| Have you ever wondered, "Just what does a special | | | | elementary, middle and secondary school. |
| education teacher do?" This is a highly specialized | | | | Since there are so many students with learning |
| teaching job that requires a special license on top of | | | | disabilities, and more entering the school system every |
| the necessary bachelor's degree and teaching | | | | day, there are many career options for special |
| credential. Some states also require master's degrees. | | | | educations teachers. Children with autism, traumatic |
| There is a huge shortage for special education | | | | brain injuries, deafness and/or blindness, emotional |
| teachers at the moment, though, so some states are | | | | disturbances, mental retardation, speech and/or |
| offering alternative licensure programs to those who | | | | language impairments, orthopedic impairments, and |
| qualify. These teachers work with learning disabled | | | | multiple disabilities and specific learning disabilities may |
| students in K-12 schools in a variety of settings, and | | | | all need special attention in school. The techniques |
| sometimes they also work with 18 to 21-year-old | | | | used range from small group assignments to problem |
| students teaching basic job skills and life skills. | | | | solving to individual instruction. Teaching these students |
| Special education jobs are one of the toughest jobs | | | | requires more than just fostering academic progress; |
| out there, but it is also one of the jobs that come with | | | | the children must also progress behaviorally to |
| the most rewards. In a K-12 setting, the teacher will | | | | succeed. |
| typically just modify the general education curriculum to | | | | The qualifications and job specifics for special |
| meet the individual needs of their learning disabled | | | | education teachers varies in each state and district. If |
| students. When working with children with more | | | | you are interested in this rewarding job, your local |
| serious disabilities, however, the teacher may have to | | | | school district should be able to provide more career |
| instruct the students on basic literacy and life skills. | | | | information. It is a great time to pursue special teaching |
| Special Ed teachers who work with infants and | | | | jobs since there is a great shortage of qualified |
| toddlers are more focused on socialization and basic | | | | teachers who have the desire to work with the |
| lessons that will help prepare the children to adjust to | | | | learning disabled population. |