Why i Want to be a Special Education Teacher

In this personal essay, the author will express their motivation and passion for becoming a special education teacher. It will discuss the desire to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special needs, the challenges and rewards of the field, and the personal qualities that make the author suited for this profession. The piece will also reflect on the importance of inclusion, empathy, and adaptability in special education. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Employment.

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Sooner or later a moment comes when a person is faced with a very important question – the question of choosing a profession, and the whole future life depends on this choice. Oddly enough for me, it was easy and simple because from my very childhood I dreamed of being a teacher. After finishing school, I learned that a teacher can be special. This is a special teacher, a special person who helps special children. It was then that I realized that I wanted to become this special teacher.

And I became one after graduating from the defectological faculty of Kursk State Pedagogical University with a degree in Oligophrenopedagogy with an additional specialty in Speech therapy.

Many times I asked myself the question, why did I choose this particular profession? I receive an answer every day for 14 years, working with this category of children. Because:

– this profession brings a sense of self-worth and

satisfaction from the work performed;

– through my profession, I carry out my mission and destiny;

– working as a special teacher, I get to know myself and others;

– communicating with special children, I changed my view of many things in my own life;

– my profession allows me to be close to those who need me.

Due to the poor environmental situation, unfavorable external and internal factors, bad habits, children with developmental problems are being born more and more often, therefore the profession of a special teacher in the modern world is very relevant and in demand.

The professional activity of a special educator goes beyond traditional teaching. She closely interacts with various types of socio-pedagogical, rehabilitation, consultative and diagnostic, psychotherapeutic, corrective activities aimed at one goal – helping a child with disabilities in his social adaptation and integration by means of special education.

The pedagogical principles that I adhere to in my work are simple and clear to everyone:

– give children knowledge, warmth, and a smile;

– always learn;

– do no harm.

I consider the words of V. A. Sukhomlinsky as a guideline in my work with children that “if a child lives in enmity, he learns aggression; if a child is constantly criticized, he learns to hate; if a child is ridiculed, he strives for isolation; if a child grows up in reproach, he learns to live with guilt, but at the same time, if a child grows up intolerance, he learns to understand others; if the child is encouraged, he learns to believe in himself; if a child is praised, he learns to be grateful and believe in people “

Like healthy children, a child with special educational needs has the right to receive qualified pedagogical assistance, which can only be provided by a specially trained teacher.

I work with this category of children on the basis of the interaction of all participants in the educational process. At this stage in the development of society, a person is placed in tough conditions of competition. This prompts me to look for new and effective means of enhancing the educational process, new forms, and methods of work. For more productive use of time, I try to make my work with students cognitive and creative, diversify tasks, apply various forms and new technologies. I do it so that the children are interested. This allows you to correct all cognitive processes, promotes the growth of activity, and forms a positive emotional background. I devote particular importance to the social adaptation of children with disabilities because it is even more difficult for them to survive in the modern world.

All the time I try to assess whether my charges are comfortable. In the classroom, I try to create a cozy, supportive, developing environment, establish mutual trust with students, and the children respond to me with gratitude.

I believe that an important direction in my work is helping families with a child with special educational needs. After all, it is so important to support parents at a certain moment in life, to explain to them what is not clear, to inspire hope, to show prospects in future life.

Yes, there are many difficulties in my profession, but despite this, in it, I can realize my creative potential, receive a charge of energy to move forward. I enjoy my work because I realize that my strength is not wasted for nothing, my activity makes someone’s life easier, more interesting, and better.

Every time I come to work, I understand that I have a special mission and a huge responsibility to provide each child with special educational needs with high-quality educational services, taking into account his individual needs.

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Why I Want to Be a Special Education Teacher Essay

1. introduction.

Becoming a special education teacher could be a choice filled with obstacles and challenges. Scholars have identified that, compared with general education teachers, special education teachers experience high attrition rates, low commitment, and even higher levels of burnout. However, research has also suggested that there are some distinct positive aspects valued and recognized by special education teachers. These findings are expected to motivate more undergraduate students, general education teachers, or other professionals to join the field of special education and to encourage current special education teachers to sustain their current jobs. Qualitative research has suggested that working with students is the most enjoyable aspect identified by special educators. However, compared with working in a special education setting, challenges and potential stress sources have mainly been discussed, and less attention has been paid to the real virtues of being embedded in special education. A lack of emphasis has been placed on understanding both the distinct motivations for why special education teachers choose to work and remain in this special setting, as well as the intrinsic rewards that they have historically experienced or are currently seeking.

1.1. Background and Importance of Special Education

It is an extraordinary time to be in the field of special education. From the major push for more research-based instructional methods, to No Child Left Behind, to assistance to states in improving results for children with disabilities, to the reauthorization of the federal special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), there is significant public concern and law around issues related to the teaching and learning of children and youth with disabilities. Special education has indeed come a long way from where we first began. The rise of federal legislation has its roots in a period of significant change in our country. Our fascination, admiration, and esteem for educators who find working every day with some of our country’s most challenged students rewarding — and even thrilling — sparked our research into what brought these teachers through the doors of this very specialized school. The special education teachers whom we study are the best of the best. It’s one thing to teach, another to teach science or math or English. But it is indeed a brave new world to teach inside the realm of students with profound disabilities or other issues that stand in some kind of opposition to societal norms. Generally, special education cannot survive without dedicated, driven, and innovative individuals who are fueled wholly by the ardor for stepping into a difficult and draining school environment. These special teachers must constantly be faced with the balancing test of trying to make academic strides for their young people while at the same time preparing them to survive and thrive in a very rough-edged and sometimes frightening world.

1.2. Purpose of the Essay

Despite these factors, many teachers in the Commonwealth of Virginia have found this profession as one for which they are highly satisfied. The purpose of this essay is to examine the experiences of a specific kind of educator – special education teachers – and to determine some factors that have motivated them to remain in the teaching profession. It is late on the night before the first day that could change the lives of 20 first graders forever. Just one last glance at the grade books and final lesson plans. The teacher thinks for a moment and then just begins to write, "I, as a new first grade teacher, can survive my first experience teaching in an urban school district." Writing down her anxieties about a new district, her thoughts reflect both her determination to help each child be successful and her fears of not receiving the support needed to make it happen. This day marks her educational initiation, and this date will become fixed in her memory to symbolize her long and winding road she will travel. It is only 18 months later when the student, as an education major, pens his memories of experiencing student teaching. After describing the special moments he shared with the students, he closes by writing, "Side by side the two of us stood, student teacher and first graders, facing the many challenges of tomorrow."

2. Personal Connection to Special Education

Before discussing the results, it is important to provide readers with some background information. In order to explore issues surrounding recruitment and retention in special education, one must understand some of the reasons why people enter the teaching profession. Reasons for entering the profession can be divided into one of three broad categories: those that are external to the individual (i.e., reasons associated with societal expectations and/or extrinsic rewards) and the two major areas of intrinsic motivation, which are personal value and skill. Personal connection is most frequently expressed through some form of self-efficacy as it is defined in Bandura's social cognitive theory - an individual's belief that they can effectively accomplish their professional goals. Personal value includes personal experiences, philosophy, and religion, and is considered to be one of the most important reasons as to why individuals pursue teaching as a profession. It is this intrinsic level of motivators that many consider to be responsible for the long-standing teacher shortage problem in public education. Despite overall national shortages, special education has particular difficulty recruiting and retaining special education teachers. The impact of these difficulties is exacerbated by the ever-increasing numbers of students in need of special services, due to the implementation of No Child Left Behind and other educational reforms, as well as the public's increasing confidence in the ability of eyewitnesses to recognize students in need of special education.

2.1. Experiences with Individuals with Special Needs

The majority of preservice teachers arrive in their programs with little or no previous experience in interacting with persons with serious disabilities. Because special educators may have more direct contact with individuals with disabilities who exhibit a greater degree of dependency, perhaps in performing activities of daily living or in emotional response than other professionals working with this population, it is very important at the outset that teacher educators expose preservice special education teachers to a wide array of individuals with disabilities. Equally or more significant may be the opportunities for preservice teachers to see these individuals being supported by their families, provided services by professionals, or functioning in different educational settings. By offering these opportunities for observation and interaction, teacher educators are providing these preservice teachers with an opportunity to examine and/or further develop feelings that may be ambivalent or negative in order to attempt to expertly equip them to serve a unique, exceptional population. It is hoped that the ultimate objective of these experiences is to promote endeavors in which special education students with particular characteristics are integrated or mainstreamed in educational settings with their nondisabled peers when it is felt that their needs may be better addressed within the social and academic confines of a general classroom. Any factors that contribute to the fulfillment of this definitive goal should be given priority attention. The general beliefs that caring for special needs children is an attitude necessarily shared or independently possessed have been questioned. Therefore, the focus of this research is to provide evidence that college students who elect to enter special education programming do so for a variety of reasons that do not necessarily characterize those of commercial student data systems.

2.2. Inspirational Figures in Special Education

Legendary educator Helen Keller, who relied on the instruction and guidance of a long line of dedicated and innovative educators who contributed to her schooling and personal development, is a towering figure in the field of special education. Through insurmountably difficult circumstances, Helen Keller learned to read, write, and communicate through sign language and verbal speech. Not just a student of incredible accomplishment, Keller became a lifelong, prolific author and global ambassador for the education of those with impairments. Keller championed her beloved teacher, Anne Sullivan, before and after the publishing of her own books. Keller went on to expand public appreciation, resources, and encouragement for the profession for special educators in her later years of securing employment. Indeed, President John F. Kennedy, who presented Keller with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in honor of her willingness to serve others as both teacher and international advocate for freedom and education, referred to Anne Sullivan as the "miracle-worker." Such high-profile recognition can offer motivation and job satisfaction to special education professionals. Special education administrators and specialists at various levels devote considerable effort, education, finances, and other resources to recruiting, training, incentivizing, and retaining high-quality teachers and other related service providers. Engaging and retaining special education professionals is an international topic that spans language and borders. Through collaboration, research and discussion, means of facilitating satisfaction and limiting burnout in the teaching profession could contribute to stronger learning environments for diverse learners. Across the globe, the shortage of special education teachers and related service providers poses challenges to offering high-quality instruction for learners. In many settings, teacher shortages contribute to the overrepresentation of some learner types in the special education profession, disproportionately high caseloads for service providers, and delayed, inconsistently implemented, and less effective services for learners in need. In some extreme shortage situations, leaders may struggle to find qualified personnel to provide legally required related services. Within this context, many professionals contribute their expertise, learning from and communicating with cognate organizations to form in-country and cross-national partnerships to increase the number, quality, and effectiveness of special education teachers.

3. Impact and Influence of Special Education Teachers

Special educators work daily to ensure that students with disabilities are included in all aspects of the school. They teach students to anticipate and establish friendships, support students who are separated from peers, and design lessons that highlight the contributions of diverse populations in constructing new knowledge about the world. As a result, the teacher expectations also influence students with disabilities. In fact, researchers have noted the continued influence teachers have on students, particularly students who face academic and social marginalization. Students being members of a class in which the teacher expects significant success represent diverse racial, gender, and academic skill levels. In nonacademic areas, characteristics that did not predict which students were placed in a teacher's class but had significant effects on a student's learning include perceptions by peers of disability and group membership.

3.1. Benefits for Students with Special Needs

Special education teachers also identified benefits to students as a motivator for becoming a special education teacher. On a daily basis, special education teachers work with students and are able to see the gains and successes. Motivating students' achievement and acquiring new knowledge and skills were frequently mentioned as intrinsic rewards for becoming a special education teacher. Special education teachers found the rewards of discovering a particular student's unique way of thinking and the differences from other students to be particularly powerful in their deciding to further pursue the field. Partly because of what is generally perceived as a low status role, several of the special education teachers interviewed emphasized that the intrinsic rewards are how they define success and feel ready to tackle the challenges of their role. While extrinsically-rewarding aspects, such as job recognition and reward and good compensation, are definitely necessary, all of the interviewees specified that a passion for working with students with special needs is how they make sense of and cope with their day-to-day work. It is this feeling of satisfaction and pride that is no doubt how they make sense of the difficulty of entering what is perceived to be a low status role. Intrinsic rewards from working with and experiencing student success (the ultimate reward) each and every day were how they defined success. The findings from this study showed that feelings of efficacy and job satisfaction continued to be important motivators for SPED teachers, particularly in the first few years of their teaching careers. The influence of role-appropriate job experiences on feelings of efficacy and job satisfaction was found to be particularly important. The positive attitudes and ongoing support and encouragement of collaborating general education teachers, administrators, and SPED teacher mentors were perceived to be important facilitators in helping to shape and support feelings of efficacy and job satisfaction. However, when SPED teachers encountered barriers (e.g., lack of respect, feeling "out of the loop," unsupportive colleagues or administrators) to feelings of internal and external efficacy, the consequences were perceptions of dissatisfaction and stress. These consequences were often associated with nascent negative functioning (feelings of burnout, early resignation, abandonment of SPED teaching as a career). Therefore, the development and continued support of role-appropriate job experiences, feelings of efficacy, and job satisfaction were recommended in helping to curtail the SPED teacher shortage, particularly in the critically important two to three year range.

3.2. Benefits for the Educational System

The special education teacher contributes to the educational system by adding a different educational perspective, including special support for pupils, a support system that provides assistance in morning preparation, classroom management, curricular adaptation, and behavior management, as well as home assignments that will eventually contribute to implementing an inclusive education. Additionally, they contribute to personal education and to the understanding, patience, and openness for special demands. They can affect the culture of the school and its customs by empowering the staff, fellow teachers, and the pupils. The teachers reinforce the education community's obligation to adapt to the needs of each pupil and educate a population growing in empathy and understanding towards others. All the members of the school educational community can have access to children with disabilities. They adapt to the diversity principles and promote the education and rehabilitation of all pupils. At the micro level, the system of personal attitudes and values of the special education teacher helps to ensure progress in the pupils' general adaptation skills to help them better handle the requirements of different school subjects. The personal educational model is implemented mainly on the basis of individual planning, as well as on the principles of the social commission and on the initial planning and monitoring of the activities. Standard aspects included in the individual work model of the teacher: the teacher is responsible for the parallel development of the pupils' behavioral and educational capabilities. Once values are stable, they are used as points of reference throughout the educational and remedial process. The teacher uses direct value education activities during the guided curricular tasks at all times. Confrontation and discussion follow initial difficulties.

4. Challenges and Rewards of Special Education Teaching

The challenges of special education teaching are many, including the stress-related illnesses of the teachers themselves. While it is impossible to say at this time what the true picture is regarding the incidence of such illnesses among special educators, it is fair to suggest that their work is indeed stressful. The rewards of special education teaching, which have drawn so many into the field, are seen in the transformations of the children they teach. For many, there is no other job that could be this rewarding. The students, once labeled as unteachable or hard to teach, are the greatest rewards. Students may come with different labels and may be called different things by different people, but it is the difference special education teachers are able to make in individual lives, and the way in which they perceive and celebrate differences rather than stress them, that make them come into work day after day, year after year.

