special ed teacher arrested on porn charges - Oct 5, 2006 Newsday,BY WIL CRUZ AND MICHAEL FRAZIER. A special education teacher was arrested this morning on charges of storing child pornography in ... The One-Question Test - Oct 15, 2006 Lew Rockwell,...country. Linda Schrock Taylor [send her mail] is an educational consultant, homeschooling mom, and public school special ed teacher. ... Region 10 honors special ed teacher - Sep 16, 2006 New Britain Herald,BURLINGTON - Mary Newman, a special education teacher at Har-Bur Middle School, has been named Teacher of the Year for the Region 10 school system. ... Schools work to integrate students with Down syndrome - Oct 12, 2006 Oshkosh Northwestern,..."Because we don't want to single them out, a special ed teacher works with everyone in the classroom or with small groups of children," said Lieuallen. ... Baby Loves Disco Nightclubs - Oct 13, 2006 NBC4.TV,...the generation gap. MACK: Program coordinator Valerie Harris is a former special-ed teacher with disco in her DNA. HARRIS: I love ... Bronx teacher sues over sex expose - Oct 5, 2006 Political Gateway,Richard Gallo, a special ed teacher in the Bronx, claimed he was relegated to his district's office after mailing the principal a videotape showing the ... A transformation for special ed - Sep 19, 2006 Arizona Republic,QWhat makes for a good special-ed teacher? AYou have to have the technical knowledge of behavioral issues, curriculum and learning strategies. ... Teach sex vid lands - Oct 5, 2006 New York Daily News,BY JOSE MARTINEZ. A Bronx special ed teacher contends he's being punished for delivering a lesson that his principal didn't care to learn. ... Kristen’s Claim to Fame - Oct 11, 2006 The Herald Argus,...“My old baby-sitter/chauffer Sarah Rice. She’s in Chicago doing shows like ‘Hairspray.’ She used to be a special ed teacher then got into theater. ... Migliozzi: Alayna's Army is on the move! - Oct 12, 2006 Watertown TAB & Press,...sentence in particular got my attention: "It feels great when she initiates." The reason I'm struck by this line is because I'ma special ed teacher, and this ... Best Bets on TV - Oct 12, 2006 Long Beach Press-Telegram,What else matters? Channel 2, 9 pm. DEAL OR NO DEAL: A special-ed teacher joins the $1 million fray. Channel 4, 9 pm. SUPERNATURAL ... Teachers juggle pupils' unique needs - Sep 21, 2006 Tucson Citizen,Q: What makes for a good special-ed teacher? A: You have to have the technical knowledge of behavioral issues, curriculum and learning strategies. ... Oak Park sex case to jury; teacher says he's innocent - Sep 20, 2006 Detroit Free Press,...classroom alleged to be the crime scene -- a special education room -- was filled with students and adults eating lunch, as the special ed teacher claimed, or ... Hoffman success comes in degrees - Sep 26, 2006 Long Beach Press-Telegram,Ed always said his sons - Greg, who was a high school basketball coach in Orange County and is now a special ed teacher, Glenn, the former Red Sox infielder ... COOKIES mentoring project presented at DUSD meeting - Oct 4, 2006 Douglas Daily Dispatch,The board also asked that the cost of a special election for property sale be investigated. ˆ Approved Special Ed Teacher Assistants Claudia Braun, Huber; and ... Protecing trees from tourists Weehawken man travels to Mexico for ... - Oct 1, 2006 Hudson Reporter,The special ed teacher aims to instill in them an appreciation of the wildlife in their own communities, such as the pigeon, seagull or squirrel. ... 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