Special Ed Teachers information?

Question

In school we have to write this big report on what we want to do when we grow up. I really want to be a peer tutor. We have to put stuff about colleges we would go to and stuff and I was wondering if someone could help me find lots of info on Special Education teaching and colleges with that stuff and what i would major in for that?

Answer 1

You need a degree in Education, and the Spec Ed degree covers teaching Kindergarten through 12th grades.  (At least it was that way when I got my degree 13 years ago.)  There are several areas in which you can teach--from Early Childhood to Content Mastery to Inclusion, and so on.

What do you mean when you say you want to be a "peer tutor"?

The alternative certification information below is correct, but is usually more for someone who already has a degree in something other than Education then decides later to teach.  I went that route myself and it worked out well--my degress are in Communications and Psychology.  Seeing that you are asking about what to major in with the intent to teach right away, I would think that Education is the right way to go.  There are pros and cons to each way, but they will both get you to where you are going!  :)

Answer 2

Get your BS in special education and then after you get a job begin working on your MS.  You really need the specialization that a degree in special ed will offer you --- not psychology or any other field.  As far as finding a  lot of info on special ed - type in your search engine -- your local state school board --- such as Kansas Board of Education, and they can give you info on becoming a special ed teacher.  As in most states you will have to take difficult certification tests - and they aren't easy - I had to take five tests to get my certification as a LBS1 - learning behavior specialist - in the state of Illinois.  You can also type in the name of a local college and search their degrees offered.  Good Luck!

Answer 3

Actually, you don't need to have an education degree. You just have to have a core degree in something (science, math, english). Once you've earned your degree, you can go through an ACP (accelerated program) to obtain your special ed certification. Takes a few weeks. There are so many different areas in special ed you could work with. You can teach any ages starting as early as 3 yrs old. You can choose to work in a school setting or in a home base setting (going to other people's houses to work with their special needs kids). You can continue your education and become a diagnostician. You can teach resource or co-teach or work with behavior/ emotionally disturbed students. You can teach life skills (really low functioning children) or P.E. for special needs kids. So many things you can do with special ed.

Whatever you decide to major in, make sure you have a certain amount of core credit hours because that is how they will determine what subject you are highly qualified to teach. It is something new they started last year.

Answer 4

It helps if you have a degree in psychology. Then you can apply for the alternative certification teaching certificate and become certified as a special education teacher. That's what helped me through my two years as a sp.ed. teacher. (Psychology plays a key role in understanding why the children are behaving the way they are and what modifications are needed to help them). You can attend any university that offers a major in psychology, or education (if you want to go that route). A Developmental Psychology class would be really helpful too.