4.1. Common Challenges Faced by Special Education Teachers

It is unknown whether special education teachers face similar challenges due to national shortages. However, they are proven to experience higher rates of burnout and turnover. Over the past few decades, several groups have pointed to the challenges faced by special education teachers. Within the OUI Senior-YEAR study, participants gave a candid look at the challenges they faced working within the field. The top four challenges encountered by participants included dealing with the emotional needs of the students, working day to day with students that are being aggressive, the workload associated with being a special education teacher, and a feeling of isolation from their peers. With the high prevalence of challenging behavior in students with significant disabilities, it is no surprise that the most common challenge faced by special education teachers in the present study was coping with the emotional needs of the students from day to day. Non-publicly funded residential programs with rooms to throw a child into are no longer options they have. These children are now integrated, whether it be in their neighborhood school or while they are being mainstreamed, and these teachers must work with them. These students are aggressive because being aggressive is their way of protecting themselves. It is a survival skill that they have developed. When aggressive, they can isolate themselves and not be expected to participate in any activities until they calm down. The rooms where they used to be sent to and teachers could just leave them until someone else could manage them are no longer available.

4.2. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards of the Profession

Special education, while bringing its challenges, can be extremely rewarding both intrinsically and extrinsically. One of the most commonly described intrinsic rewards is helping students with disabilities. To some, wanting to help students with disabilities is a natural calling that leads them to the profession: "It's what I was meant to do." Another intrinsic motivation is building relationships with students with disabilities, where the teachers develop strong emotional connections with students and a desire to help the students reach their potential. A related intrinsic reward is seeing students with disabilities progress personally. Many participants mentioned that as the most rewarding feeling, a feeling that results from making a difference in their students' lives. Socioemotional rewards were also connected to relationships with students, such as making them feel loved and appreciated. Becoming a "whole person" or "better person," as one special education candidate put it, was an intrinsically motivated reason to become a special education teacher. Academic challenges and progress made by students with disabilities provide intrinsic motivation and a sense of accomplishment. Mastering coping strategies to be successful in the special education setting after a critical earlier struggle was a reward that pushed participants onward. Teamwork and relationships with colleagues appear to be intrinsic rewards. School collegial collaboration, alongside personal professional growth after encountering opportunities for significant personal and career development, is intrinsically motivated specifically by the societal and lifestyle context of schools serving students with disabilities, another intrinsic benefit that works within the professional environment.

5. Conclusion

In summarizing the findings of this study, it might be useful to comment on some of the limitations of the research. Two major limitations that impose caution on the generalizability of the results are the relatively small size of the sample and the deviation from the population, with three out of ten participants changing from special education certification to general teacher certification during the course of the study. When interpreting the data, these two limitations must be kept in mind. The findings of this study do point to the need for further understanding of the dynamic process of attracting and retaining teachers in the special education field. The thoughts and feelings of the participants as they went through the special education training program, from initial deployment into classroom field experiences to student teaching and job placement, have provided insight into the influences that such training processes have on students. The findings indicate that the feeling of personal accomplishment, the expectation of appreciation and support, and the hope that professional growth would lead to career rewards are all important motivators for student participants who are willing to undertake the hard work of becoming professionals trained to educate some of society's most challenging, yet most appreciative students - those in the special education specialty. The findings also point out the disappointment of some professional expectations. Special education, in particular, "requires skills, such as patience, tolerance, determination, and continuity, that take time to develop". Without adequate moral and social support, as well as reasonable compensation, these skills might never be developed. This study does indicate that some participants fear that they will see their idealistic values become "eroded" as they work in cluttered classrooms with very complex students. The loss of professional ideals is expressed as it becomes obvious that education cuts for regular education budget items will provide a poor guarantee of assistance in learning how to do the job and an even poorer guarantee for student learning success. No guarantees promise the professional hopeful that their investments will be worth their emotional and physical investment. If the participants are good observers of the potential risks, they may respond to the limitations on their professional satisfaction by redirecting their life plans to new roles that provide guarantees for their investments.

5.1. Summary of Key Points

The purpose of this study was to investigate what motivates general education pre-service teachers to become special education teachers and the rewards/gain these pre-service teachers perceive in becoming special education teachers. In general, theme literature on teacher motivation regards pre-service teacher motivation to teach as a crucial aspect of the teaching profession, believing that motivation to teach encompasses the intentions of teacher candidates to teach and reflects pre-service teacher decision-making on various aspects of the teaching profession as they transition into practicing teachers. However, compared to general education teaching, there is limited research on pre-service teacher motivation to become special education teachers and the potential motivators and rewards/gain of pre-service teachers to become special education teachers that influence career choice.

5.2. Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations

I absolutely loved every second of participating in this research study and am very hopeful you will take every word I have shared about my own journey seriously. I want to be able to assist in changing the educational system by encouraging others to realize that becoming a special education teacher can be a dream we all can possibly aspire towards. Even though I was content, each of the individuals that were a part of this higher calling, you now hear from my own family members or childhood teachers. Besides my own sentiments, I have also worked in settings with the same kids who motivated others as well. Through various interactions, I implicate optimism. Subsequent to the extraordinary discovery and better understanding of my natural abilities and gifts, I was becoming aware of, I realize that it is my personal and fundamental obligation to do my part. I recognize the importance and impact of being in a society that cherishes teachers and seeks to challenge others, to gravitate to and find value in the anticipation of being able to become more than I ever considered my life would allow me to be. To quote a phrase attributed to Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.”

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Education Essay Example: Why I Want to Be a Special Education Teacher Essay

Introduction

Becoming a Special Education Teacher is a profound decision that goes beyond the realms of a typical career choice. It involves a deep commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals who face unique challenges in their learning journey. This essay explores the multifaceted reasons why one might aspire to become a Special Education Teacher, delving into personal motivations, the importance of inclusivity in education, the rewarding nature of the profession, and the potential for transformative change.

Personal Motivations

One of the primary reasons I want to become a Special Education Teacher is rooted in personal experiences and a genuine desire to contribute to the well-being of others. Having witnessed the struggles faced by individuals with special needs, either through personal connections or community involvement, I have developed a heartfelt empathy for their unique challenges. This personal connection serves as a powerful motivator, driving me to seek a career where I can actively make a difference in the lives of those who need specialized support.

The Call for Inclusivity in Education

In today’s diverse and inclusive society, the demand for educators who are equipped to address the needs of every learner is more significant than ever. Special Education Teachers play a pivotal role in fostering inclusivity within educational environments. The opportunity to contribute to the creation of a learning environment where each student, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, feels valued and included is a driving force behind my aspiration to become a Special Education Teacher.

Fulfilling the Unmet Needs

Special Education Teachers have the unique privilege of fulfilling unmet educational needs for a segment of the population that often faces neglect or oversight in mainstream educational settings. This profession allows individuals to step into the gaps, providing tailored instruction and support to students who might otherwise struggle to thrive in conventional classrooms. Addressing these unmet needs not only facilitates the academic development of students but also enhances their overall quality of life.

The Transformative Power of Education

Education has the power to transform lives, and this transformative potential is even more pronounced in the realm of special education. As a Special Education Teacher, one has the opportunity to witness the incredible journey of growth and development in students who may initially face seemingly insurmountable challenges. The ability to be a catalyst for positive change, not only academically but also emotionally and socially, is a compelling aspect of this profession.

Building Strong Relationships

Special Education Teaching goes beyond disseminating knowledge; it involves building strong and trusting relationships with students, their families, and other professionals. The collaborative nature of this field fosters a sense of community and support, creating an environment where everyone is working towards a common goal – the success and well-being of the students. The prospect of forming meaningful connections with diverse individuals is an aspect of the profession that I find particularly appealing.

Meeting Individual Needs through Differentiated Instruction

One of the key skills in Special Education is the ability to employ differentiated instruction, tailoring teaching methods to meet the unique learning styles and needs of each student. This personalized approach ensures that every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The challenge of developing innovative and effective teaching strategies that cater to diverse needs is both intellectually stimulating and professionally rewarding.

Advocacy for Inclusive Policies

Becoming a Special Education Teacher provides a platform for advocating inclusive policies within the broader educational system. This role empowers individuals to contribute to the development and implementation of policies that promote equal access to quality education for all students. By actively participating in shaping educational policies, Special Education Teachers become agents of change on a systemic level, influencing the trajectory of education for individuals with special needs.

The Joy of Small Victories

In the field of special education, success is often measured in small victories. Witnessing a student overcome a particular challenge, grasp a difficult concept, or develop improved social skills brings an unparalleled sense of joy and accomplishment. These small victories are not only significant milestones in the academic journey but also contribute to building the self-esteem and confidence of the students, reinforcing the importance of the Special Education Teacher’s role in shaping positive outcomes.

In conclusion, the decision to become a Special Education Teacher is driven by a combination of personal motivations, a commitment to inclusivity in education, the fulfillment of unmet needs, the transformative power of education, the opportunity to build strong relationships, the challenge of differentiated instruction, advocacy for inclusive policies, and the joy derived from small victories. The holistic nature of this profession makes it a compelling choice for those who aspire to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with special needs, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape.

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Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay | Special Education Teachers Qualities

August 11, 2021 by Prasanna

Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay: It takes a special individual to teach kids with incapacities. The vocation of a custom curriculum teacher is an intriguing profession since you will assist kids with beating obstructions and become useful residents. The exploration will portray the vocation of a specialized curriculum teacher, what is needed to turn into a fruitful specialized curriculum educator, and the effect this profession has on society.

A man or lady can be a specialized curriculum teacher as long as you have the heart and want to work with novel people. There aren’t any age prerequisites related to turning into a specialized curriculum teacher as long as you have the essential abilities and expected training to seek after this vocation. There additionally aren’t any well-being and actual capabilities related to turning into a specialized curriculum teacher.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Essay on Special Education Teacher

The custom curriculum is a particularly wide and touchy theme to discuss just as the few issues that accompany the Special instruction point. Furthermore, despite the fact that there is an assortment of issues, for example, custom curriculum kids being acknowledged, isolated from their friends, the monetary capacity to help numerous specialized curriculum programs, and the way that a lot of teachers are not appropriately affirmed and don’t have the foggiest idea how to deal with unique requirements kids; there are likewise numerous goals.

I have needed to be a teacher as far back as I can recollect. I would set up my front room as a homeroom and play for school for quite a long time. My mom was adequately magnificent to allow me to leave my study hall set awake for days. I worship kids and couldn’t think about a superior method of working with kids than to educate. To be an educator intends to contact lives. As a teacher, you can teach and form kids into fit and astute citizenry.

As a teacher, I am ready to give understudies the fundamental structure blocks they need to start their lives. As far as I might be concerned, there is not any more compensating profession than that.

I have consistently adored kids. I likewise firmly care about the individuals who are less lucky than I am and the individuals who battle with everyday difficulties. Along these lines, it appears to be just sensibly that I would need to show understudies with inabilities.

In the present society, the individuals who are intellectually or genuinely unique are disapproved of and considered sub-par. Notwithstanding, understudies with handicaps are not something to be embarrassed about or messed with. Understudies with inabilities ought not to need to confront this difficulty alone. Inabilities can without much of a stretch be overwhelmed with the legitimate love, care and guidance that lone a specialized curriculum teacher can give. By turning into a specialized curriculum educator, I will have the lowering chance to show these understudies as well as could be expected. I will give them the help, tolerance and care they merit.

By empowering these understudies and trusting in them, I will allow them the opportunity to have confidence in themselves. I will energize them the face their incapacities and difficulties they will deal with and tackle them directly.

My mom was a custom curriculum teacher for a long time. She is an incredible impact and a huge motivation behind why I additionally need to show understudies with inabilities. My mom would get back home from a taxing day at school, sit on her bed, make exercise arrangements, make worksheets and even plan new strategies for her understudies. This is an assumption for any teacher, yet the measure of work, devotion and love she put into her profession was amazingly motivating for me to observe. Her adoring, mindful and earnest character caught the hearts and psyches of her understudies. My mother went gaga for every one of her understudies and sorted out an approach to show everyone in their own specific manner. In addition to the fact that she loved her work, yet her understudies cherished her. Right up ’til the present time, she is as yet in touch with a few of her understudies and their families.

The most compensating profession on the planet is to be a teacher. In any case, to be a specialized curriculum educator is considerably really fulfilling. Each understudy has an option to training and has an option to flourish in their instructive vocation. Each understudy can possibly make their fantasies work out as expected. No handicap ought to at any point forbid an understudy from the absolute best schooling conceivable. I might want to be a custom curriculum educator since I need to have an effect. I need each understudy to feel that they are worth what they are with it and that someone will consistently have faith in them to be their main fan!

Conclusion on Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay

As a specialized curriculum educator, you will have the chance to serve God by serving understudies with incapacities and their families. As a specialized curriculum educator, you will show your understudies’ scholarly, social, and conduct abilities that they will use for the duration of their lives. The straightforward exercises you show each day will have a long-lasting effect on your understudies.

As a specialized curriculum educator, you will be urged to keep learning through going to proficient turns of events and systems administration with different teachers. As a specialized curriculum educator, you will be tested to find the particular intercessions that will satisfy the requirements of your understudies.

Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

FAQ’s on Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay

Question 1. Why do one should become a special education teacher?

Answer: One of the chief motivations to be a specialized curriculum educator is the opportunity to decidedly affect the existences of kids with incapacities, formative postponements, and learning problems.

Question 2. What are the qualities of a good education teacher?

Answer: Some of the qualities of special education teachers are adaptability, collaboration, compassion, knowledge, listening skills, strong and bold personality, assessment skills, dedication to work, etc.

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Why I Want to be a Special Education Teacher? essay

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Considering a Career in Special Education—Reasons, Rewards, and Challenges

It was once said, “To teach is to touch a life forever,” and this sentiment isn’t any truer than for special education teachers.

But why become a special education teacher ? Special education students require focused instruction to meet their educational, vocational, social, and emotional needs. Special education teachers are the men and women who pursue meet ing those needs.

If you are preparing to become a teacher for students with special needs, you may need to first acknowledge that the job demands much more than just having the right educational background and practical experience. It typically demands patience, flexibility, and attention, but many find that the rewards of being a special education teacher far outweigh these challenges.

LLet’s explore how to prepare yourself for the special education teacher career path.

FIND YOUR PATH

Rewards of being a Special Education Teacher

Perhaps one of the foremost reasons to be a special education teacher is the chance to positively impact the lives of children with disabilities, developmental delays, and learning disorders. Many special education teachers find that each day is a new opportunity to facilitate a child’s development, confidence, and positive outlook on school and learning. These are often rewards in themselves.

