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4monkeys
boys will be boys =)
Member since 9/05 7205 total posts
Name:
:)
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Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
So I KNOW that having only Elemetary Ed (no special ed) is NOT going to put my resume at the top of the list.
but before I do take the few classes to get my Special Ed certification,
does anyone know, what types of positions are out there that I can apply to with a SPecial Ed certification.?
sometimes I see or hear of certain positions and im like WOW, I want that job! 
For example, resource room type positions? any other positions you can think of (in Elementary) for which a Special Ed certification is sufficient?
thanks!
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Posted 11/7/07 11:08 PM  |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
Special education is VERY broad... it all depends on the students' needs. In most public elementary schools these are your options:
1. Resource room teacher (you push-in to a classroom to support students AND/OR pull-out said students for small group/individualized work.
2. self-contained teacher (you have your own class, but ALL the students in the class have special needs. the children stay with you ALL day. it's like a regular classroom except that the student to teacher ratio is MUCH lower and you will probalby have a teaching assistant or classroom aide to assist you)
3. Inclusion teacher (you co-teach with the general education teacher. you co-teach a class, but you are responsbile specifically for the sp. ed. students in that class. In a true inclusion model, BOTH teachers are the the room full-time. most inclusion rooms also add an element of resource room to do it as well... pull-out a bit too. your job is to modify material, differintiate the instruction, etc.)
Positions such as a speech language pathologist, reading specialist, occupational therapy, etc. you would NOT be qualified... although most of your kids would go to services such as these, they require a specific background and certification.
Special educators can also work privately for agencies where you can provide EI services for pre-school kids and toddlers. Also, some districts hire special educators through agencies for per diem work, 1:1 work...this is usually for kids with autism.
HTH...i teach special ed. let me know if you need anything!
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| Posted 11/7/07 11:15 PM |
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4monkeys
boys will be boys =)
Member since 9/05 7205 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
oh WOWWW Thanks SOOOO much for all that info !! 
Ive subbed in inclusion as well as self contained classrooms.
and Ive also subbed in reading areas, and Ive observed in speech, OT, etc.
I find that with my type of personality, I might be best in a SMALLER group than a huge class...Im not sure what to get additional certif in.
I know if I get reading, that just limits me to Reading teacher, right?
what about the teachers/reading specialists (?) that come in to do the workshops WITH classroom teachers, what are they/their position?
It's a shame that we have no clue about all these positions beforehand, or at least I didnt. 
Id like to know what options are out there, although Id be happy with any job on Long island! thanks again !
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| Posted 11/7/07 11:41 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
Posted by anna
oh WOWWW Thanks SOOOO much for all that info !!
Ive subbed in inclusion as well as self contained classrooms.
and Ive also subbed in reading areas, and Ive observed in speech, OT, etc.
I find that with my type of personality, I might be best in a SMALLER group than a huge class...Im not sure what to get additional certif in.
I know if I get reading, that just limits me to Reading teacher, right?
what about the teachers/reading specialists (?) that come in to do the workshops WITH classroom teachers, what are they/their position?
It's a shame that we have no clue about all these positions beforehand, or at least I didnt.
Id like to know what options are out there, although Id be happy with any job on Long island! thanks again !
you're welcome!!!
If you like smaller groups, you might be interested in a resource room type of position or a self-contained class. However, that said, you're still managing a lot.... special ed. kids can bring challenging behaviors and other things to the table... for example, i only have 6 kids this year, but i am SOOO busy!
usually reading teachers that push-in to classrooms are either there for a certain group of kids in the class with reading difficultues...often, specialists push-in to support the classroom teacher. also, reading teachers that do workshops with teachers are certified reading specialists. they often do staff development within the building... they model how to teach reading, model strategies and techniques etc. for anything in the reading realm, you need the reading (i think it's now called literacy) certification. having the reading certificate doesn't limit you to just reading as long as you have your elementary certificate... but you cannot teach a special ed. class or be a resource room teacher without the special ed. certification.
i would think hard about what you want. although it's hard to get an elementary job, don't go into special ed. just for that reason. we have our own challenges and the kids we work with can be very challenging. in my class of 6 kids, i have one emotional disturbed child, two with severe ADD, one on the autism spectrum and a dylsexic.... not to mention their language impairments... it is not easy. you have to go into special ed. wanting to give those kids all that they need to be the best that they can.
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| Posted 11/8/07 11:30 AM |
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4monkeys
boys will be boys =)
Member since 9/05 7205 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
its amazing that you just wrote this now. I was just subbing in a self contained room today. LOTS of challenges.
9 children and 4 adults in the room at all times. and I did see exactly what you just said. less children doesnt necessarily mean less work or easier job. thats for sure!
I do try to make every subbing day a learning experience and try to observe while im teaching and learn little things as well as big things, if that makes sense.
and there are aides/assistants who DO fill me in on the students' LDs (to make me aware on how to work with them) and then there are some that are more vague, and I just work with what I have.
