A career in any aspect of education will have its rewards and challenges, but special education is a unique specialty that has its own set of hurdles that can often seem daunting or discouraging, especially to those new in the field. Here are some suggestions for simplifying the complex tasks of a special educator.

Plan

Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings can be intimidating, and the best strategy for feeling more confident in these meetings is to prepare in advance. Here are some tips:

• Use an agenda for each meeting
• Understand the student’s current IEP and goals
• Prepare a plan for proposed changes to the student’s goals and services
• Know the IEP team ahead of time and prepare to include them all in finalizing a plan for the student

Organize

With IEPs, progress monitoring, collaborating with general education teachers, and creating individual lesson plans, special education teachers have a high volume of paperwork and it’s easy to fall behind. A good system for organizing information in student Individual Education Plans is to create and file one-page summaries that can be shared with other teachers on each student’s schedule. A color-coded filing system and individual student binders can also be useful for organizing and saving time.

Research

The world of education, particularly the exceptional education field, is constantly changing. Staying abreast of the latest studies and policies is extremely important. Here are some examples of information that is helpful:

• Current research: read education journals and study district policy to stay informed about Response to Invervention (RTI) and current research-based trends in the industry.
• Individual student data: collect weekly or biweekly data to track student progress. Important data to collect includes:
  • behavior data and trends
  • attendance data
  • student progress reports
  • standardized test scores
  • individual student academic goals and objectives

Communicate

Special education teachers are not alone, and it’s important to initiate contact with the partners who further their work. Reaching out to new families before the start of school will pave the road to a positive relationship, and contacting existing students will solidify the partnership that has been established. Ongoing communication with other teachers, counselors and administration is also critical.

Gather Support

Mentors are extremely important, especially for new exceptional education teachers. If the school does not provide one, it’s helpful to find someone in the district who is knowledgeable about special ed that can assist with answering questions and helping with difficult scenarios. Support also includes finding a work-life balance and taking time to replenish when energy levels seem to wane. Setting boundaries, relaxing with family and friends, and making time for personal activities is critical to avoid burnout.

While special education has its challenges and can seem intimidating, it is an extremely rewarding career that has a big impact on the most at-risk students and their families.

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