Other special education teacher benefits

  • Highly satisfying work. Although the job can, at times, be demanding, many education specialists admit that they can’t imagine doing any other work. The relationships created as a special education teacher, and the positive effects they witness having on their students each day, often make the taxing aspects of the job worthwhile.
  • Often higher salaries and benefits packages . Due to being one of the sectors most affected by the teaching shortage, the special education teacher job has prompted many states to look into improving the compensation and benefits of this type of educator, which, depending on the location, can either be higher or at par with other positions available to professionals with a teaching degree.
  • Greater chance of employability. Special education teachers require special certification beyond the usual teaching certification, giving them a highly specialized skill set. This advanced training may give holders of special education credentials additional opportunities in the workforce.
  • Mastering patience and adaptability. Working in special education can be highly demanding and unpredictable. The typical day of a special education teacher offers teachers an opportunity to enhance their skills in instructional strategies and also learn from their students as much as students learn from them, including the mastery of patience and adaptability.
  • Developing a genuine understanding of students' individual characteristics. The small class size creates an engaging and inclusive education environment. Teachers are often personally invested in each student with a unique learning disability. This creates a special bond that both the student and the Special Ed teacher find rewarding.
  • Serving a large community. Teachers in special education services work with other professionals who are committed to serving individuals with disabilities. When making an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for a student, they may connect with family members and forge meaningful professional relationships with doctors, advocates, and representatives from state agencies or nonprofit organizations. Such an expanded network of peers can open up interesting career prospects in the future.

Challenges of being a Special Education Teacher

Despite the many benefits, including an excellent special education career outlook, you must also consider the challenges of the job before deciding if it’s right for you. While shortages in special education may translate to greater employability, it may also mean you could be overworked. Special education teachers must complete a great deal of paperwork, such as maintaining an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student, in addition to typical lesson planning. This may lead to working more hours than is typical or taking their work home.

Furthermore, special education teachers must endure working in a particularly high-stress environment in which their students may be struggling with physical, mental, or emotional challenges. They also frequently have to manage meetings with parents and other staff, such as therapists and other school administrators.

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

Special Education Careers in a School Setting

Special education teachers are crucial in providing tailored instruction and support to students with diverse learning needs. Job positions for special education teachers vary, including;

Special Education Teacher - A special educator works with students with mental, emotional, physical, or learning disabilities. Being a special education teacher means supporting students with a  individualized education plan and helping the special needs student develop the skills necessary for academic success and daily life. 

Special Education Administrator - The administrator is responsible for overseeing and managing the special education program of a school district. The role involves administrative and leadership responsibilities related to special education services.

Instructional Coordinator - Often referred to as a Curriculum Specialist or Curriculum Coordinator, they are professionals in the field of education responsible for developing and implementing curriculum and instructional strategies for the overall quality of education within a school or district. Their role involves working closely with special educators, administrators, and other stakeholders to improve teaching and learning practices. 

Special Education Careers Outside of Teaching

Special education teachers can also specialize in specific areas outside of teaching. Here are a few with focus areas like pre-school and community support initiatives;

Early Intervention Specialist - They work with young children, typically from birth to age 3, to identify and address child development delays or disabilities early on. The goal of an early intervention specialist is to provide support and services that promote the child's overall development and improve their chances of success in later years. 

Special Education Advocate - The advocate is also a special education major and professional who works to support and empower parents, guardians, and students with disabilities in navigating the special education system. They ensure that students with special needs receive appropriate educational services, accommodations, and support.

Questions to Ask

Before you enroll in an accredited special education credential program you must first be sure this career path is ideal for you and your goals. It may be helpful to ask yourself the following questions before applying for a special education degree:

  • Do I hold the necessary traits to be a successful special education teacher, such as being highly organized, detail-oriented, and even-tempered?
  • Am I able to work in a high-stress, demanding work environment?
  • Am I flexible and able to change depending on the unique needs of my students?
  • Do I have the capacity to work on an interdisciplinary team with therapists, doctors, and other teachers?
  • Am I willing to take work home if paperwork hasn’t been completed throughout the course of the school day?

Education needed to become a Special Education Teacher

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, then you might consider getting your Preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential . Those interested in taking on the challenging yet rewarding career as a special education teacher may get professional training for Mild-Moderate specialization at the California School of Education (CSOE) at Alliant International University.

Your training will prepare you for the fulfilling career of serving as a special education teacher in the State of California. You can complete the special education credential training online and be eligible to work in a public school with students in grades K-12 and in settings focused on adults up to age 22.

Frequently Asked Questions

Graduates of our Preliminary Special Education Teaching Credential program will often end up teaching at the elementary-, middle-, and high-school levels—largely dependent on exactly what age range each individual person would care to teach.  Other career options can include becoming a school principal, adult and secondary educator, specialized child care, special education classroom materials creator, policy maker, and a professional tutor.

There are three different teaching tracks available to you in this program: The Standard Intern Option, The Student Teaching Option, and The Early Completion Option. Each has their own differences and benefits, and you can learn more about them here. And at CSOE, y ou can receive your MAE in Teaching concurrently with your Preliminary Special Education Teaching Credential by completing only three additional courses during your time in the program.

Contact Alliant to find out how you can get started on becoming a special education teacher today.

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Kristy Pruitt

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Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay?

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  • August 11, 2023
  • Learning Techniques

Do you want to know why I want to be a special education teacher? Well, let me tell you!

First of all, being a special education teacher is a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. It allows me to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special needs.

Secondly, I am passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. I believe that every child deserves equal opportunities to learn and grow.

So, join me on this journey as I delve into the reasons why I aspire to become a special education teacher.

Are you considering a career as a special education teacher? Discover the reasons why many individuals are drawn to this fulfilling profession. From making a difference in students’ lives to providing support and guidance, being a special education teacher offers unique rewards. Find out more about the inspiring aspects of this career path and why it may be the right choice for you.

Why I Want To Be a Special Education Teacher Essay?

Table of Contents

Why I Want To Be a Special Education Teacher Essay?

Being a special education teacher is a calling that requires patience, empathy, and a deep commitment to helping students with diverse learning needs. It is a rewarding profession that allows educators to make a profound impact on the lives of their students. In this article, we will explore the reasons why individuals choose to pursue a career in special education, the challenges they may face, and the strategies they employ to create inclusive and empowering learning environments.

Why Choose Special Education?

Special education is a field that offers unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. Here are three key reasons why individuals choose to become special education teachers:

1. Making a Difference

One of the main reasons why individuals are drawn to special education is the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of students with disabilities. Special education teachers help students overcome challenges and develop essential skills that will enable them to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By providing individualized instruction and support, special education teachers help their students unlock their full potential and reach their goals.

Moreover, special education teachers often play a crucial role in advocating for their students’ rights and ensuring that they receive the necessary accommodations and resources. This advocacy work helps create more inclusive school communities and fosters a sense of belonging among students with disabilities.

2. Building Relationships

Special education is a field that allows educators to build meaningful relationships with their students. As a special education teacher, you have the opportunity to work closely with a small group of students, getting to know them on a personal level and tailoring your instruction to their specific needs. This close bond enables special education teachers to provide individualized support and build trust, creating a safe and supportive learning environment for their students.

Furthermore, working closely with parents, guardians, and other professionals in the field is an essential aspect of being a special education teacher. Collaboration and open communication are key to developing effective strategies and ensuring that students receive the necessary support both in and outside the classroom.

3. Embracing Diversity

Special education celebrates and embraces diversity. Inclusive classrooms bring together students with a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences, creating a rich and dynamic learning environment. Special education teachers have the opportunity to promote acceptance, empathy, and understanding among their students, fostering a sense of unity and respect for individual differences.

Moreover, special education teachers are constantly learning and adapting their teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of their students. This continuous professional growth ensures that they stay up-to-date with the latest research-based practices and innovative approaches to instruction.

Challenges and Strategies in Special Education

1. individualized instruction.

In a special education setting, each student has unique learning needs that require individualized instruction. This can be a challenge for teachers who need to balance providing differentiated instruction while ensuring that all students are making progress towards their goals.

To address this challenge, special education teachers employ various strategies such as creating individualized education plans (IEPs) that outline goals, accommodations, and modifications for each student. They also utilize assistive technology and multisensory approaches to engage students and make learning accessible to all.

2. Behavior Management

Behavior management is another challenge faced by special education teachers. Students with disabilities may exhibit challenging behaviors due to frustration, communication difficulties, or sensory sensitivities.

Special education teachers implement positive behavior support strategies, such as using visual schedules, implementing reinforcement systems, and teaching social-emotional skills. By addressing the underlying causes of challenging behavior and providing students with the necessary support and structure, teachers can create a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

3. Collaboration and Advocacy

Collaboration and advocacy are crucial in the field of special education. Special education teachers work closely with other educators, support staff, and families to ensure that their students’ needs are met.

To foster collaboration, special education teachers participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, communicate regularly with families, and collaborate with related service providers such as speech therapists and occupational therapists. They also advocate for their students by promoting inclusion, raising awareness about disabilities, and advocating for necessary resources and supports.

Celebrating Success in Special Education

Being a special education teacher is a challenging yet incredibly rewarding profession. It requires a unique set of skills, a deep passion for helping others, and a commitment to lifelong learning. While special education teachers may face obstacles along the way, the small victories and moments of progress make it all worthwhile.

By choosing a career in special education, individuals have the opportunity to make a lasting impact, cultivate meaningful relationships, and create inclusive learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive. If you have a passion for education and a desire to make a difference, consider becoming a special education teacher and embark on a fulfilling and impactful career journey.

Key Takeaways: Why I Want To Be a Special Education Teacher Essay?

  • Helping and supporting children with special needs is my passion.
  • I believe in the power of education to make a positive impact on their lives.
  • Being a special education teacher allows me to make a difference in the lives of these children.
  • I want to create inclusive and nurturing learning environments for all students.
  • Special education teachers play a crucial role in advocating for the rights of students with disabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our frequently asked questions section about why someone would want to be a special education teacher. Whether you’re considering a career in special education or just curious about the motivations of those who choose this path, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find answers to some commonly asked questions!

1. What inspires people to become special education teachers?

There are various reasons why individuals choose to become special education teachers. For many, it’s a deep-rooted desire to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special needs. They find fulfillment in helping these students overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

Others are drawn to the unique challenges and rewards that come with working in special education. Being able to witness the progress and growth of their students provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose that motivates them every day. Additionally, forming strong connections with students and their families can be incredibly meaningful and rewarding.

2. What skills are important for someone pursuing a career as a special education teacher?

Special education teachers need a wide range of skills to effectively support their students. Patience is crucial, as each student may have different learning styles and abilities. A strong ability to adapt teaching methods and materials to meet individual needs is essential.

Effective communication skills are also vital, as special education teachers work closely with students, parents, and other professionals. They must be able to clearly convey information, collaborate with others, and advocate for their students. Flexibility, creativity, and empathy are other important qualities that help in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

3. What are the biggest challenges special education teachers face?

Special education teaching can come with its share of challenges. One significant challenge is ensuring that each student receives the individualized support they need. This can require a great deal of planning and differentiation of instruction to accommodate diverse learning styles, abilities, and behaviors.

Another challenge is the constant need to stay updated with research, strategies, and interventions in special education. The field is constantly evolving, and teachers must continually adapt their practices to meet the changing needs of their students. Additionally, the workload can be demanding, as special education teachers often have multiple roles and responsibilities, including documentation, collaboration, and attending meetings.

4. What are the rewards of being a special education teacher?

Being a special education teacher can be incredibly rewarding. Seeing the progress and growth of students who face unique challenges can bring immense joy and a strong sense of fulfillment. Witnessing breakthrough moments and knowing you played a part in helping a student succeed is a remarkable experience.

The relationships formed with students, their families, and the special education community can also be incredibly meaningful. These connections create a strong support system and a sense of belonging that extends beyond the classroom. Lastly, knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of individuals who may face additional barriers is an incredible reward in itself.

5. How can I prepare for a career in special education teaching?

If you’re considering a career in special education teaching, there are several steps you can take to prepare yourself. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in special education or a related field is typically required. Hands-on experience through internships or volunteering with individuals with disabilities can provide valuable insights and skills.

Continuing education is also important, especially as the field of special education evolves. Pursuing graduate studies or attending professional development courses can help you stay informed about the latest research, strategies, and legal requirements. Building strong communication and collaboration skills, as well as fostering empathy and patience, will also serve you well in your future career as a special education teacher.

So, after reading this article, you can see why being a special education teacher is so important. These incredible heroes help students with different abilities learn and grow. They create safe and inclusive classrooms, where everyone feels valued and loved. Their patience and kindness make a big difference in the lives of their students.

In this article, we learned that special education teachers undergo special training to support students with unique needs. They collaborate with parents and other professionals to create individualized education plans. These teachers use various teaching strategies and assistive technologies to help their students succeed. They also foster a supportive environment that promotes independence and celebrates each student’s achievements.

Whether it’s helping a student learn to read or teaching them life skills, special education teachers make a lasting impact. They show that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the world. So, if you have a passion for helping others and want to make a difference, becoming a special education teacher could be an incredible journey for you.

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Sample Personal Statement for Special Education Teacher

why i want to become a special education teacher essay

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field.

The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to Masters’s program in special education. Variations of this personal statement got accepted at TUFTS and Boston College. Read this essay to understand what a top personal statement of a special education teacher should look like.

“Quo non Ascendam” – “to what heights can I not rise.” This is the motto of Ethiopia Aviation Academy, my Alma Meta, and my inspiration. Last year, while ascending Adams peak during a voluntary AIESEC internship at Colombo University, Sri Lanka, I saw a poor boy suffering from muscular dystrophy dangerously perched behind the railings at the corner of the tortuous path. “Excelsior,” my Australian, American, Lebanese, and Chinese comrades exhorted me to go on. But I was transfixed by the utter disparity I saw – was it right to give him a coin, or could I have done something else to change his destiny? How lucky I am to have everything on my plate.

My schooling was elite. However, I never disassociated myself from my disadvantaged peers with physical impairments. Every year my mother used to take me to a nearby nursing home (for children with disabilities) to celebrate my birthday. She did so purposefully so that I could count my blessing and be grateful for what I have. The wider gap between the haves and the have-nots became even more pronounced when I visited my native village in rural Ethiopia and interacted with children in our neighborhood. Sometimes I even felt guilty for having so much more than them. I pondered that to alleviate poverty and promote socio-economic development, I needed to provide easy access to education to the less fortunate. I believe this will give me tranquility and a realm of my own.

To become a valuable member of society, I decided to major in special education. Therefore, I enrolled at Bahir Dar University. In my senior year, I traveled to Augustana College (on Global U-GRAD Exchange Program) as a Cultural Ambassador and stayed there for six months. During this time, I gained exposure to the local culture and enhanced my English language and teaching skills. At Laura Wilder Elementary School, I taught courses to special children on how to become adaptive and sociable. Not only this, but I also organized “Ethiopia Day” festivities at Sioux Falls and gave a comprehensive lecture on the society and culture of Ethiopia. Post-presentation, a native exclaimed, “Thank you for showing us Ethiopia in a better way.” Upon my return to Ethiopia, I decided to redouble my efforts in imparting education after being motivated by the exposure at Augustana college.

During my junior year, I realized my life goals after opting to travel for an optional teaching internship with National Commission for Human Development in Swat, now famous for being the hometown of Malala Yousafzai. I worked towards the UN Millennium Development Goal, which envisages an educated society as a foundation for development. For four months, I designed and taught several courses in self-development, communication, and professionalism to women in rural communities. As a result, I felt a lot more empowered.

