To all special education teachers, what are the best and worst parts of your job?

Question

I am considering certification in special education and would like some feedback from teachers in the field. Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Parts:

Helping struggling students to achieve and seeing the look of joy in their eyes when they can do something that they thought they would never be able to do

Genuine appreciation on a regular basis from parents who know how hard you work to help their children

Working with a team of fellow professionals to figure out how a child learns best and planning together how to help them succeed

Appreciation from classroom teachers who are greatfull for you help in the classroom

Knowing that at the end of the day, you made a big difference in the life of a child

Worst Parts:

Feeling ineffective with your students because of too many demands by your administration--paperwork, increased caseload size, not enough planning time, extra responsibilities piled on top of your already full schedule

Feeling pulled in 10 directions

Knowing that children who need your services are being kept from getting them, because administrators are trying to hold down costs in special ed spending--and not being able to do anything about it

Fear of being sued by angry parents who expect miracles or cures for their children and feel you and the district aren't doing enough or aren't doing the right things

Answer 2

the worst-the politics of the public school system-administartors taht make it an us(admin) v them (faculty) workplace

positives-the success of the students---some private schools are nicer/less politics-

I work in early intervention-I've heard many first words-seen firt steps, heard first songs.......

Answer 3

The best is watching a student's excitement when he/she masters something for the first time. It may be learning to potty, reading a word, long division, etc.

The worst for me is passive students. They drive me nuts. I wonder if they react to anything.

Some folks hate the paperwork, there's a ton. I love it.

I don't like working with behaviorally emotionally disabled students.

I am not good at severe profound.

I love specific learning disabled. I love finding new strategies that help a student understand new concepts.

I am not good at preschoolers, either.

Regular ed colleagues rarely understand special ed (more specifically students, accommodations, modifications, teachers).

Special ed folks tend to burn out. (bummer)

With No Child Left Behind, you need some type of regular ed degree as well in order to be highly qualified (which is required).

I think it comes down to doing what you love. I have been fortunate enough to teach what I like best for 26 years

Answer 4

Okay, as everyone else says the best part is reaching a child and seeing the progress they can make and the paperwork is the worst.  But that isn't everything you need to consider if your looking at Special education.

Credential requirements are different in different states.  I teach in California and you don't need a regular education credential here to be highly qualified.  But there are a lot more classes to get a clear credential then there is for regular ed.

If you are serious about Special Education I would suggest you get some classroom experience before you start down the education path.  The year I started teaching there were 8 new special education teachers in my district.  After 7 years I am the only one left of those 8.  I started out with my sub credential and trying different classrooms, regular and special.  Special Education just seemed to fit the best for me and I haven't regretted it.

Good luck

Answer 5

The best part about special education is that you really get to know your students, as you deal with both the student and their families for the entire time they are enrolled at your school.  I love hearing from my former students and where they are in life after they have graduated.  The worst parts are...sometimes you deal with some pretty crazy parents who force you to do things that you KNOW are not what is best for the child, but going into due process is very costly whether or not the school wins, so unless it is an extreme case, the school will give in to the parent's wishes.  If you are dealing with students with emotional disabilties you are more likely to deal with tragedies (suicide, death, drugs, prison, etc.) involving your students, particularly at the high school level.

Answer 6

The best is when you see the progress your students make.  The worst is that the large amount of paperwork and high number of students can totally overwhelm a teacher and take time away from the students.