It really is a lot to think about. thanks again
Also, another question. an AIS Teacher. Are they hired by the school district or are they outsourced/specialists also?
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| Posted 11/8/07 3:48 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
Posted by anna
Also, another question. an AIS Teacher. Are they hired by the school district or are they outsourced/specialists also?
It depends on the school district. AIS teachers usually just hold a special ed. certificate. in my building, all the AIS kids are serviced by our regular special ed. teachers in a resource room setting.... in a group of six for example, maybe 4 have IEPs and 2 are AIS. Most districts just put them in to the models they currently have.
The city is a bit different.... I've seen outside people come in to do AIS. Also, it depends on how AIS is funded...whether or not it's Title I money or district money. If it's district money, they are usually serviced by the special ed. staff already in place. if it's Title I money, the current teachers are paid extra (i.e. after school tutoring) OR the teacher's salary is paid through Title I funds...those types of teachers may service more than one school.
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| Posted 11/8/07 6:45 PM |
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4monkeys
boys will be boys =)
Member since 9/05 7205 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
THANK YOU !!! For being such a wealth of info !!!
just a few more, as I try to pinpoint what I REALLY wanna be when I grow up 
So reading teachers need a Literacy degree correct ?
how foolish would it be if I got credits towards the Literacy degree (I have "specialization in language arts" right now as my Masters (nothing but extra credits taken, nothing "official") so Id only need a few more classes to get the Literacy I think, but is the job market really that terrible...
what other options are there with a Literacy degree ?
I owe ya a cup of coffee !! 
Message edited 11/8/2007 9:53:23 PM.
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| Posted 11/8/07 9:53 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
I don't know too much about the literacy degree, to be honest. Most people that get a literacy degree are regular classroom teachers who use to enhance their reading instruction. Others actually get a job teaching specfically reading...i.e. they work with the kids that need reading services and they push-in to classes to support classroom teachers in their instruction of reading.
I would say that your job options would be more limited with a literacy degree. Usually, there is only ONE or maybe two, reading teachers per school. We have 2 full-time reading teachers, but almost 10 full-time special educators. however, look into it if that's what you're interested in. Also, FYI: every teacher does reading so it's not like you're not going to do literacy with your kids AND if you work with special ed. kids there are opportunities to get trained in specific reading programs such as Wilson, Orton Gillingham, etc. etc. I am looking to pursue my certification in Wilson for example. Then, in addition to working with special ed. kids in class, I can work with those that need Wilson in small groups in a Resource Room settting. Also, tutoring is a HUGE plus with a literacy degree. . . . you can make a lot of money on the side with that.
HTH!!! oh and i love coffee!!! Where are you located?! 
GOOD LUCK!
p.s. i would post for more info. on the literacy degree... I know of a few people on here that are currently in a program or have the certification.
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| Posted 11/9/07 8:20 AM |
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4monkeys
boys will be boys =)
Member since 9/05 7205 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
youre the best, more informative than my school's advisors!  
fm
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| Posted 11/9/07 8:46 AM |
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
in my district, being resource room, inclusion, etc goes to teachers with the most experience. most new teachers are put in self contained. not that there's anything wrong with that, but just know that as a new teacher you rarely get to choose what position you get. it doesn't matter what you want, they give you what's available.
same thing with reading teachers. our reading teachers were all classroom teachers who changed and decided to use their literacy degree. i have one as well. they taught for many years and then did the switch. i don't know anyone who was hired just for literacy
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| Posted 11/10/07 10:27 AM |
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mdn13
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/07 408 total posts
Name:
Marcie
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
Posted by browneyedgirl
in my district, being resource room, inclusion, etc goes to teachers with the most experience. most new teachers are put in self contained. not that there's anything wrong with that, but just know that as a new teacher you rarely get to choose what position you get. it doesn't matter what you want, they give you what's available.
same thing with reading teachers. our reading teachers were all classroom teachers who changed and decided to use their literacy degree. i have one as well. they taught for many years and then did the switch. i don't know anyone who was hired just for literacy
browneyedgirl you have FM
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| Posted 11/10/07 4:29 PM |
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
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Re: Special Ed Certification... NOW WHAT ?
Posted by mdn13
Posted by browneyedgirl
in my district, being resource room, inclusion, etc goes to teachers with the most experience. most new teachers are put in self contained. not that there's anything wrong with that, but just know that as a new teacher you rarely get to choose what position you get. it doesn't matter what you want, they give you what's available.
same thing with reading teachers. our reading teachers were all classroom teachers who changed and decided to use their literacy degree. i have one as well. they taught for many years and then did the switch. i don't know anyone who was hired just for literacy
browneyedgirl you have FM
thanks marcie!
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| Posted 11/10/07 5:15 PM |
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