Subsequently, I became further predisposed to teaching special children. However, at the same time, I realized that I would need further education to achieve my lofty aim of making a more significant impact. While working on various projects involving wide-ranging education policy issues and theories, I was exposed to the benefits and limitations of the teaching sphere. Now, I want to expand my world and learn more so that I can ask better questions and be capable of adapting to the changing world. I believe everyone has a share in shaping the world (no matter how small or big), and by pursuing graduate studies in teaching methodologies, I will be able to provide a beneficial share to the world. It will also help me create the world that I want to live in.

As we neared Adams peak, we started bantering – our words echoed from the valley below. My fatigue disappeared as I witnessed the breathtaking sunrise – such are the fruits of accomplishment. The decent is always easier. I remember children always walking to school and running back home. As we descended, I saw the same disabled boy at the same place near the railing but with a much more satisfying look as his bowl was brimming with coins. I know brooding is not the answer, but he should have been in school. Wisdom lies in knowing what to do next. I know someday I want to be wholly immersed in teaching and formulating educational policies that will send all poor and disabled children to school and higher learning.

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why i want to become a special education teacher essay

Recommended for you

Why i want to be a special education teacher, we can be the difference in someones life..

Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

So of course, when you are graduating high school and going into college, everyone wants to know what you are majoring in. People usually will say “Wow, that’s great” and obviously, “Congratulations!”. When people first ask me what I am majoring in at school and I say Special Education, usually the first thing that comes out of their mouth after that is either, “Wow, you must have a lot of patience”, or even, “That’s a really tough job, good for you.” It is so much more than that.

Ask any of us why we are doing this or why we want to become a Special Ed teacher. It is not because we think we have patience. We want to do this because it is for the students. We want to watch them learn and succeed when others think they can’t. I, in particular, wanted to become a special education teacher because I want to make a difference in the lives of children that otherwise would not have the chance. I want to help them reach their full potential when others have given up on them, and especially when they have given up on themselves.

One of the main reason I want to work in Special Ed is because for so many of the students that need it, many teachers or adults do not want to work with them because they don’t want the problem. Some will give up on them when they need the support the most. Why though? They are people just like any other students. We want to work with these kids because they have so much more to offer the word than just a possible disability that they might have. So many of them have amazing talents and skills or are even brilliant, but you just have to figure out how to get through to them in the best way possible and not let them down.

Although there are many different aspects that go into teaching in general, it is so much more than all the paper work and frustrations. Even talking to teachers now, many say it’s a lot of work and that it it frustrating- but that’s the point! You go through all of these troubles to make it all better for the kids. Not only to difference in their lives, but your own too. We know what we are getting ourselves into, and that is what draws so many of us to become teachers.

Think of it this way. All kids go to school and have teachers. Other than parents, we are the ones that nurture the students and teach them to help them be whatever we want to be. Teachers teach the presidents, doctors, nurses, policeman, and even teach future teachers. Teachers are a part of everyone’s lives no matter what they are doing. It is their job to help make a difference in their student's lives. You are in school from pre-school, to high school and even college. Everyone has a lot of teachers in their lives that help them along the way. Plus, if you really think about it, they are the ones that teach you how to do what you want to do in life. I can tell you that if you ask anyone that is an education student in college or an actual teacher, they will tell you that they wanted to become a teacher because they had one in their lives that inspired them to be the difference in someone else. I sure did.

So, if you are ever on the fence about becoming a teacher or not, think "why not?". You are the one that can make a difference in so many kid's lives, and you are the one that teaches the future leaders of America everything that is needed. What’s stopping you from making a difference in their life and your own? I have already gotten so much more out of it than I ever imagined and so can you.

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

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why i want to become a special education teacher essay

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10 Reasons Why I Love Being a Special Education Teacher

why i want to become a special education teacher essay

Being a special education teacher is a privilege. I am happy to say I get to be part of an amazing group of professionals that are dedicated to learning and growing as teachers. I am part of a unique group of people that tackle challenges with grace and style, and know how to hustle when we need to. Special education teachers are a unique bunch; we don’t stop at “no,” and are willing to do anything for our students. We work endless hours before school and even after our contractual obligations end. We juggle the balance between work and home and many of us know the struggle of writing an IEP while we are supposed to be watching a movie with our family. I love being part of a headstrong, loyal group of professionals that love helping others and teaching our students in a way that is meaningful to them.

Here are 10 reasons why I love being a special education teacher.

1. My students are the coolest people I know.

I know this may sound cliché, and I don’t even know if the word “cool” is cool anymore, but my students are the coolest! I love the various perspectives that they bring to me every day. I enjoy seeing the world through their eyes, and understanding where they are coming from. My students have accomplished so many amazing things! Some of my students have gone on to four-year colleges, some have gotten jobs, and some now live independently. Others who may not fit the traditional grade book scale of “competent,” have mastered skills such as tying one’s shoes, speaking in sentences, and toilet training. My students are outspoken, tell the truth and try their best. They are definitely the coolest people I know.

2. I get to learn from my students.

Yup, they teach me something new every day! I have to admit, I needed someone to walk me through the Star Wars movies, teach me about dinosaurs, or how to play Minecraft. It was my students that taught me about Pokémon, and how apps such as Pokémon Go helped get them over their social anxiety. My students have exposed me to some many interesting ideas and topics that I may not have otherwise ventured into. I continue to learn and am constantly indebted to them for the things they have taught me.

3. It’s rewarding.

Teaching special education is so rewarding! There is not much better than helping a student reach their potential. I feel great knowing my students have learned something new because I was able to teach them in a way that made sense for them. It’s rewarding to know I have been able to reach them and help them on their way to future independence.

4. I love to teach.

I love to share my knowledge and grow with my students. Getting in front of an engaged and excited class is one of the best things in life! Being able to do this every day brings me an indescribable feeling of elation.

5. I can understand others better.

Working with students with all ranges and abilities helps me become more patient, compassionate and understanding. The more I work with these students, the more adept I become at seeing things through their eyes. I enjoy making the connections and seeing how they think. Knowing what works for my students and what doesn’t is vital to being an effective teacher. The more time I get to spend with my students, the easier it is for me to pull out tools and strategies for implementation. Having a wide range of students teaches me there will never be a “one size fits all.”

6. I love finding what works.

I enjoy the challenge of figuring out a new student. My main goal as a special education teacher will always be to help them learn functional and academic skills in order to become an independent learner and contributing citizen to the world around them. When I have a new student, I have the chance to assess, analyze and try to figure out what might work. Yes, 80 percent of new attempts may end in failure, but I don’t give up. I don’t allow myself to ever assume a student is not capable of learning. Every student is a success story. You just need to be willing to be patient and find it.

7. I get to set a foundation.

Setting a foundation in a figurative sense means I get to be a mentor for my students. I work hard to establish a rapport and build trust with my students. These fundamental beginnings allow me to set a productive foundation for my students and their education. Mutual respect and genuine understanding are key to a proper foundation for functional and academic learning.

8. I am appreciated.

Appreciation is expressed in many forms. Sometimes it is a verbal affirmation from your administrative team, and sometimes, it is in the small quiet nod you receive from one of your shy, non-verbal students. I know I am appreciated, even when it is not said. I can find the small, often subtle gestures that show me this. This appreciation and gratitude fuels me and my work every day.

9. I love to help.

I know, so cliché again, right? But it’s true. I do love to help. I want all of my students to be able to grow up and fulfill their dreams. I want to be able to be the catalyst that helps get them there. I want to be the support, the mentor, and the teacher they need me to be, so they can shine.

10. Summers off.

Summers off! Ha! I was just kidding. I know you will be teaching and helping your students keep their skills all summer long. Even during the summer, my students know they can count on me anytime.

And this is why I love being a special education teacher. It is what I was meant to do.

Read more on Trisha’s blog .

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What I’ve Learned From Special Ed Teachers

Special education teachers have valuable insights to share with their peers about patience, empathy, working with parents, and more.

A teacher and his young students sit on the rug in a circle.

Special education teachers are expected to do quite a lot: Assess students’ skills to determine their needs and then develop teaching plans; organize and assign activities that are specific to each student’s abilities; teach and mentor students as a class, in small groups, and one-on-one; and write individualized education plans in parent-friendly language.

In addition, they must know and apply the dozens of acronyms used in their field: ADA (American with Disabilities Act), DOR (Department of Rehabilitation), LEA (local education agency), PDD (pervasive developmental disorder), and LRE (least restrictive environment), to name just a few.

As I work with special education teachers, I remain awestruck by their energy, empathy, and excitement. Here’s what I’ve learned from them that has made me a better teacher.

1. Accept every student as they are. Students come to us with packages and baggage. Open and unpack slowly and gently, with kindness, respect, and understanding. Building a relationship with a student takes time and patience—allow it to happen organically. If you push it, shove it, or force it, you’ll have to start all over and it may or may not bloom.

2. Active listening is a gift. Every day, every student will have a problem—or something they perceive to be a problem. Stop, make eye contact, and listen. Don’t offer a solution until invited to do so. Don’t minimize their problem, experience, or situation. Don’t take their problem to the principal or other administrator until you’ve given the student time to think it through. Sometimes all they want is to be heard.

3. Scaffolding a lesson is just good teaching. Be prepared to break down a lesson and create pieces of learning. When each piece is explained, modeled, practiced, and applied, the parts fit together solidly to form a whole of understanding. Too much lecturing, too thick a packet, or too many directions can cause anxiety and disquiet. One small step at a time usually works best.

4. Be specific when sharing information with parents. When talking with parents, offer specific positives and exact concerns about their child’s abilities. Be careful of generalizations like always, never, usually, and sometimes. Give explicit examples and partner with parents to create opportunities for growth. Parents want to support teachers—show them how.

5. Eliminate jargon when talking with parents. Remember all those acronyms? If they must be used, use them sparingly and define each one. Acronyms can aid teachers in communicating with each other, but they build a divide with parents because using them is exclusionary—they’re a special language for educators. Building a partnership with parents means having a common vocabulary that inspires, not tires.

6. Students want to feel loved. Our students want to believe they’re the only ones in our class, on our caseload, or in our hearts. A small token of appreciation—a handwritten note, a quiet teacher-student lunch, or our cell phone number—tells that student we care about them and their academics. The importance of building relationships cannot be overstressed—students need us to show them that love is always possible.

7. Share what we’ve learned with others. Sharing resources and strategies with other teachers advances our students’ learning. Special education teachers are experts in the philosophy of differentiation. They don’t simply do differentiation—they employ it as a mindset needed to teach well. Demonstrating for one student how to apply a strategy will benefit all students.

8. Patience is a gift, a virtue, and a necessity. All of our students require patience, but some need a little more than others. Giving extra time for homework or a differentiated assessment could alleviate some of that challenge. Always remember that parents send to us their most precious possessions, hoping we’ll be humble, supportive, and empathetic.

9. Ask for help. Do not assume that you can teach, nurture, feed, clothe, and shelter every student on your caseload or in your class. Before you jeopardize your physical, emotional, and mental health, it’s important to ask for support. Your colleagues, school social worker, school psychologist, and other support staff are ready to help you help your students.

10. Laugh. There are some days when laughter might be the last thing you’re thinking of, but it may just be what you need. Our students come to us from different places—cognitively and logistically—yet a hearty chuckle or shared case of the giggles may help all of us take a step back and start again.

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Why Every Teacher Needs to Study Special Education

A teacher sitting at a table, working with children.

Completing a degree in special education doesn’t necessarily put you on the path to becoming a special ed. teacher; it offers advantages for any teaching career as well as for every one of your students — those with and without exceptionalities. 

  • Why Study Special Education if You Don’t Plan to Teach it?

Recent decades have seen a substantial increase in special education students spending time learning among their nondisabled peers rather than separate from them. In fact, of those aged 6-21, 63.4% spend 80% or more of their time in general education classes, according to 2017 data . And an international survey of more than 121,000 teachers in 30 countries, including the U.S., showed that actual instruction time decreased as the number of students with exceptionalities in a classroom increased.

That lost time went to managing the classroom, potentially negatively impacting both disabled and nondisabled students. Education pundits believe that if general education teachers were better prepared — receiving more training focused on inclusion and special education — all students could benefit.  

How Can Studying Special Education Help Me as a Teacher? 

A master’s in special education not only increases your earning potential, but it also puts you at the top of the candidate pool for teaching jobs. It provides you with tools for providing person-centered education and better adapting lessons based on different learning types and levels. Wherever your career leads, an M.A. in special education opens up opportunities for both personal and professional growth.

why i want to become a special education teacher essay

You will be a more effective teacher to every student 

By understanding the best way to teach all types and levels of learners, you understand the way that more students learn, not just those with exceptionalities. This is helpful, as classrooms are more inclusive than they’ve ever been — the number of special education students spending the majority of their time in the general education classroom increased 9% between 2005 and 2014.

The number of students diagnosed with disabilities is also growing — in 2017-2018, there were 7 million students with disabilities (13.4% of all students). That means that general education teachers, with little training in special education , are the ones responsible for most of their education.

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A 2004 amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) also required at least one general education teacher to be involved in the creation and implementation of each student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). However, a 2007 study revealed that general education teachers took an average of just 1.5 courses that focused on inclusion or special education in their teacher-preparation programs, versus the average of 11 courses for special education teachers.

An advanced degree in special education can give you knowledge, training and — perhaps most importantly — confidence to provide the best and most effective learning experience for every student in the classroom. 

Classrooms are more inclusive than they’ve ever been. 

It sets you apart in a teaching job search

A master’s degree in special education can set you apart from other applicants for teaching jobs, not just for teaching special ed. That’s because a special education degree makes it clear you are capable of teaching every student — the ones who are ahead, the ones who are behind, and the ones with exceptionalities. As inclusion has increased, general education teachers aren’t required to have advanced training in special education, so those teachers who have sought out that extra training will have an edge in a job search over other general educators. 

It increases your earning potential

Of the largest school districts in the country, 88% offer additional pay , either in the form of salary increases or additional stipends, to teachers who hold advanced degrees. Depending on where you are on the pay scale and how far you are into your career, a master’s degree can increase your salary an average of $2,000 to $7,000 per year. 

It could lead to new career paths outside of teaching 

Outside of the traditional classroom setting, advanced training in special education offers a variety of career opportunities, including becoming an educational diagnostician, working in a clinical setting (such as in early intervention in hospitals or in a rehabilitation center), and acting as an independent consultant or trainer to school districts or state departments of education.

Your knowledge of special education could also translate to working in roles funded through state-wide programs committed to meeting the needs of those with disabilities, providing you with a career as a case manager , a program coordinator, or a nonprofit director.

It empowers you to be an advocate for social justice, inside and outside the classroom. Studying special education will stir you to look for ways to harness the positive power of diversity in classrooms, school districts, and communities. By more accurately understanding the relationship between the needs of students and the deficiencies in resources, you can search and advocate for new solutions to meet their needs.  

It offers a lifetime of learning

Working with students, especially special education students, is an engaging line of work. If you learn to focus on person-centered education, you will understand each student’s unique goals, challenges and needs, requiring you to continuously change and adapt. It requires creativity and compassion to reach every student.

The new training and knowledge provided by a special education degree can reinvigorate the career of an experienced teacher or provide a confidence boost to newer educators. In the end, by finding teaching and behavioral solutions for each child, a teacher can make a lasting impact on students’ lives. While teaching has its challenges, done well, it is a deeply rewarding career. 

