What Do Preschool Special Education Teachers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Preschool Special Education Teachers teach preschool 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. They also employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.

Other tasks include:

• Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
• Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
• Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
• Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students’ educational, physical, or social development.
• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).
• Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.

We asked Preschool Special Education Teachers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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73% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 73% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Preschool Special Education Teachers maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations. They monitor teachers or teacher assistants to ensure adherence to special education program requirements.

• Modify the general preschool curriculum for special-needs students.
• Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
• Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, or social development.
• Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
• Organize and display students’ work in a manner appropriate for their perceptual skills.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Preschool Special Education Teachers also prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements. They may also prepare assignments for teacher assistants or volunteers.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Preschool Special Education Teachers Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students’ behavioral or academic problems. They might also Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students’ educational, physical, or social development.

In addition, they Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Meet with parents or guardians to discuss their children’s progress, advise them on using community resources, or teach skills for dealing with students’ impairments.

To some Preschool Special Education Teachers, it is also their responsibility to Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Preschool Special Education Teacher, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm

http://www.cec.sped.org/

http://www.naset.org/

http://www.aft.org/