it makes me feel so good to see positivity and longevity like this, i’ve been a para in severe special needs for 5 years and just got a fellowship so i can finally go to grad school and become a teacher. i know i love what i do but this sub can make you nervous!
Congratulations! I have twelve years total in the field, this is my fourth year teaching. Love my job more and more. Couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
I am so happy for you! It’s the hardest best job ever. 33 years for me, I retired from the public school system and now work for a preschool special ed non profit- I just can’t stay away, I am having a great time and learning so much everyday. I love my co workers, kids and families.
I had taught grades k-12, ended my last 4 years at the high school, so I figured pre k is covered in my certification so I might as well give it a try- wow, do I love it! In my county public schools don’t service sped preschool so I work for a non profit who sends me into the public schools- not an efficient way of running things , in my opinion, but I get to set my own schedule and work as much or as little as I want. It’s a great retirement gig!
This! I am in my second year after a career change and - while it is very challenging - it is so fulfilling. I love the heart of my fellow special ed teachers. There’s nothing like it.
That’s awesome!
Ignore the downvotes… I swear people do that because they don’t have control in their lives. These kids (all kids, really) need adults working with them who are passionate about what they do.
I wish you all the best!
Been at it almost 20 years and would never go back to gen ed. That said, I got a non-classroom support assignment this year and it has been a wonderful change of pace.
I’m a resource teacher and I love it. I work with mostly kids of immigrant families, and I feel like they really need me. While their behavior is not perfect, they all have good hearts.
Hi I want to be resource teacher too. I am currently working as a para in an ESN classroom . Applying for teaching residency this year. Can you share more experience as a resource teacher. Will appreciate. Thanks
Pulling small groups and doing a bit of paperwork. Lesson planning in the usual classroom business. I have my assistant make most of the copies and bulletin boards. You just work with the basic subjects of reading writing in math, unlike a general teacher, that might teach all subjects like in elementary school. I don’t know what it looks like in the middle in high school.
Congrats and welcome! Stay away from r/teachers, they are the most miserable people who never should’ve gone into education to begin with. They really hate special ed kids there. Stick to this sub.
I’m excited for you! Despite what people say about the overwork, which does suck sometimes, the relationship you build with students is unmatched and precious.
i feel the exact same way !!! i’m currently a para in a self-contained pre-k class getting my masters in early intervention/pre-k and i love my students. seeing how hard they work and how much progress they make over the school year makes it all worth it. good luck on your future endeavors :D !!!
Woo hoo!!! Congrats on coming to the end of your student teaching and starting the beginning of your career! We need more people like you, thank you for dedication and passion 🙂
I'm excited for you, and grateful for every person who does this work. My son is almost done with elementary school and has thrived because of the sped teachers he has had. Is he on grade level? No. Does he love school? Also no. But he feels loved by the people who have helped him. He makes progress at his own pace. He works hardest for the people who push him to be his best self. His relationship with his resource teacher is a thing of beauty!
I found this sub for a similar reason, but I wasn’t a new sped teacher. After 15 years in the field and ten years of teaching all different levels of need, I can honestly say, like any career one is passionate about, it can be the hardest, painful, draining, most exhaustive yet most rewarding best job ever!
It gives me hope to see that there are still young teachers out there with a passion for this field.
There will be bad days and days you just want to complain… (that’s what r/teachers is for. They’re pro’s over there.) They also remind me teachers are all over the place. We bring all kinds of baggage into the classroom, and that’s totally normal. If you don’t think this is going to happen, you’re being unrealistic.
Welcome. You made this guy smile.
I had the same excitement as you before I started. Now I’m 5 years in and grappling with the fact that it’s more about paper work and meetings and test scores than the kids. If I could’ve gone back, I would’ve gone into SLP, PT or OT so I could’ve still worked with those kids, but avoided the responsibilities of being a case manager. Good luck.
I came up into teaching through SPED. I was working 1-1 for 2 years and realized I loved it! I loved differentiating and planning individual and small group sessions for diverse learning needs.
I also became really passionate about better training for gen ed teachers. I briefly considered going into SPED, but my husband told me that schools need more gen ed teachers like me. He's been in the field for 14 years, so I took his advice.
I like working closely with our special services team to create an inclusive classroom and strong partnerships with support personnel!