  • Next Steps in Your Teaching Career

Earning a master’s degree in special education can benefit your teaching career in a number of ways, including providing more opportunities for you and your students to learn and grow. You might consider learning more about Point Loma Nazarene University’s Master of Arts in Special Education , including the courses you can take and how the hybrid program works. 

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About the Author 

Bethany (Leach) Mavis graduated from PLNU in 2009 with a journalism degree. She now manages marketing and content for a high-security construction company, teaches editing to journalism students as an adjunct professor, and advises the Mariner yearbook staff at PLNU.

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Careers you can pursue with a masters in higher education, 5 strategies to engage students in the digital age, what are the pros and cons of teachers giving letter grades, table of contents.

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why i want to become a special education teacher essay

  •   Thursday, July 4, 2024

Future Educators

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Helping America's Future Teachers

I Want to Become a Teacher Because | My Dream Job Essay

My dream is to become a teacher . If you have this dream, you’re not alone. Here’s a collection of short essays by aspiring teachers. Current and future education students were asked to describe their motivation; what inspires them to succeed at their teacher training studies.

In these 31 student essays, future educators answer the question “I want to become a teacher because …” or “I want to become a teacher to …”. The short student essays are grouped thematically, forming the top reasons to become a teacher.

1. Giving Brings Its Own Rewards

Early childhood teacher

Helping people is the unifying theme as to why students are inspired and motivated to become teachers. Education is a field where you can help young people directly in a personal way; potentially changing their lives for the better. Teaching is more than just a job.

For a significant percentage of education students, the opportunity to be of service provides plenty of motivation to pursue a teaching career. In each Why I Want to Become a Teacher essay here, a future educator explains why teaching is an opportunity to do something meaningful and beneficial.

by Hanna Halliar

If I can make an impact in just one child’s life, I will be able to consider myself successful. That is my motivation. As a future educator, what else would it be?

Every day that is spent in class, the late nights at the library, the endless hours of studying are all just steps getting me closer to the goal. When I am still up at 1 a.m. struggling to keep my eyes open, but only half way through my 6 page paper I remember how excited I am to work with my own students one day.

To me, being a teacher is so much more than the typical response most people have towards education majors. “Oh, you’re going to be a teacher. You know how much you will make?” Yes, I’m aware that I will be making an average of $50,000 a year in Indiana.

To me being a teacher means that I get the opportunity to not only teach my students math, English, and science but to teach life lessons that will stick with them as well.  It means walking into school every day being the reason my students look forward to coming to school. It means being surrounded by crafts, books, and music and not being stuck in an office. It means educating our future generation. And if somebody has to do it, it should be somebody who is passionate about it.

So what motivates me to study? It is so simple, it is the kids.

by Savannah Stamates

I lay awake at night and practice my first morning message to my first round of students whom I will not meet for more than a year.

I wonder if I will have hungry children, happy children, or broken children. I wonder if I will be good enough or strong enough to reach those most in need.  I wonder if my students will trust me enough to tell me that they are hungry, happy, or scared.

I worry that I will not be strong enough to share their burden or provide a place for peace and learning. I worry that I will misread their actions or their words or miss them reaching out.

So I study, even when I am tired from working two jobs or sick of not being where I want to be. When my time comes to walk into that classroom, my worries and doubts will be silenced by the knowledge I have mastered and the dream I have finally achieved.

by Charity Latchman

Dreams for the future are subjective. They can be based on what we desire. But visionary dreams are not only for us. Imagine asking some of the greatest revolutionaries and pioneers about their dreams. They generally had others in mind. In the famous “I have a Dream” speech, Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr said “we” more than thirty times. Dreams are not for our benefit alone, but to encourage, inspire and benefit others.

Recently I graduated from California Baptist University with a degree in English literature. During my studies, I was cared for my disabled mother. She was a religious studies professor who inculcated me with a diligent and steadfast approach to schoolwork. Managing the role of caregiver with university studies was challenging. But the goal to become a teacher kept me going. Approaching graduation, my mother was diagnosed with throat cancer. She didn’t worry about herself as much as you might expect but kept pushing me to finish the final paper in the program.

With her encouragement, my faith, and a burning desire to teach English literature, I graduated. My motivation comes from wanting to help, to encourage, and to inspire others.  Teaching is an act of giving that has its own rewards.  Life’s trials bring ups and downs. But we must always strive to attain our dreams, especially when others are central to them.

by Katheryn England

As a high school senior, many people assume I’m prepared for college and know what I want to study after graduation. These assumptions cause me to experience moments of self-doubt. Then I re-evaluate what I want for myself, and what it is that keeps me working towards my dreams. Through the goals I’ve set for myself, I can maintain focus, move past my self-doubt and succeed. By focusing on my goals, I can make a difference in the world directly around me.

A goal I have in my life is to be an elementary teacher, also known as an early childhood teacher. As a teacher,  I can share the knowledge I’ve gained to leave behind a better future for our world .

Last year, I had the opportunity to work alongside a previous elementary teacher and mentor of mine. I’d visit her classroom daily, and taught lessons alongside her or independently. Uniquely, they were the opening act in my high school’s original winter play. They read first-hand from our scripts and learned what happens behind the scenes. Showing a new part of the world to the youth of my community has motivated me to pursue my dreams.

Remembering this experience and the positive influence I had on those students helps me overcome self-doubt and stay focused on my goals. Thanks to the goals I’ve set for my life, I not only can find purpose for my efforts, but find the will to be confident in whatever choices I make.

by Emma Lillard-Geiser

I have always known that I would become two things: a mother and a teacher. What I didn’t know is that I would become the mother before the teacher. Having a child that depends on me is what fuels my desire to succeed in life. When I get frustrated with my studies I take a deep breath, look at my daughter, and know that I have reason to persevere. I know that one hour of studying will give me hours with my daughter as soon as I am done.

My mother is a teacher and growing up I cherished learning from her. She had knowledge that I admired and I quickly realized that I had to spend my whole life learning. I love to learn, to have that light go off in my head when it all just clicks.

I cannot wait to see that light in the eyes of my daughter and my future students.  For every thing that I learn, is another thing I can teach someone else.  It isn’t easy to study when you have a small child to take care of but I know that my education will provide me with the ability to take care of her for the rest of our lives.

2. Help Disadvantaged Students

Teacher helping disadvantaged student

Students are disadvantaged for many reasons, whether it’s because of a handicap, where they live, economic disadvantage or a language barrier.

Future educators may want to become teachers so they can make a difference in the lives of students who face extra learning challenges. This special interest often comes from the future teacher’s own experience, either personally or involving people they’ve known.

by Ian T Thomason

While attending the University of Minnesota-Mankato, I have aspirations of becoming a Special Education Teacher. Becoming a Special Education Teacher and helping students who have a need for extra help and students who are having troubles with everyday life are things that I dream of doing.  I was in their shoes once and know how difficult it is to deal with everyday life and how nice it was have a teacher to talk to.

Becoming a Special Education Teacher is my ultimate goal and, when difficult times arise, I have to remind myself of the children out there who have it potentially worse than I. When I remember this, I also think back to all of the support that I had from my parents, family members, and teachers. I also know that there are lots of children who don’t have this type of support and, if I can be there for them, that would make my career choice all the more worth it.

My Special Education degree is something more than just a degree for me. It is a degree that allows me to help children improve their education. I realize that children are our future and that their minds are terrible things to waste. So, instead of wasting their minds, why not put our best foot forward to educate them? My dream is to help kids realize their full potential, promote education and a brighter future for every child.

by Katherine

Motivation allows you to persist through difficult circumstances. Mine comes from a desire to grow into an instructor who is able to make a difference to many children’s lives.

In elementary school, I actually was a special education student. I’ve had to work hard most days of my life to achieve anything. I could not have succeeded without the support of some absolutely amazing teachers. Now I desire to take on that supporting role for as many students as I can reach.

When a class or an assignment I don’t want to do come up, I think of what motivates me. And the motivation is children. Many students feel powerless about their education, just like I did.  I could be a teacher who turns their education around, providing vital support and motivation to succeed at their studies.  Ultimately, everyone motivates themselves by one way or another. My motivation comes from the pure desire to help future students.

by Robbie Watson

My road to graduate school has been a long one. I studied religion and culture in undergrad, interested in the material, yet not sure how I would apply it later. Yet I found places, got involved in community and international development, engaged with different cultures, and now feel I use my degree every day.

For over two years I worked alongside Congolese refugees in Rwanda, developing educational opportunities for youths who could not finish secondary school in the underfunded camps. It is these refugees, young and old, the students, the teachers, their passion and vision for a better future that has driven me to seek out more education for myself. I remember how they would pay from their families’ meager funds to attend classes led by volunteer teachers. When finances were against them, or time, or family obligations, or the dire depression of the camp life itself, or even government officials were against them, still those students attended, still those teachers taught.

It is their example of perseverance towards a goal against all odds that inspires me now. I think of them often, think of the friends they were, are still. And I think of how that passion is in me now, to better understand education so that I might better educate, and thus equip such downtrodden communities to work for transformation themselves. I work not only for myself, and am motivated by the potential in those students and educators, which is also in me, and in others like them.

by Natalie Pelayo

I’m a young Latino woman working towards the goal of earning a bachelor degree in bilingual education. On occasions, I feel a slowing in my motivation. But, every time it happens, I think about the goal and that pushes me to move forward.

Looking back to a middle school class I attended, there was a boy who never really participated. He sat in his hoodie, looking down to his desk. Only after trying to talk with him, I discovered he spoke with broken English and a thick Spanish accent. It seemed as if no-one in our class actually knew that he struggled to understand what was being taught because it was presented in English.

By his manner, it was apparent that he had already accepted a dismal fate. Past teachers may have been unable to communicate with him. Eventually, he’d become demoralized.  Thinking about the disadvantages he had to endure provides ongoing motivation to study hard.

I aim to become a bilingual elementary school teacher to support young Spanish-speaking children. As a teacher, I’ll be able to show them that they can succeed. Children need not grow up thinking they’re incapable of learning due to a language barrier. I’ll keep working towards my goal to help ensure teaching is inclusive of all children, no matter their first language.

by Abigail Young

I am an American citizen, but my whole life I have lived in Cameroon, Africa. I have been blessed with an enormous amount of opportunities and a great education at a private international school.

Every day I have seen children and teenagers around me who do not get the same education or have the same possibilities of a “bright” future. I see schools that are forced to have three children share a small table, paper, and pens. I have seen a badly lit room with poor roofs and walls made from bricks. Even in my school there are numerous Cameroonians, my friends, and classmates that do not have the same chances at a higher level education, although they work just as hard.

When I study, I study hard because I do not want to let this chance and opportunity go to waste. I study because I have been undeservedly blessed to be able to go the United States for a high education with better chances at getting scholarship money. I study my hardest because  it is my dream that I may come back and make a difference in countries like Africa with poor education systems . It should be a right for children to be able to learn like I have. Therefore, because of this mindset, I am driven to study not just out of thankfulness for my circumstances, but also in hope that I may be able to give other children a better chance, and a greater reason to study.

3. Helping Many People Is Achievable in Teaching

Crowded classroom with many hands up

A powerful source of motivation for some education students is the potential to touch and positively impact the lives of many people. Education is a field of consequence and that’s a good reason for wanting to join the teaching profession.

Over the course of a long career, a classroom teacher may help shape the learning experience of hundreds or even thousands of students. In policy roles, educators can affect millions of people.

by Rachel Bayly

Through high school I worked as a teacher at a daycare. When I left for college I said goodbye to a lot of people, including my students. All summer I had woken up at five in the morning to go to work and wait for them to arrive and put a smile on my face. Those kids motivated me to keep waking up and working hard, and leaving them was not easy.

The thing that made that goodbye worth it, the reason that I keep pushing through this tying chapter of my life is that  I am determined to improve early childhood education in the United States .

I want to be a positive force in the lives of as many children as I possibly can, and I plan on doing that by improving standards and policies for early childhood education and making it more affordable.

Every week I write in my planner, “I will make a difference” and one way that I will change the lives of children and families. On days that I find myself asking, “why am I here?” “why am I going into debt, paying to be stressed out all the time?” I think of my students. I read my “I will make a difference” statements.

I remember that some children out there are stuck in low quality child care centers, they will never reach their full potential, and they need help. I keep working hard everyday so that I can help those children.

by Megan Burns

My ultimate goal is to change the lives of people. Studying to be a teacher is hard. All of the classes that are required, all of the practicums, and all of the time spent just to become a teacher is stressful, but the thought of being able to help just one person changes everything.

It takes one person to be a light in someone’s life. It take one person to be a helping hand. It takes one person to change an unmotivated, broken life, and make it brand new. Qualified teachers are those people.  We motivate students to do their best, we guide students to success when no one else will, and we are always available to listen.  One teacher can change the lives of thousands of students. That is my motivation.

I know that after college, I will be a teacher, a guider, a counselor, and a friend to so many students. No matter how many bad days I have or how many times I want to quit, I just think of what is to come in the future. I can be that change this world needs, even if its in a small high school classroom. It just takes one person.

by Victoria Shoemkaer

My dream is to make a difference in the life of children.

  • To make them excited about learning.
  • To make it fun the way it used to be when they were younger.
  • To show them that someone cares about them and wants to see them succeed.
  • To show that they are much more that a test score or a number.
  • To believe in them so much, that I do not let them get discouraged from chasing their dreams.
  • To showing them that everyone fails and it’s your recovery that determines what happens next.
  • To sacrifice myself to gives them more opportunities for success.
  • To encourage students to succeed in and out of the classroom for the betterment of themselves and the community.
  • To inspire them to change the world, because they can.
  • To help them transform into caring and compassionate adults who are ready to conquer the word, but remember where they came from.
  • To teach them to do good in the world because anyone can accomplish doing well.

Most importantly, my dream is to make children feel like their voice is important and valued and that they are loved more than they know.

4. Lives Can Be Improved by Dedicated Instructors

African boy showing a computer tablet

Teaching a subject such as Math or English is the everyday task of a teacher. But our prospective teachers see a greater purpose in their training and career path.

The daily motivation to teach doesn’t come from the superficial advantages of a teaching career, such as great job security or extra vacation time. Here are stories by future educators who want to go beyond the curriculum and improve people’s lives all round.

by Savannah Luree Weverka

Teachers are the ones who ignited my love for learning and there is not a day that goes by when I do not challenge myself to a personal goal of lifelong learning.

My mother is a teacher, so I was a student educated in an institution filled with support and a home that also supported education. I recall many teacher “get-togethers” and Husker parties where an informal invitation led to my presence.

Due to all of this support and interaction received throughout my elementary and high school career, Elementary Education continues to be at the top of my career choices. And now, as a senior looking forward to graduating from high school,  teachers remain my role models .

In considering a focus in Elementary Education, I now realize that many teachers not only teach children eight hours of the day, but become doctors for scraped knees, dictionaries for challenging words, mediators between students, and parents away from home.

