What are the Problems encountered by the sped teachers?

Question

teaching special child

Answer 1

Designing the IEP, and implementing the IEP are not the hard part of being a special ed. teacher.  The hardest part is probably the long hours.  I am paid p/t, but actually work f/t when you consider that you are not only "just" a teacher.  You are designing curriculum, observing students, advising teachers, conducting meetings, you are the spokesman for special ed. law at your school.  The paperwork is a HUGE part of the job.  There are forms for everything imaginable.  

The students are great though.  It's the whole reason for becoming a special educator.  It's a hard job, but a very rewarding one!

Answer 2

the extra burden of not only writing and implementing Individualized Education Plans, but scheduling and arranging meetings whee parents, interpreters, therapists, psychologists, and all of the important people on the IEP team can be there. Since IEPs are annual, and require a lot of coordination, SPED teachers often spend more time in their offices trying to arrange all of this while supervising their assistants who end up doing the teaching.

in summary, SPED teachers don't get to do what they truly want to do as much, which is teach.

Answer 3

Paperwork.  For me, it is the increasing documentation for IEP's under NCLB, Medicaid billing, leaving a paper trail to cover your own butt, filling out forms, etc.

Yes, I have my bad days, and I have had issues with parents, as I am sure they have had with me, but that will happen in any profession.  I don't consider it a problem.  I have had some ugly incidents with students as well, but I don't consider them "problems" either.  I accepted my position, because I knew that dealing with aggressive outbursts would be a part of it.  It keeps my job interesting.

So, to reiterate, the only thing that I have to ***** about is all of the paperwork, and even with it, I still love my job.

Answer 4

Burned out parents, lacksadaisical support from administration, lack of funds and lack of training.



I think that sums it up.

Answer 5

I taught special ed many years and now teach college. One problem is that special education teachers have to teach to the test and instruction is largely uniform (as is assessment) thanks to No Child Left Behind legislation. The "individualized" component of the IE is sublimated to a "one size fits all" philosophy. Also full inclusion of our most severely handicapped population only results in these children sitting all day in regular ed classes with teacher's aids and not receiving enough instruction , assistive technology, augmentative communication or positioning from qualified teachers.

   I was blessed to have some good administrators but may principals do not know what you do, yet decide curriculum and policy. It would be helpful if special educators had a background in neuroscience or neurology, although they would have to be paid more money. But it's hard to understand how people who teach children with disabilities receive no training in the workings of the brain and learning structures.

  I have been in 2 other fields and teachers are the most micro-managed individuals. Special ed teachers have a great deal of accountability and take data on regular goals as well as IEP goals and the paperwork is staggering.

Parents are stressed out and often take To out on teachers.

Still teaching this population was a rewarding , wonderful experience over all

Answer 6

There are several stressful problems sped teacher's encounter.  I will just list a few. No parental support, very hostel parents, no administration support from sped department or general education site personnel, or some general education teachers who should be applying by the state and federal law.

Answer 7

Burned out parents