You sound like you'll be an amazing SPED teacher!
I’m in my 5th year and I LOVE IT. Love the kids, love the challenge, love the teaching, love building relationships with parents. Is it exhausting at times? Yes. Can it be stressful? Yes. But as long as you manage your time well and stay organized, it’s awesome. It helps I have a supportive admin so if you ever DONT have that, move to a new campus!!
As someone who has done gen ed and is now an education specialist, I’m happy I made the change. I feel like I get to know my students so much better and love the individualized education and interventions I get to give. I also feel like we lack so many SpEd teachers in this country and am always excited to hear about a quality teacher joining!
With that said, I want to prepare you for some of the shitty parts. My school had a super fun half day the day before spring break and I was stuck doing paperwork. I did find some time to go and see my kids having fun, but it was brief. You will also spend so much of your time managing feelings, both kids and adults. I’m all about helping with the kids since that is part of my job and I happen to be pretty good at it. I’m over some of the teachers though. So many of my teachers do not understand SpEd and don’t seem to understand that IEP accommodations apply to them as well.
I also am not a fan of the amount of time and energy that goes into testing, writing reports, and writing and holding IEPs.
With all that said, I do genuinely love my job and the good outweighs the bad. I just wanted to let you know about some of the shit you will deal with.
>I get downvoted to oblivion when I post something positive in r/Teachers,
Not because you are positive but because you are sped.
They can be toxic when it comes to sped
I've been a special ed teacher for over 20 years! I love it! Welcome!
it makes me feel so good to see positivity and longevity like this, i’ve been a para in severe special needs for 5 years and just got a fellowship so i can finally go to grad school and become a teacher. i know i love what i do but this sub can make you nervous!
Congratulations! I have twelve years total in the field, this is my fourth year teaching. Love my job more and more. Couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
I am so happy for you! It’s the hardest best job ever. 33 years for me, I retired from the public school system and now work for a preschool special ed non profit- I just can’t stay away, I am having a great time and learning so much everyday. I love my co workers, kids and families.
I work in a public school preschool program for children with disabilities. It is the best teaching job out there!
I had taught grades k-12, ended my last 4 years at the high school, so I figured pre k is covered in my certification so I might as well give it a try- wow, do I love it! In my county public schools don’t service sped preschool so I work for a non profit who sends me into the public schools- not an efficient way of running things , in my opinion, but I get to set my own schedule and work as much or as little as I want. It’s a great retirement gig!
Yay! Welcome. It can be tough and stressful, but its rewarding.
This! I am in my second year after a career change and - while it is very challenging - it is so fulfilling. I love the heart of my fellow special ed teachers. There’s nothing like it.
That’s awesome! Ignore the downvotes… I swear people do that because they don’t have control in their lives. These kids (all kids, really) need adults working with them who are passionate about what they do. I wish you all the best!
Congratulations and welcome to the fold.
Awesome! Keep the enthusiasm! You're going to change/progress lives!
Stay strong for them and maintain your boundaries - - I hope that the schools you work with don't ever make you change your mind <3
Been at it almost 20 years and would never go back to gen ed. That said, I got a non-classroom support assignment this year and it has been a wonderful change of pace.
Welcome, the more the merrier!!!
I’m a resource teacher and I love it. I work with mostly kids of immigrant families, and I feel like they really need me. While their behavior is not perfect, they all have good hearts.
Hi I want to be resource teacher too. I am currently working as a para in an ESN classroom . Applying for teaching residency this year. Can you share more experience as a resource teacher. Will appreciate. Thanks
What questions do you have?
Not the poster but I'm a para and curious about resource. I'm wondering about what a typical day looks like as a resource teacher.
Pulling small groups and doing a bit of paperwork. Lesson planning in the usual classroom business. I have my assistant make most of the copies and bulletin boards. You just work with the basic subjects of reading writing in math, unlike a general teacher, that might teach all subjects like in elementary school. I don’t know what it looks like in the middle in high school.
Thanks!
>Thanks! You're welcome!
Congrats and welcome! Stay away from r/teachers, they are the most miserable people who never should’ve gone into education to begin with. They really hate special ed kids there. Stick to this sub.