Now, as I am taking the steps to make my dream come true I hope to make school an escape to free their minds and expand their knowledge. I want to share my love of learning with my students.

by Aaron Banta

Since I was younger, I have had the dream of becoming a history teacher at the high school level. The reason I am striving for this career is thanks to a teacher I had.  They held such a passion for history and taught it so well that it made me want to keep learning everything I could about it.

In college, I have had to work multiple jobs and attend school full-time. I would wake up early in the morning and not get home until late at night. The one thing that kept me on top of my studying and work was the dream I have; to be able to teach history and express my love for it by teaching the next generation. I strive to impact their lives for the better just like mine was.

Being able to pass my courses and get a degree and teaching credentials is the first main goal I am striving for. But being able to have a positive impact on students I have will be an even greater goal that I want to accomplish. I am hoping to guide them through their study of my favorite subject so I can teach them about the world and help them just like my teacher had helped me.

by Chelsea Rogers

At USC Upstate, I am studying to be a Secondary Education Mathematics teacher. The math courses are not easy and the education courses pushes you to challenge yourself. The thought of being a future teacher is what motivates me to keep pushing.

Although I do not know any of my students, they are precious to me and I believe it is my job to change their lives for the better.  Teaching math is my job, but looking beyond my content and into the wellbeing of my students is my passion.

The question I always ask myself is how can I teach students who may not trust me? I have to establish a connection with each student so that they will see I care about them academically, physically, and emotionally. Once students see that you care about them in these areas, it becomes easier to teach them and they are willing to perform to the best of their ability because they know their teacher supports them 100 percent. Being a great teacher is what motivates me to continue striving for my degree.

by Micayla Watroba

One plus one is two. Phone is pronounced with an F sound. 60 divided by 15 is 4. An essay typically has five paragraphs. I know all these things because I went to school. I also had teachers that helped me understand it even when I didn’t get the same opportunities as everyone else.

See, when I was in first grade I was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. This made school very hard. I was either out of school so often that I missed entire chapters or I was bullied so badly that I couldn’t focus because I was so scared. Having cancer also made it hard for my mom and dad to pay for food and rent much less after school activities and tutoring. I grew up knowing that there were some things that were just not in reach for us. 

For as bad as I had it, I can’t imagine having to live on the streets, going hungry, or even being taught in a language I don’t know.

My dream is to be the teacher that makes sure that every student gets an education that helps them succeed.  I want to make sure that my students not only enjoy being at school but feel safe while there.  My students will know that it doesn’t matter where they came from or what background they came from. I am going to be there and I will not leave them behind. This is my dream.

5. Promote Lifelong Learning in Young People

Curriculum delivery in the classroom

What inspires some people to become teachers is the power to set young people on the right education path. Helping children to have good early experiences and embrace the learning process can profoundly enhance someone’s life. The potential for transformative early development applies to handicapped and disadvantaged kids as much as anyone.

by Lesley Martinez-Silva

I aspire to make a difference in others’ lives through education. I’m studying to be an elementary school teacher because I believe that children can achieve so much more if they learn early of their potential.

Education has always been my priority. My parents always stressed the importance of obtaining an education, having missed that opportunity themselves. My parents taught me as a child that schooling was vital to success in life. Truly, that lesson has been the most important in my path to college. I don’t think I would’ve made it this far had I not taken my education seriously.

I want to teach others about the importance of education so they too can prosper.  Everything I’m learning at university is important for my future career and, if I don’t study it, I’m failing my future students. Every child deserves the best education available and I should strive to be the best educator possible to provide that for them. When balancing academics, work, and my social life, it can get challenging to keep going. But, with the future of children’s education in my hands, I always get back on track.

by Brianna Rivers

One of my goals is to become a teacher and work in an public elementary school within the greater Boston area (possibly my own elementary school). I want to be a teacher because I enjoy working with children and I know how important teachers are in children’s lives. I plan on receiving my Bachelor’s degree for Early Childhood Education and my Master’s degree in Special Education.

I want to major in Early Childhood Education because  early education is significant for children and is a building block for their future in learning . I also want to major in Special Education because I believe all children should receive equal learning opportunities as well as equal treatment (meaning an inclusive environment, etc).

I think all of my experiences have a positive impact on myself because I am learning more about what it takes to be a teacher and what it takes to be a good teacher. My experiences also have a positive impact on the children and adults I work with. I offer a helping hand to the teachers and a friendly face to the children.

I plan to continue to work hard and take advantage of learning opportunities to achieve both of my goals. Being a teacher is my desire and I will stop at nothing to be a great teacher one day.

by Jennamarie Moody

When I close my eyes, I picture myself in a school located in an urban setting, teaching a classroom of diverse yet alike students. These students are in the second grade, meaning that they are impressionable yet vulnerable to their environment whether this means at home, at school, or in their greater community.

Some of these students don’t speak English as their first language, and some come from low-income households that can limit their educational experiences outside of the classroom. And yet, no matter what differences these students bring to the table, their uniqueness flows throughout the classroom in such a positive energy that embraces, respects, and promotes learning. This is the goal I am working towards; the goal  to inspire our youth to become self-advocates for their learning .

Opportunities for equal educational experiences may not exist, however the beauty lies in the growth of love young students can develop as they are challenged in the classroom to question their surroundings. I plan to make a difference in the lives of the children I meet along the way, and to create a safe learning environment.

Although the tests for certification and studies can be difficult, my passion for education and dedication to shaping the lives of my students is what keeps me going. The end goal is to nurture the development of my students to become active and engaged participants in society, and that is what I intend to do completely.

by Julie Anderson

My long-time goal has been to become a teacher, and this year I’m in a class called Teachers for Tomorrow, where I get to shadow a kindergarten teacher. Working with her and the students has increased my interest in children with special needs.

From here on out, I want to support my students in academics and other parts of their lives so I can help them learn, grow, and succeed. I know that children need a strong start to their school career because the first few years of school are crucial; this is when students begin to love or hate learning itself. Whether or not children enjoy school, they deserve to appreciate learning. Students who love learning will always want to improve themselves.

I will make an effort to provide a loving environment where each child can prosper. However, for students with special needs, this task becomes even harder to accomplish because traditional classrooms are usually set up for non-disabled students.  While I know I can’t “save” every student I teach, and some of them will still hate learning, at least I can start them off right.

When I’m swamped with schoolwork, I will imagine my future students and how I could influence their lives. Even though not all of my college classes will relate to my major, forming a habit of working hard in college will help me to succeed as a future teacher.

6. Teachers Are Excellent Role Models

Enthralled student in classroom

The experience of being helped and transformed by a good teacher leaves a lasting impression. Teaching is considered a noble profession for good reasons.

Some education students are motivated to become a teacher to emulate their own role models. They want to provide the same kind of service they once received. An added reason for pursuing a teaching career is to be a role model to younger people outside the classroom, including one’s own children.

by Teresa Pillifant

My first day – well, more like first semester- of my freshman year in high school was the hardest semester of my whole school career. Usually the kind of student who loves school, I found myself getting stomach aches in the morning and dreading school with my whole being. I was new to the school, and the number of students was overwhelming.

It seemed like there was no relief, except for my first hour Spanish class. Having no friends, I would always arrive at my first hour class early. As this pattern continued, my Spanish teacher and I developed a relationship. My teacher started giving me books to read, asking my opinion on what we should do in class and just talked to me in general about life. Through my teacher’s support, I grew to find my place in the school and became more confident.

Her kind words and actions inspired me to become a teacher myself.  Now, whenever school or life gets difficult, I think of my freshmen year Spanish teacher and how she inspired me. I want to do what she did for me for my future students. Whether it be a difficult test or a challenging class, my goal of making a difference in a student’s life keeps me going.

by Mo Cabiles

The world we live in is hard, unsteady and ruthless. We see this everyday in the harshness of homelessness, to social media screaming for justice. What motivates me to continue on is that I have felt the bitter cold bite of homelessness. I know what it’s like to not have enough to eat and to be scared of what will happen next.

I am fortunate to no longer be in those situations but that, by no means, is an indicator that it will all now come easy. As an adult learner and your “non-traditional” student, there are other obstacles I must overcome. From transportation to childcare or education application mastery to APA formatting, the many roadblocks I tackle both large and small are what I consider to be my victories.

I’ve seen what having a higher education can do for someone and I want that for myself and that of my daughters.  I strive to be a good example for them , to show them that, regardless of social standing and unforeseeable circumstances, if they work hard and put their best effort forward, they can achieve their dreams.

My dream is to obtain my Masters in Education with an emphasis in counseling. I want to be an academic advisor or guidance counselor. I’ve seen so many youths attempt community college and fail because they fell through the cracks. These students need to realize their potential and I want to help them achieve that and to be their cheerleader.

by Gia Sophia Sarris

In every school I’ve ever attended, experienced teachers were there to support and inspire me. I have looked up to these people ever since I was in elementary school, and they have had an immense and positive impact on my life and my view of the world.  My fondness for these people [educators] has led me to aspire to become a teacher.

I want to “pay it forward” and improve the lives of children and teenagers who grow up struggling as I did, or in any way for that matter. I want to make a difference in their lives and let them know that they are not alone with their problems.

This is what motivates me to study hard. Becoming a teacher, I believe, will help me fulfill my purpose in life, which I think is to create happiness and ease the burdens of others. I feel that children and teenagers need this especially, because they are struggling to understand the world and their place in it. I study hard for their sake.

by Jennifer Wolfert

From elementary school to my first year at college, I struggled to establish a dream for myself. Trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue as successful adult always filled me with anxiety. I had spent multiple years in special education and left with a low academic self-esteem. So, after high school I attended Bucks County Community College in search for more time. Still I made no progress. Then I decided to change my outlook. I stopped asking “what do I want to do?” and started asking “who do I want to be?”. That’s when my dream took shape.

The educators that I met during my time at community college were my inspiration.  They are brilliant, hardworking people with a passion for their specialty that I had never seen before. Their belief in hard work was infectious. School began to fill me with excited anticipation and my grades improved. I started to believe that if I worked hard enough then I could be like them and inspire others like they had inspired me.

At the end of my second year attending community college, I accomplished a task that had previously racked me with fear. I applied to Temple University as a Secondary English Education major. I have now completed my second semester at Temple and earned my first 4.0 GPA. In time, I am confident that I will be able to accomplish my dream. I will become the passionate and inspiring educator that my younger self never had.

by Jenyfer Pegg

My entire life has been filled with discouragement. I grew up in a household where I was constantly told “No”. I was told my ideas were stupid and would not work. In my junior year of high school, my teachers and counselors started talking about college and sending in applications to different places. At that point, I knew I was not going. I came from a poor family and I knew we could never have money for something like college.

But I went on college visits, I listened to people speak about their college, and I was set. I had a lot of things pushing me, except the one thing I really wanted, my family. No one in my family has gone to college, and when I told my mother, she was shocked. She told me she just wanted me out of the house.

When I came to school, I realized I wanted to teach high school. I want to make an actual difference in someone else’s life. My family has taken the same road for years, and I’m not going down that road. I won’t live paycheck to paycheck like my mom, I will be a person that others will look up to.

I’m going to do something worthwhile, and I will work harder than anyone else if it gets me there.  I’ve seen what my life will be like without school and motivation and there is absolutely no way I’m going down that road. I’ve got bigger plans.

7. Unlock the Success Potential of Students

College student holding books

Educators want to help students in every way they can but, for some future teachers, the focus is on helping students soar. That child in front of you in the classroom might grow up to do great things for society, raise a strong family, or just be happy and fulfilled.

Whatever the potential of a pupil, a teacher’s job is to help unlock talents and remove any barriers to future success.

by Tamara Vega

The thing that motivates me the most is the thought of having my own classroom someday. I want to be the teacher that changes a child’s life, inspires them to set high goals for themselves and encourages them to reach it.

College can be so hard at times and I get really anxious and scared. I worry about not passing my classes and exams, I worry about not getting my degree. Despite that I do not give up because I have to do this and I want to do this.

I cannot see myself doing anything else besides teaching, I have never been this passionate about something. I want to graduate and get my degree. I’d love to look at it and say, “I worked hard for this and I earned it”.

The idea that the students in my classroom could grow up to cure cancer, or become president, pretty much anything they want, brings me so much excitement.   I want to be the teacher that they remember, the one who helped them realize their dream and who gave them the knowledge needed to reach it.

Be the teacher that I needed as a child but unfortunately never had. That is what gets me through all the stress and anxiety, I know in my heart that all the studying I’m doing right now will be worth it in the end.

by Nicole Gongora

The dream of success motivates me to study – not my success, my future students’ success. I push myself through the rough spots for them.

I was a lost child in high school; I didn’t know how to apply to college, let alone afford it. No child should have to experience that. As a future educator, I am committed to helping my students succeed, achieve more, and continue onto higher education.  Every child should be given the opportunity to showcase their strengths and follow their dreams.

College was never a dream for me; it was a far off, unattainable fantasy. I met some inspiring teachers in high school who encouraged me to change my life and who helped me to thrive. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I plan to work at a low-income school similar to the one I attended. These types of schools are the ones who lack resources. I will serve as a resource to my students and I hope to be an inspiration to them. In turn, I hope they become kind, respectful adults. I want them to see the virtue in helping others and I hope they will serve others in their future careers. I want to be the teacher they remember. I want to be the teacher that helped them succeed.

I’ll feel successful as a teacher if my students are successful in attaining their goals. If one student decides to achieve more then I will have lived out my dream.

by Madison Sherrill

I’ve decided to become a teacher because I want to show the value of compassion and diversity.

As I begin college this upcoming fall, my main motivation is the students. While I haven’t even met them yet, they inspire me to persist in my classes and stay optimistic.  My classroom will support innovative thinking and celebrate each student’s individuality.

As a classroom teacher, I want to encourage and positively influence the next generation. They should know that they can be successful and achieve what they aspire to become while making the world better. By teaching the value of inclusiveness and the power of kindness, my students may turn out to be visionary thinkers and leading members of society.

by Alicia Costin

I am returning to school after taking a few years off. After graduating from California Lutheran University with my BS in Mathematics, I wanted to land a job with benefits and begin my “adult life”.

While it took me a few months to find my current job, is it just that; a job. I have benefits, a full-time schedule, weekends and holidays off, but am I happy? Is this what I want to do as a career for the rest of my life? I have asked myself this question a few times and the answer is always the same; no.

My dream is to become a teacher and help motivate and encourage students to do their best in their studies and in life.  It is my dream to do what I was meant to do; shape young minds and help future generations.

When things become difficult during my graduate program, I know to keep pushing, thriving, and studying hard so that, when I do become a teacher, I can use this as a positive story to shape their way of life. I landed a job outside of college, however now it is time for me to land my career.

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6 Reasons to Become a Special Education Teacher

a classroom

Dr. Marla J. Lohmann, Assistant Professor of Special Education at Colorado Christian University

In today's classroom, about thirteen percent of students have been identified with a disability that requires special education services (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016).

Special education teachers are uniquely trained to support the learning needs of students with disabilities and to ensure their educational, behavioral, social, and emotional success.

Why Becoming a Special Education Teacher is a Rewarding Career

Throughout the Bible, we are specifically called to serve others and we are told that our service to those around us is service to our Lord. In Matthew 25:40, God tells us that "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (NIV). As a special education teacher, you will have the opportunity to serve God by serving students with disabilities and their families.

