My Child's Path

My friend Heather is the Lead Teacher at the school I am working at as an Assistant Teacher.  She is so good at what she does and I just had to have an interview from her!  Early Intervention Special Education is so important…. if you are interested in Special Education, you might consider it!

Q:  What is the title of your profession?

A:  I am a Special Education Teacher

Q:  What do you do?

A:  I teach students who are special and have special needs. The student may have behavioral, emotion, or physical impairments, or may simply have trouble learning. I use all kinds of different teaching tools to be able to have the student learn, and not just things like the alphabet or addition, but things like how to speak, or play with toys or other children, how to dress themselves or use the bathroom, and so on.  In order to know what tools to use, what approach to take, etc, I must evaluate the needs of the child. This requires special tests, observation, and discussions with other significant adults in the child’s life. Once I determine the needs of the child, a plan is made and carried out in the classroom. I may use special calendars that use pictures, or special toys that help the child develop muscles or create certain activities that help engage the child in the task at hand. Daily, I observe the child to see if progress is being made, and compile a chart with my findings to share with the parents, therapists and other teachers the child may have.

Q:  Have you always worked in this field?

A:  My first introduction into this field was as one of the support staff at a residential facility for children with special needs. That’s a place where children, whose needs are so great as to exceed what their families can provide for them in terms of learning and developing, are sent to live. At this facility they are taught and cared for on a full time basis by trained staff and professionals. I learned how to teach these children basic life skills, like how to wash themselves, dress themselves, do simple household chores, etc. I learned how to keep the child safe by using certain restraint procedures if the child became aggressive.

Q:   Why did you choose this profession?

A:  After the introduction I had at the residential care facility, I had to take a hard look at what I wanted to do. While on the one hand, I knew I wanted to work with children and was always drawn to the children who I saw as having special needs in one form or another, on the other hand I recognized that this was a difficult field to work in full time. I had to come to terms with the aspects of the job that were unpleasant to me, like using restraints on a child or having to be firm with a child when you just want to cuddle or play with them. Once I accepted that these things were often in the best interest of the child, I made my peace with it, went on to earn my teaching degree and certification in working with children with special needs, and have been fulfilled by my choice ever since.

Q:   How would you define your profession? Teacher

A:   Did you go to college or a trade school for this profession? Yes, I went to a 4 year college, received my Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education. I later went back to school and received my Certification for Special Education. I also received and maintain certifications in First Aid, CPR, MANDT Restraint Training, and Behavioral Support Certification.

Q:  How long did you go to school?  Where?  What was your degree in?

A:  I attended Florida Atlantic University for 4 years and received a Bachelor of Education degree. I attended the University of Southern Maine for one year and received a Special Education Certification.

Q:  Do you use your degree in your job?  In what way?

A:  Yes, as a teacher I am required by the state to hold these degrees and certifications.

Q:  Can your degree be used as a basis for any other professions?  What types?

A:  Yes, regular or special education teacher for grades K-8.

Q:   Does your job require continued education?  What type?   How much?

A:  Yes, 18 hours each year in training that pertains directly to my field: First Aid, CPR, and MANDT Certifications are renewed each year.

Q:    Does your job require a certification or board testing?

A:  Yes, I was required to take a test for both my elementary education certificate and my special education certificate, called PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II.

Q:  What is a day in the life of your job?  Does it change day to day?  Do you work with the public?

A:  I begin each day by preparing the materials that I will need for the students that I will be working with for that day. I frequently work with different students from one day to the next. Each child has their own specific goals tracked through data sheets, schedules, pictures and supports that are used when working with them.  Once students arrive, I help them work on their goals during free play, things like turn taking, sharing, and answering questions. After free play, I help students clean up, and get ready for circle time. I lead the students in morning greetings, movement, and songs. When circle is finished, I help the students wash their hands and get their snack. During snack time, teachers help students eat and drink appropriately, and make appropriate conversation. After snack, students are brought to the bathroom to either practice toileting goals or have their diaper changed. Kids are then provided with some time to run around in the gross motor room while I set up for a literacy circle and possibly an art project to follow. Many of the students require hand-over-hand support to complete art projects. Once completed, it is time for recess. I help kids get dressed, and then monitor their safety while outside. When it’s time to go back inside, students are able to go to the bathroom and get ready for lunch. After lunch students are able to look at books and puzzles while waiting for their parents to pick them up; when they come, I fill parents in on their child’s day. When all children have been picked up, the classroom gets cleaned up, and data collected throughout the day gets recorded / graphed into each child’s specific data book.

Q:   What do you think makes a person successful in this profession?

A:  The number one thing a teacher of a child with special needs has to embrace is that learning has to be fun and meaningful to the child. It helps to have a creative aptitude and to think outside the box, because not every child learns in the same way. You have to be able to tap into whatever key unlocks the door to that particular child’s ability and be willing to use all of your resources to engage and motivate the child.

Q:  Does your profession require travel?  How much?

A:  No.

Q:  What is the typical schedule/hours?

A:  Where I am currently working, the program is a half day, from 9:15 am to 1:15 pm, 5 days a week and I go in an hour early each day and stay late for meetings occasionally.

Q:   What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A:  The first time I heard one of my students, who came to our program totally non verbal, greet her mother when she came to pick her up saying “Mama”, when I saw her mother’s tears, when I saw the child’s pride, I knew that I had made a difference. That is all the reward I need.

Q:  What do you dislike about your job?

A:  There are times when it can be very frustrating and discouraging when the school and home environment cannot work together.

Q:  What advice would you give to a child/student that is considering this profession?

A:  Make sure your motivation for working in this field is truly a love of children and that you are not drawn by ideas of long summer and Christmas vacations. The vacations are necessary in order to reinvigorate yourself to give your best and your all in such an emotionally taxing profession.

Q:  If you had to do it all over again, would you choose the same profession?

A:  Yes, absolutely.

Q:   Are you having fun?

A:  I am having something better than fun. I am having a purpose in my life and the knowledge that I am making a difference. Having said that, yes, there are times that I laugh until my sides ache.

Q:   Do you receive a pension or have a company sponsored 401k?

A:  No, one of the drawbacks to this profession is compensation is usually not monetary. People who choose this profession are interested in a different kind of reward. The public school systems do however, offer both.