National
| Median wages (2008) |
$50,810 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
102,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
39,000 additional employees |
25-2042.00 - Special Education Teachers, Middle School
Teach middle school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.
Sample of reported job titles:
Special Education Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Middle School Special Education Teacher, Teacher, Exceptional Children Teacher (EC Teacher), Inclusion Teacher, Learning Support Teacher, Self-Contained Special Education Teacher, Learning Disabilities Teacher (LD Teacher), Intervention Specialist
Tasks
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development.
- Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.
- Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged — Jellybean switches; Sound switches |
| Binocular light compound microscopes — Optical compound microscopes |
| Braille devices for the physically challenged — Braille slates; Braille styluses |
| Desktop computers |
| Touch screen monitors — Interactive whiteboards; Wireless touch screen monitors |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Computer based training software — Text to speech software |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Video editing software |
| Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