Make a difference.

One of the biggest blessings of being a teacher is the ability to make a difference every single day. As a special education teacher, you will get to teach your students academic, social, and behavioral skills that they will use throughout their lives. The simple lessons you teach every day will have a lifelong impact on your students.

Become a lifelong learner.

Teachers are provided with the opportunity to be lifelong learners. As a special education teacher, you will be encouraged to continue learning through attending professional developments and networking with other teachers. In addition, you will learn daily life lessons from your students.

Embrace challenge.

Students with disabilities are unique individuals with a variety of needs. As a special education teacher, you will be challenged to discover the specific interventions that will fulfill the needs of your students. Figuring out what each student needs is like having a new puzzle to solve every single day.

Build relationships with students and families.

Special education teachers often teach fewer students than do their general education counterparts. In addition, special education teachers often work with the same group of students over the course of several years. The small class size and increased time working with students will allow you to build strong relationships with your students and their families. 

Broader your job prospects.

Currently, in Colorado (and throughout the United States), there is a significant shortage of special education teachers (Colorado Department of Higher Education, 2017). As a certified special education teacher, you will be in demand by school districts.

Now is a great time to become a special education teacher and CCU Online is the ideal place to do it.

Colorado Christian University does not guarantee any job placement as a result of earning this or any other degrees offered by the university.

Explore options for continuing your education and training in Special Education and learn more about a future career in this exciting field.

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Why I Want to be a Special Education Teacher

why i want to become a special education teacher essay

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Today’s diverse world can present many reasons and circumstance as to the need for a student to be placed in a schools special education program. Therefore, teachers must be observant and connected with their students and the variety of needs that come with diversity. It is important for the teacher to advocate for the student that has special needs in the area of academics, socialization, and behaviors. Which is why the first step to enrolling a student into the special education program, begins with the teacher.…

One passion we as educators all share is the love for our students. Those of us who chose the path of working with special education students especially know that genuine place we have in our hearts for teaching students disabilities with learning disabilities. Over the last few decades, more awareness about these disabilities has florist throughout our nation. Many advocates of their time have fought to educate these students in order to help them overcome their struggle. Over time we see the long protect the rights of the students and provide them with the restrictive environment settings in order to provide an equal but adequate education. Despite the fact services are an essential part of protecting a student with special needs rights; it cannot be at the cost of their education either. If the student is able to complete the work at the same annual yearly progress as the general education population, proper services whether it be assistive technology or a personal aide, must be provided to the student. The services not only help students’ with special needs successfully graduate school but it provides them a promising future. Graduating with the tools and knowledge needed to survive on their own, students are now becoming functioning members of our society. As the candidate for my interview, I chose Dr.Gerard Crisinino, special education director of Jersey City Pubic School. He has instilled within him that compassion for working with these children and dedicated the last 30 years of his life to providing services for those students in need. Therefore, he was the perfect advocate to answer the following interview questions.…

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| Foundations-Teachers must understand the field as an evolving and changing discipline based on philosophies, evidence-based principles and theories, laws and policies, diverse and historical points of view.-Teachers must also understand the influences of society on the special education field.Development of Learners-Teachers must be able to differentiate amid each student’s special disabilities and each type of learning mode.-Teachers will recognize the learning impact on students is not theirs alone but involves family and the community.-Teachers…

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Perceptions and attitudes towards students with disabilities have changed tremendously in recent years. Organizations and laws have also made education and everyday living a more positive experience for students with disabilities and their families. This paper will discuss this further as well as the challenges faced by educators, as well as my own predictions that students with disabilities will be faced with in their future. Personal experiences will also be shared regarding experiences in an environment with individuals with special needs.…

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Example Of Grit Research Paper

The most important lesson I would teach my students is to always have grit. Grit can be described as perseverance plus resilience. As a special education teacher, I must teach my students to continue on despite any obstacles or circumstances they may face. Students with special needs often experience times of discouragement. Throughout their lives, my students will face many trials whether school-related or home-related. I will teach them to believe that they can persevere and experience success. I will teach them that they cannot give up. Throughout my own life, chronic health issues made my life as a student and a swimmer extremely difficult. However, I always persevered no matter what obstacles I faced. Consequently, these experiences…

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As a career changer, coming into the field of education in a roundabout way, as a substitute teacher, really opened up my eyes to the need for impassioned, enthusiastic, dedicated educators. Each child is unique and they all require a safe, caring, positive and stimulating environment to foster their growth, emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially. It is my ambition as an educator to help all students reach their full potential in all of these areas; by providing a safe educational environment, where I can be a mentor, a motivational speaker, a friend, a leader and an inspiration. As a special educator, I will encounter students with learning and emotional disabilities, as well as health impairments and developmental delays; this does not negate the fact that special education and classroom instruction should still be designed to maximize student’s learning potential. This can be achieved by incorporating effective instructional strategies in all classrooms, creating a more cohesive curriculum, and providing students with higher level thinking…

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Special Education Teacher Essay

Have you ever imagined the world of teaching through the eyes of a special education teacher? It takes a unique person to educate children with disabilities. The career of a special education teacher is an interesting career, because you get to help children overcome obstacles and become productive citizens. The research will describe the career of a special education teacher, what is required to become a successful special education teacher, and the impact this career has on society. To begin with, the career of special education started about fifty years ago. Before Legislation there were approximately five million children who were ineligible to receive equal education. Then in the early 1900s, advocacy groups were started to fight for …show more content…

A man or woman can be a special education teacher as long as you have the heart and desire to work with unique individuals (Godwin). There aren’t any age requirements associated with becoming a special education teacher as long as you have the necessary skills and required education to pursue this career. There also aren’t any health and physical qualifications associated with becoming a special education teacher. Personality plays a significant role in becoming a special education teacher. One who wishes to become a special education teacher should demonstrate various personality traits including: integrity, trustworthiness, respect, compassion , justice, fairness, responsibility, courage, self-discipline, diligence, and citizenship (Careers with Characteristics). Special Education teachers gain experience in preparing lesson plans as well as learning how to teach students with disabilities during student teaching. Someone interested in becoming a special education teacher needs to have an aptitude in not only communication and critical-thinking but also interpersonal skills, as well. Special education teachers must also acquire a Bachelor’s degree. They also may major in elementary education and minor in special education. The most common methods of entry in this career are obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in addition to acquiring a general license in special

Disproportionality In Special Education Essay

A longstanding national issue that continues to concern the public is the disproportionate representation of children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in special education. The fact is that the proportion of minority students in the population of school-age children has risen dramatically to over 35%, which is increasing the diversity of students in many public schools throughout the nation. This makes the phenomenon of disproportionality especially troubling. With a growing population of minority children comprising a greater percentage of public school students, we must be responsive to the growing needs of an increasingly diverse society. The overrepresentation of minority students in special education has been posed as an issue for more than 3 decades, but it is worth asking whether the efforts of legislative actions, educational reforms and legal challenges have really made improvements to this issue. More importantly, disproportionality should be examined as a correlation to underlying conditions that can pose a great effect upon not only the quality of a child’s education, but also ______.

My Personal Philosophy of Special Education

My personal philosophy of special education drives not from teaching in the field, but from, observations, and personal experience, and the workshops I attended. I have had the opportunity to work with individuals with special needs in many different settings, all this help cultivate my knowledge in handling the needs of the special needed student. Special needs students have the ability to learn, to function, to grow, and most importantly to succeed. The difference comes into how they learn or how they need to be taught. There are as many beliefs about the "hows" as there are teachers and each of us forms our own philosophy through our experiences and research. As a student in a special education teachers’ program, learners with special needs includes all students in special education programs in the public school system or other appropriate settings. However, the students I would like to focus on in my career are students with learning disabilities and therefore when thinking about learners with special needs, my mind focuses on this population.

My Personal Philosophy Of Special Education

One obstacle that I believe many special needs students and families will face is understanding and dealing with the disability itself. Speaking from experience, this process can take time to understand and accept. This is where a special education teacher plays a significant role, assisting the student and family with information and support for understanding the student’s disability, facilitating education programs, and most importantly hope and progress for a bright future. Another obstacles that students with disabilities may face, is social interaction and acceptance. It is vital that all special education teachers and programs, try to incorporate strong social connections with their regular education peers and other community members and

Personal Statement : Special Education

Two years ago, I embarked on a journey that would teach me more than I had ever imagined. As a recent college graduate, I was thrilled to finally begin my teaching career in a field I have always held close to my heart. My first two years as a special education teacher presented countless challenges, however, it also brought me great fulfillment and deepened my passion for teaching students with special needs. The experiences I have had both before and after this pivotal point in my life have undoubtedly influenced my desire to further my career in the field of special education.

Reflection: My Special Education Field Experience

My field experience for EDUC 2130 was done at Rabun County Elementary STEM camp. The camp and its instructors had the goal of increasing the student’s awareness, knowledge, and interest in STEM. The student age groups I worked with went from kindergarten to 5th grade which gave me a wide range of behavioral, moral, and developmental stages to observe. The teachers running the program used many of the techniques we have discussed such as whole class discussions, small groups, and observational learning.

Special Needs Scenarios Essay

Sara Palin said “sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge, and children with special needs inspire a very, very special love.” When I was a child my mom had to open a home day care. The reason for this was my cousins have special needs and their mother could not find a day care that was willing to help them. Having my cousins with me as I grew up help me understand that people with special need are no different but just need more love. This is why scenario three seemed the best one for me to choose.

The Influence of Special Education Teachers

I have been a Special Education Para-Educator for eleven years now. My decision to do this was based on the needs of my family and kids. When my last child was born, the doctors did not think that he would make it. He had a heart malfunction and was born with RSV and Von Villibrantds disease (which I did not find out until he was three); those factors lead me to want to work with special education kids, knowing that I could make a difference.

The Importance Of A Career In Education

To become a teacher, a person must be substantially educated. In most cases, a Bachelor’s degree is required for the teacher to be employed. The Bachelor’s degree is in the field they plan to teach with a specialty in Secondary Education. Although only a bachelor’s degree is required, a Master in their field or a Doctorate in their field is more employable (High School Teachers). As well as a degree, a teacher

Disability Rights Essay

Disability: Any person who has a mental or physical deterioration that initially limits one or more major everyday life activities. Millions of people all over the world, are faced with discrimination, the con of being unprotected by the law, and are not able to participate in the human rights everyone is meant to have. For hundreds of years, humans with disabilities are constantly referred to as different, retarded, or weird. They have been stripped of their basic human rights; born free and are equal in dignity and rights, have the right to life, shall not be a victim of torture or cruelty, right to own property, free in opinion and expression, freedom of taking part in government, right in general education, and right of employment opportunities. Once the 20th century

Argumentative Essay On Special Education

What is special education? The common belief is that it a program only dedicated to helping students with disabilities, whether physical or mentally. This is not entirely accurate in regards of what special education is. While special education does provide assistance to students with disabilities ns meet their needs in quality education (Küpper 2009)—the program extends to all students facing difficulties keeping up with the pace of learning (Huerta 2009). This brings the next question onto the table: the importance of special education. Before 1970s, majority of students with disabilities were shun into isolation with little to no education in general classes (Bradley 2016). However, with the passage of Education for All Handicapped Children

Deaf Education Teachers

“Blindness cuts people from things, deafness cuts people from people”, quoted by Helen Keller. This quote inspired me to pursue a career of being a Deaf Education Teacher because it is the best for the Deaf student to be taught by a Deaf teacher. However, the career of Deaf Education Teachers is a challenging career, because it requires a lot of time and dedication. This research paper will describe the career of Deaf Education Teachers, what is required to become a successful teacher, and the impact this career has on society.

Reflection on My Ability as a Teacher of Special Needs Children

Over the last eight weeks this writer has learned a monument amount of knowledge in a short period of time. Each module and activity clearly defined each objective covered in the readings. Reflection plays a huge part in increasing one's self awareness, after having reflected on the course assignments writer is prepared to use the knowledge that they have attained. Having taken this course one feel comfortable utilizes the materials in the professional world successfully. Before taking this course many things about the laws and right guaranteed to students with disabilities were unclear. Knowledge is power and knowing has opened this writer up to understanding how a special educator a...

Special Needs Children Essay

A child with a mental or physical disability may not be able to think, work, play, and function like other children of the same age. Someone working in the special needs career will be able to assist these children to function in their everyday lives and to meet goals to encourage them to thrive. In order for someone to work with special needs children, they need to understand the factors involved in a child’s improvement, have a heart for helping others, and be properly educated and trained.

Reflective Essay On Special Education

There is so much to know about special education that is separate from teaching in a traditional classroom. One thing that has really stood out to me is how many acronyms and terminology these teachers need to know. IEP, LRE, IDEA, FAPE, IFSP, and that is just to name a few (DREDF, 2017). Special education teachers, really need to be knowledgeable about a ton of things. Not only all of the terminology associated with special education, but about disabilities and the best way to go about educating a child with disabilities. When working with children in special education, there will be students of all ages with all kinds of disabilities and different ability levels that you are teaching. It is important to know about each child’s disabilities, what they should be learning and how they should be learning it. There may be times that are challenging education students with disabilities, but when a teacher properly educates themselves on all the aspects of special education and the resources out there for them, it may help make your classroom run more smoothly and easier to

More about Special Education Teacher Essay

Why Teachers of English Learners With Disabilities Need Specialized Training

why i want to become a special education teacher essay

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English learners who are also identified as students with disabilities experience unique needs in K-12 schools—and their teachers need specialized, interdisciplinary training, experts say.

This dual-identified student cohort accounted for 15.8 percent of the total English-learner population in fall 2021, according to the updated federal data . Students with disabilities, in general, represented 14.7 percent of total public school enrollment that same year.

At Education Week’s June 20 K-12 Essentials Forum focusing on innovative approaches to special education , Lizdelia Piñón, an emergent bilingual education associate for the Texas-based advocacy nonprofit Intercultural Development Research Association, or IDRA, shared insights on what kind of teacher training best serves dual-identified students.

Integrated teacher training is needed for English learners with disabilities

When working with English learners with disabilities, teachers need to understand how students acquire language and how that works concerning their special education needs, Piñón said.

For teachers to do this effectively, they need comprehensive training that goes beyond standardized training focused either on bilingual education or special education.

“It has to be this cohesive idea,” Piñón said. “It’s an integrated training that equips our teachers with the skills and the knowledge that they need to effectively support our dual-identified English learners with disabilities.”

Such training requires a specialized curriculum that combines coursework. It should address how teachers can simultaneously work with students at different language-level proficiencies and those with different disabilities. For instance, what does instruction look like for an English learner with cerebral palsy that comes from a Mexican-American home? How is that similar or unique from another student in class?

This training must also be rooted in cultural competency allowing for students’ cultural backgrounds to be celebrated and included in the classroom, Piñón added.

Interdisciplinary teacher training programs need to be scaled up

Even as Piñón spoke of how specialized, comprehensive training can better support the multi-faceted needs of English learners with disabilities, she acknowledged a major barrier for teachers seeking to access such training: a scarcity of these programs.

