Should I go into Special Education? Are jobs really that abundant?

Question

First question - Should I and are jobs that abundant?

Second question -I want to get a Special Ed. license in Mild/Moderate disabilties and was wondering what areas of Special Education are there for someone who wants to work more one-on-one or small group? I really don't want my own classroom.

Answer 1

you can do early intervention-going to thechildren's homes to work with them 1:1

In my area-there is always a shortage-I am working a lot of overtime....

You will work with children with everything from a generic language delay to autism/multiple disabilities

Answer 2

First, should you go into Special Education.  Whether jobs are available or not you need to make this decision based on your experience.  There has been a lot of research regarding turn over in special education you might want to look at some of it.  If you have no experience with people with special needs you might want to try and volunteer in a classroom or get a job as an Aide before you make the commitment.  I have two children with mild learning disabilities but I started out as a substitute teacher and tried a variety of classrooms.  I have been an SDC teacher for the past 8 years and love it.

Now on to the job!  There are lots of different positions, there are home school teachers who visit students who can't attend a regular school for various reason, there are RSP (Resource Specialist) who pull a few students at a time from their regular classroom or go into the regular classroom to assist, there are SDC (Special Day Class) teachers who have their own classroom but may have as few as 6-8 students depending on the age and disability and there are inclusion specialist who work with regular education teachers to differentiate their curriculum.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Jobs are available.

RTI (Response to Intervention) may try to replace us in the future but there is not enough research yet, and I think parts of it may stay. However, I don't think it will replace us.

I have taught 26+ years and I have only had two years of self-contained (my own classroom). The rest of the time I had my own room but I pulled children from their regular ed classrooms and worked with them one on one or in small groups.

Answer 4

Sounds like to me you want to tutor than to be

a full time sped teacher with your own classroom.

I would talk to places like Sylvan learning center

if one on one is your cup of tea.