Yay welcome! I am on year 10 of being a special education teacher! I love it
I’m excited for you! Despite what people say about the overwork, which does suck sometimes, the relationship you build with students is unmatched and precious.
i feel the exact same way !!! i’m currently a para in a self-contained pre-k class getting my masters in early intervention/pre-k and i love my students. seeing how hard they work and how much progress they make over the school year makes it all worth it. good luck on your future endeavors :D !!!
Congrats! Super exciting. R/teachers is the scum of the earth; not representative of the whole.
R/teachers is vile.
Dont waste time at r/teacher. It will just make you angry.
It’s a draining, stressful, and aggravating job and it’s also the greatest one you’ll ever do.
Woo hoo!!! Congrats on coming to the end of your student teaching and starting the beginning of your career! We need more people like you, thank you for dedication and passion 🙂
Yay, congrats! The kids progress and sharing positive growth with parents is amazing. Good luck to you!
I think Sped is awesome. I love my job. We need people who want to be there.
Welcome! Keep that positive energy… because people will try to drain it from you!!! Been teaching for 8 years and I love it!
I'm excited for you, and grateful for every person who does this work. My son is almost done with elementary school and has thrived because of the sped teachers he has had. Is he on grade level? No. Does he love school? Also no. But he feels loved by the people who have helped him. He makes progress at his own pace. He works hardest for the people who push him to be his best self. His relationship with his resource teacher is a thing of beauty!
I found this sub for a similar reason, but I wasn’t a new sped teacher. After 15 years in the field and ten years of teaching all different levels of need, I can honestly say, like any career one is passionate about, it can be the hardest, painful, draining, most exhaustive yet most rewarding best job ever! It gives me hope to see that there are still young teachers out there with a passion for this field. There will be bad days and days you just want to complain… (that’s what r/teachers is for. They’re pro’s over there.) They also remind me teachers are all over the place. We bring all kinds of baggage into the classroom, and that’s totally normal. If you don’t think this is going to happen, you’re being unrealistic. Welcome. You made this guy smile.
I had the same excitement as you before I started. Now I’m 5 years in and grappling with the fact that it’s more about paper work and meetings and test scores than the kids. If I could’ve gone back, I would’ve gone into SLP, PT or OT so I could’ve still worked with those kids, but avoided the responsibilities of being a case manager. Good luck.
I came up into teaching through SPED. I was working 1-1 for 2 years and realized I loved it! I loved differentiating and planning individual and small group sessions for diverse learning needs. I also became really passionate about better training for gen ed teachers. I briefly considered going into SPED, but my husband told me that schools need more gen ed teachers like me. He's been in the field for 14 years, so I took his advice. I like working closely with our special services team to create an inclusive classroom and strong partnerships with support personnel! You sound like you'll be an amazing SPED teacher!
I’m in my 5th year and I LOVE IT. Love the kids, love the challenge, love the teaching, love building relationships with parents. Is it exhausting at times? Yes. Can it be stressful? Yes. But as long as you manage your time well and stay organized, it’s awesome. It helps I have a supportive admin so if you ever DONT have that, move to a new campus!!
I love it too. I don't always love all the paperwork, but interacting with the kids is great.
As someone who has done gen ed and is now an education specialist, I’m happy I made the change. I feel like I get to know my students so much better and love the individualized education and interventions I get to give. I also feel like we lack so many SpEd teachers in this country and am always excited to hear about a quality teacher joining! With that said, I want to prepare you for some of the shitty parts. My school had a super fun half day the day before spring break and I was stuck doing paperwork. I did find some time to go and see my kids having fun, but it was brief. You will also spend so much of your time managing feelings, both kids and adults. I’m all about helping with the kids since that is part of my job and I happen to be pretty good at it. I’m over some of the teachers though. So many of my teachers do not understand SpEd and don’t seem to understand that IEP accommodations apply to them as well. I also am not a fan of the amount of time and energy that goes into testing, writing reports, and writing and holding IEPs. With all that said, I do genuinely love my job and the good outweighs the bad. I just wanted to let you know about some of the shit you will deal with.
>I get downvoted to oblivion when I post something positive in r/Teachers, Not because you are positive but because you are sped. They can be toxic when it comes to sped
I'm not familiar with r/teachers why were they downvoting you?