Certification programs exist for bilingual education, and separately special education, but programs don’t often intersect.

Piñón, who is based in Texas, noted that Texas Christian University implemented a teacher-training program in the past two years where all graduates have to be certified in both special education and bilingual or English-as-a-second-language education, though such requirements are rare.

Legislators in the Lone Star state did pass House Bill 2256 in 2021 promoting a bilingual special education certificate for the state of Texas, but implementation is still in the works, Piñón said.

Even as higher education institutions scale up any programming that prepares teachers working with such this intersectional student population, Piñón hopes such programming is made affordable and geographically accessible to teachers.

Current teachers can collaborate across departments

Educators don’t need to wait on specialized training to offer comprehensive support for English learners with disabilities.

Existing special education, English-as-a-second-language teachers, and general education teachers alike can strategically collaborate to ensure students’ needs are being met across the school day. Whether that’s through monthly or quarterly meetings, Piñón said districts need to invest in giving teachers time to come together and share insights.

Specialized teacher training for working with English learners with disabilities also needs to prepare teachers on how to work with various team players, including speech pathologists, English-as-a-second-language experts, and special education teachers, Piñón said. That includes working together in discussing how to best use emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence tools , with students.

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I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

What career do I want to pursue? I decided I want to be a special education teacher because I love helping people more specifically children. Ever since I was at a young age, I would help my sister with her children and there I realized that being with kids makes me happy but being able to teach kids would make me even more happier. In the elementary school that I attended to, nearby there was a school specifically just for special needs kids. It was in fifth grade where I would go and help the special education teachers with the children in different areas such as, in reading, math, or by simply just playing with them. Since then, I realized special need kids were not what they were portrayed to be by other kids my grade. Within that year, I was extremely happy because at that age I was able to help these kids a little bit, but I imagined what I could do with more experience and the appropriate education I would need to become a special education teacher. I want to be able and make a difference in their lives by helping them learn with the disabilities that they have. There will be a group of people that argue that there is a demand of special education teachers because the job is hard and stressful. According to James McLeskey, he claims “ Teacher caseloads have a significant effect effect on the demand for teachers, as well as a significant influence on the quality of services delivered to students with disabilities” (382). Others will say that being a special education

Career In Special Education Essay

Time is passing and opportunities are opening for more students with special needs. Many students in college are getting more interested in Special Education as career that will allow more organization to have more workers with a big potential that will have an important impact on these kids with disabilities. However, this will require more training for the students that organizations around the country can give them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,“the career outlook for special education teachers should remain steady through 2024, with an increase of 6%, the national average for job growth in the United States. The median salary for this position is just over $55,000 annually,” (“Master in Special Education”) The approach the

Unit 7 Assignment Essay

The United States Department of Labor states that “employment of special education teachers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. However, overall demand will be driven by increasing enrollment and continued need for special education services.” With the advance screening and the identification of different disabilities of children are expected to increase the demand for this career. But overall increase will depend on the government’s funding.

Personal Statement : Special Education

One of the reason people chose a career in special education is job satisfaction. Special education teacher perceived their job to be rewarding. They get personal fulfillment and gratification in teaching special need students. “It truly must be passion to continue working in special education because we all know it is a tough job.”(Participate 2010,”Motivational factor towards pursuing a career in special education”)They have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the students’ lives. When the student who is struggling in school graduate it brings great satisfaction to the educator. The most important part of this field is to help a child develop to their highest potential.

College And Career : Research

When I was a little girl nothing was more gratifying than lining all my stuff animals and dolls up with paper and pencils. It gave me great pleasure to stand in front of them and share my intellectual knowledge. I played school for as long as I can remember and that is where the love for my career choice started. When I got older and started going to school I noticed that there were not only normal kids there were also other children who needed extra attention and who were is special classrooms. I started taking an interest in the special education students, so I decided that I not only wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be a special education teacher. For as long as I can remember, college has always been in my future. After realizing that I wanted to be a special education teacher, I started searching for colleges that fit my career plan. I found that Illinois State University was interesting and has an outstanding Special Education Program. I will be attending Illinois State University in 2016 getting a B.A.Degree in Special Education focusing on Severe & Profound population.

Shortage Of Special Education In Texas

Today, over six million students receive Special Education services from public and private schools. The reason why there is a shortage of Special Education teachers is that they leave their position because they cannot handle the additional pressures they have to face.

High School Special Education Career

My goal is to be a High School Special Education teacher and teach dance in the afternoon and evening. This January I started attending Brigham Young University-Idaho with a double major of Child Development and Dance. I chose to be a Special Education teacher to improve the lives of these students and teach them they have an essential part and purpose in the world. I love working with these special individuals and had the unbelievable opportunity to secure an internship with the Miss Amazing California State Pageant. The experience is one I will never forget and I hope to one day become a pageant director for their organization. As my future second job, I intend to be a dance teacher and choreographer. Dance is an enormous passion of mine

I Want to Be a Early Childhood Teacher

Most of my life I have been surrounded by children especially my cousins, nieces and nephews.

University Of North Carolina - Greensboro Pail Program

What do you want to be when you grow up? This common childhood question usually has a quick, easy answer in youth; but a more complex, unsure answer as one nears adulthood. What I wanted to be when I grew up evolved many times through childhood. Even at high school graduation there was no definite decision and too much left to explore. Later, after years of working in schools as a volunteer, substitute teacher, and tutor, I still had not considered the field of special education. However, six months ago I accepted an offer to work as an exceptional children’s teaching assistant. Now I am surprised that my goal is to obtain a teaching license in special

Career Of Special Education

In the career of special education, teachers are trained to work with students who have either a disability, or requires of a unique instructor. However, in order to become a special teacher it has a variety of requirements. For example, some of the requirements that this career requires is of a long term education that includes: schooling , a bachelor and master degree, at least two years of

Personal Statement : Early Childhood Education

I want to become someone who teaches, an educator, a role model, a teacher. I want to help children in their early childhood education. I want to become a teacher because teachers play a very big role in children’s lives. Not only do they serve as educators, but for many kids, the classroom is where they feel the safest. They feel welcomed and at home. For these certain kids it is their one place of stability where they are always guaranteed to be loved and get fed and to have fun. I enjoy watching kids grow and helping them develop their learning skills. Every kid needs a good education and I want to be the one giving them that good education. I want to make a difference in their lives and prepare them for the road ahead.

Major Aspects Of My College Education

When it comes to my career objectives, I am not completely sure on what I want to do. When I was in high school I set on that I was going to be a teacher because my mom is a teacher and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Now that I changed my major to Human Services, I do not see myself working a classroom, but I know the population I still want to work with is children. I know that I want to work with children who are in need.

Career In The Medical Field: Personal Statement

In the beginning, I wanted to become an elementary school teacher because I loved being around children. With children, I am particularly more patient and protective because I want them to feel safe. It was not until throughout middle school that I began to admire how teachers became role models for students. It was in my nature that I adored spending time with children; however, I saw that I did not have the same passion that teachers did towards education. At this point, I did not know many other career choices besides the careers I hear about the most, such as lawyers, doctors, firefighters, policemen, and more.

I Am A Special Education Teacher

Presently I am a Special Education teacher working with children who have a wide range of disabilities. My class setting is integrated, which mean half of the class is general and the other half is special. My primary goal is to modify general education lesson plans to meet each student’s needs and abilities. These needs may include, but not limited to emotional, physical or cognitive disabilities, teaching basic literacy and life skills. I have an interest in this field because I feel with the proper help and assistant; students make positive changes in their academic and social life. Providing early intervention is essential when teaching kids with disabilities. One of the main reasons why I have made the decision to pursue a PhD in education, specialization in Special educator, is because I enjoy what I do and would like to make a difference. My ultimate goal is to keep making a difference by helping those that needed it and provide them with the proper resources to enhance their ability. I want to be an example to my children and have them see the end result of what happens when one desire to strive for the best and what they can accomplish. I want my children to see that with hard work, motivation, dedication, concentration, and having no limits that they will attain any goals they may set forth.

Graduation Speech : My Career Choice

The big question teachers ask me throughout my life is “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I never had an answer to that. Going into college I didn’t have a set plan as to what career I would like to pursue. However, I knew that I wanted to work with kids; I originally wanted to be a pediatrician. That career choice was based on my family wanting me to be successful, so I put my passion for working with kids and their passion together. As I began to focus on what I want instead of what others want, I changed my major to Early Childhood Education and chose the path of teaching as my career choice. I have high hopes for this career because teachers are always needed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS), the employment rate for my career choice will increase by six percent from 2014 to 2024. In this world, education is valued and will help put people many steps ahead. The reason why I chose to be an elementary teacher is because I want to be able to motivate and inspire my younger generations.

My Reflection On My Educational Experience Essay

I want to be a special education teacher for many reasons. First, the community has made a big impact on me. I know how the children feel to be struggling in school. I want them to know that I also struggled in school and I still achieved my dream. I love

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  1. Why i Want to be a Special Education Teacher

    In this personal essay, the author will express their motivation and passion for becoming a special education teacher. It will discuss the desire to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special needs, the challenges and rewards of the field, and the personal qualities that make the author suited for this profession.

  2. Why I Want to Be a Special Education Teacher Essay

    Download. As an advocate for individualized education, I firmly believe that every child should have access to a learning experience that caters to their specific needs, abilities, and interests. This is why I am driven to pursue a career as a special education teacher. Through customized guidance and unwavering encouragement, I am enthusiastic ...

  3. Why I Want to Be a Special Education Teacher Essay

    1. Introduction Becoming a special education teacher could be a choice filled with obstacles and challenges. Scholars have identified that, compared with general education teachers, special education teachers experience high attrition rates, low commitment, and even higher levels of burnout. However, research has also suggested that there are some distinct positive aspects valued and ...

  4. Education Essay Example: Why I Want to Be a Special Education Teacher

    Special Education Teachers play a pivotal role in fostering inclusivity within educational environments. The opportunity to contribute to the creation of a learning environment where each student, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, feels valued and included is a driving force behind my aspiration to become a Special Education Teacher.

  5. Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay

    FAQ's on Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay. Question 1. Why do one should become a special education teacher? Answer: One of the chief motivations to be a specialized curriculum educator is the opportunity to decidedly affect the existences of kids with incapacities, formative postponements, and learning problems. Question 2.

  6. Why I Want to be a Special Education Teacher?

    Categories: Education Special education Teacher. Download. Essay, Pages 3 (550 words) Views. 8112. I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I would set up my living room as a classroom and play for school for hours and hours. My mother was wonderful enough to let me leave my classroom set up for days.

  7. Careers in Special Education: Benefits, Reasons & Challenges

    Rewards of being a Special Education Teacher. Perhaps one of the foremost reasons to be a special education teacher is the chance to positively impact the lives of children with disabilities, developmental delays, and learning disorders. Many special education teachers find that each day is a new opportunity to facilitate a child's ...

  8. Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay?

    First of all, being a special education teacher is a rewarding and fulfilling career choice. It allows me to make a positive impact on the lives of students with special needs. Secondly, I am passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

  9. Sample Personal Statement for Special Education Teacher

    The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to Masters's program in special education. Variations of this personal statement got accepted at TUFTS and Boston College. Read this essay to understand what a top personal statement of a special education teacher should look like.

  10. Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay

    Special education is such a broad and sensitive topic to talk about as well as the several issues that come with the Special education topic. And although there are a variety of issues, such as: special education children being accepted, segregated from their peers, the financial ability to support many special education programs, and the fact that a lot of teachers are not properly certified ...

  11. Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

    It is not because we think we have patience. We want to do this because it is for the students. We want to watch them learn and succeed when others think they can't. I, in particular, wanted to become a special education teacher because I want to make a difference in the lives of children that otherwise would not have the chance.

  12. 10 Reasons Why I Love Being a Special Education Teacher

    6. I love finding what works. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out a new student. My main goal as a special education teacher will always be to help them learn functional and academic skills in order to become an independent learner and contributing citizen to the world around them.

  13. What I've Learned From Special Ed Teachers

    Special education teachers are experts in the philosophy of differentiation. They don't simply do differentiation—they employ it as a mindset needed to teach well. Demonstrating for one student how to apply a strategy will benefit all students. 8. Patience is a gift, a virtue, and a necessity.

  14. Why Every Teacher Needs to Study Special Education

    It requires creativity and compassion to reach every student. The new training and knowledge provided by a special education degree can reinvigorate the career of an experienced teacher or provide a confidence boost to newer educators. In the end, by finding teaching and behavioral solutions for each child, a teacher can make a lasting impact ...

  15. Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher Essay

    Essay. had a teacher. A teacher is defined as someone who gives instruction and communicates skills. Our children are our future, and they need to be prepared for the future or they will not be successful in the working world. Teaching makes a difference in them, because it gives them tools to help them be successful in the future.

  16. 10 Reasons To Become a Teacher You Can Include in an Essay

    Discussing your desire to build community in your essay can show prospective employers or admissions committees your interest in giving back and contributing positively to your local area. 2. Exercise creativity. Teachers regularly use creative thinking skills.

  17. I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

    Once I graduated high school, I felt confident to become a teacher, but I discovered that special education was what I truly wanted to do. From the first day or first grade up to now, I have become a success student, which I can't wait to become teacher I want to be an aspirational teacher one day to my future students.

  18. I Want to Become a Teacher Because

    In these 31 student essays, future educators answer the question "I want to become a teacher because …" or "I want to become a teacher to …". The short student essays are grouped thematically, forming the top reasons to become a teacher. Top 7 Inspiring Reasons to Become a Teacher. 1. Giving Brings Its Own Rewards. 2. Help ...

  19. Six Reasons to Become a Special Education Teacher

    Make a difference. One of the biggest blessings of being a teacher is the ability to make a difference every single day. As a special education teacher, you will get to teach your students academic, social, and behavioral skills that they will use throughout their lives. The simple lessons you teach every day will have a lifelong impact on your ...

  20. Why I Want to be a Special Education Teacher

    By becoming a special education teacher, I will have the humbling opportunity to teach these students to the best of my ability. I will give them the support, patience and care they deserve. By encouraging these students and believing in them, I will give them the chance to believe in themselves. I will encourage them the face their ...

  21. Personal Statement: A Career In Special Education

    The best teachers can do it with creative is to highlight the learning strengths of a child. A special education instructor might have to teach a lesson four or five times so every child has an understanding of it. A special education teacher needs to be highly intuitive. A teacher must have innate skills to know how a child is feeling even.

  22. Special Education Teacher Essay

    One who wishes to become a special education teacher should demonstrate various personality traits including: integrity, trustworthiness, respect, compassion , justice, fairness, responsibility, courage, self-discipline, diligence, and citizenship (Careers with Characteristics). Special Education teachers gain experience in preparing lesson ...

  23. Why Teachers of English Learners With Disabilities Need Specialized

    Existing special education, English-as-a-second-language teachers, and general education teachers alike can strategically collaborate to ensure students' needs are being met across the school day.

  24. I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

    I want to be able and make a difference in their lives by helping them learn with the disabilities that they have. There will be a group of people that argue that there is a demand of special education teachers because the job is hard and stressful. According to James McLeskey, he claims " Teacher caseloads have a significant effect effect on ...