Are you the kind of person who accepts the differences in others? Are you organized, patient, and able to understand and motivate? If you answered yes to these questions then you have exactly what it takes to be a special education teacher.

Special education teachers work with children and youths with varied disabilities and barriers to learning, including severe cognitive, emotional, and/or physical challenges. The majority, however, work with children that have mild to moderate disabilities and most instruct at the preschool, elementary, middle and secondary school level. Schools are not the only venue in which you will find a special education teacher as there are many non-profit organizations specializing in services for the disabled who benefit from the expertise of special education teachers.

Teaching methods include intensive individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments, and small-group work. Special education teachers are taught to identify and ensure that the appropriate accommodations are provided to those students who need them. These teachers are instrumental in developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each of their students, outlining the students needs and abilities and goals for the upcoming school year. Read the rest of this entry »