2 answers
Josiah
Student
Greenville, Illinois
1
Question
Updated
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What are the biggest challenges you face as a special education teacher? What's the biggest reward you get from being a special education teacher? #Spring25
I am interested in being a kindergarten teacher, perhaps in an international setting.
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2 answers
Aravind C
18
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Aravind’s Answer
Biggest Challenges in Special Education Teaching
1. Emotional Burnout
Supporting students with complex needs can be mentally and emotionally draining. Teachers often take on multiple roles, like educator, counselor, and advocate.
2. Heavy Workload and Paperwork
Special education teachers manage Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), behavior plans, and lots of paperwork, all while trying to teach effectively, which can be very time-consuming.
3. Lack of Resources
Schools might not have enough assistive technology, specialized staff like aides and therapists, or updated materials for diverse learners.
4. Classroom Management
Students may have different disabilities or learning styles, making it challenging to maintain classroom order while meeting everyone's needs.
5. Limited Support or Understanding
General education staff and administrators might not fully understand the unique demands of special education, leading to feelings of isolation or being undervalued.
Biggest Rewards in Special Education Teaching
1. Seeing Student Growth
Even small achievements, like a student reading their first word or making a friend, are deeply meaningful. Progress might be slow, but every step counts.
2. Building Strong Relationships
Special education teachers often form close bonds with their students and families, becoming trusted advocates and mentors.
3. Making a Real Difference
Teachers often serve as the voice and support system for students who might be overlooked, helping them believe in themselves.
4. Learning Patience and Empathy
This job teaches valuable lessons in compassion, resilience, and creative problem-solving, which can be personally transformative.
5. Being a Lifelong Learner
Every student offers new learning experiences, and special education teachers often become experts in innovation and flexibility.
1. Emotional Burnout
Supporting students with complex needs can be mentally and emotionally draining. Teachers often take on multiple roles, like educator, counselor, and advocate.
2. Heavy Workload and Paperwork
Special education teachers manage Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), behavior plans, and lots of paperwork, all while trying to teach effectively, which can be very time-consuming.
3. Lack of Resources
Schools might not have enough assistive technology, specialized staff like aides and therapists, or updated materials for diverse learners.
4. Classroom Management
Students may have different disabilities or learning styles, making it challenging to maintain classroom order while meeting everyone's needs.
5. Limited Support or Understanding
General education staff and administrators might not fully understand the unique demands of special education, leading to feelings of isolation or being undervalued.
Biggest Rewards in Special Education Teaching
1. Seeing Student Growth
Even small achievements, like a student reading their first word or making a friend, are deeply meaningful. Progress might be slow, but every step counts.
2. Building Strong Relationships
Special education teachers often form close bonds with their students and families, becoming trusted advocates and mentors.
3. Making a Real Difference
Teachers often serve as the voice and support system for students who might be overlooked, helping them believe in themselves.
4. Learning Patience and Empathy
This job teaches valuable lessons in compassion, resilience, and creative problem-solving, which can be personally transformative.
5. Being a Lifelong Learner
Every student offers new learning experiences, and special education teachers often become experts in innovation and flexibility.
Jason Pinkerton
Content Performance Analyst
1
Answer
Georgetown, Texas
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hey Josiah! I was an educator in Texas for 13 years. Although I didn't teach SPED specifically, I had several classes with SPED students, often with inclusion aides.
Kudos to you for choosing to work with special education! It's a difficult job, and, as time goes on, we're seeing more and more students classified as needing special education services. Working with SPED kids is extremely rewarding in its own way, especially with lower grade kids, because you get to see some real advances in their education. Part of the downside to special education is that there is a *lot* of paperwork involved, since you have to keep track of students' progress. However, those metrics also show tangible proof of how your kids are advancing. One of the things that many teachers, students, and parents forget is that advancement often comes in small steps rather than large strides. With SPED, you have a way to really look back at how far kids have come, knowing that your work (and theirs) have really paid off.
Unfortunately, there are some frustrations too. Often your students will display behaviors that will be distressing to manage. For example, I've had kids throw things at me before and even try to hit me more than once. Luckily, that tends to not hurt when it comes to the little ones, but it can be extremely disruptive and even destructive to your classroom and materials. Parents can also be frustrating to deal with, either because they have unrealistic expectations that go beyond your physical and budgetary limits or because they don't reinforce what you're trying to teach the students at school. And the paperwork can be overwhelming.
But these tend to be few and far between. Most of the time, kids want to learn and know to keep their hands to themselves, and they really just need your help with learning the content or following classroom procedures. And if you communicate with them often, you'll find that most parents are willing partners in your students' learning who are happy to listen to you as a professional who provides guidance that they can reinforce at home.
Either way, your kids need you, and I think, in the long run, you'll find that both you and they are happy that you selected a challenging but rewarding career!
Kudos to you for choosing to work with special education! It's a difficult job, and, as time goes on, we're seeing more and more students classified as needing special education services. Working with SPED kids is extremely rewarding in its own way, especially with lower grade kids, because you get to see some real advances in their education. Part of the downside to special education is that there is a *lot* of paperwork involved, since you have to keep track of students' progress. However, those metrics also show tangible proof of how your kids are advancing. One of the things that many teachers, students, and parents forget is that advancement often comes in small steps rather than large strides. With SPED, you have a way to really look back at how far kids have come, knowing that your work (and theirs) have really paid off.
Unfortunately, there are some frustrations too. Often your students will display behaviors that will be distressing to manage. For example, I've had kids throw things at me before and even try to hit me more than once. Luckily, that tends to not hurt when it comes to the little ones, but it can be extremely disruptive and even destructive to your classroom and materials. Parents can also be frustrating to deal with, either because they have unrealistic expectations that go beyond your physical and budgetary limits or because they don't reinforce what you're trying to teach the students at school. And the paperwork can be overwhelming.
But these tend to be few and far between. Most of the time, kids want to learn and know to keep their hands to themselves, and they really just need your help with learning the content or following classroom procedures. And if you communicate with them often, you'll find that most parents are willing partners in your students' learning who are happy to listen to you as a professional who provides guidance that they can reinforce at home.
Either way, your kids need you, and I think, in the long run, you'll find that both you and they are happy that you selected a challenging but rewarding career!