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Future career thinking


Chocolate25

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I’d like to know if there will be any demand for early childhood special education teachers. I’m looking into it. I’d also like to know if there will be any job prospects relating to helping students who have adhd and dyslexia . Etc . I’m trying to seek more fulfilling things to do with my life .

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It depends where you are. I would look into professional organizations in your proposed fields that have networking groups or similar resources and see if you can talk to the career office of schools that have classes in these fields. Having been a teacher it is extremely fulfilling (I did not work with children with special needs but several friends do/have) and it is very low paying so you have to be prepared for that financially. I only taught for a few years and did a lot of evening and weekend work on lesson plans. My son's teachers (he is in a regular class) email over weekends and after hours and work very hard (so thankful for them).

 

After leaving teaching I volunteered with children weekly for about 7 years and found it very fulfilling. So if the career is not for you volunteering might help you feel you are contributing in the way you wish to even if your day job is in a different field.

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I’m back.

 

Teaching CAN be be a rewarding and fulfilling job, yes. However, special ed teachers are often overworked and under supported (as it’s been my experience). The downside of it is be prepared to give up your weekends for not just lesson planning but writing IEPs. I have written 20 page IEPs for 6 students... lots of writing (and elementary school SPED teachers spend more time writing IEPs... brand new ones because kids are typically diagnosed by the time they’re in 3rd-4th grade). Batya mentioned about teachers contacting parents over the weekend, but I never did (and I seriously don’t recommend it). About 90% of the time, you are doing paperwork, collecting multitude of data and sitting in meetings than actually teaching. That’s the reason why many special education teachers burnout and quit.

 

I’m not going to sugarcoat it - it is a stressful job and not everyone can do special ed. It takes a very special, patient person to stay in the field. It’s why I ended up taking addition classes and now work in a local mental health agency after interning at both a school district and a specialized Juve program for my masters.

 

I recommend volunteering within community programs designated for children with disabilities or even substitute teach for a few months to get a feel if it’s right for you before jumping in the field.

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I think in this industry, there is a very high demand for specialized training. The problem is funding. With programs that incorporate students into the general population, teachers and support staff are needed. Special Ed kids are no longer sequestered away all the time. It depends on the specific dynamics and the need. I think with early childhood development, the staffing is higher, or so it seems to me, in my past experience. My children are grown now, so maybe things have changed. Like with any career choice and education, you should probably put some focus on a "backup plan," so with early learning, you could put some focus on older children or adolescence. This will only enrich your flexibility and enhance your job prospects, even if the goal is to ultimately move into early childhood. I don't think you can go wrong with your focus. The biggest issue is if school districts have the funding.

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i think the answer is yes - you can never had enough educators. In fact, educators is one of the skills that is welcomed worldwide if you ever wanted to get approved for a Visa to move anywhere and work. So teachers can work anywhere they want in the world and find a job and be welcomed.

however, does "demand" = "pay" and "benefits"? I don't know.

 

Definitely do your research with any targeted locations you are thinking might be intersting to you to see if they have a specific need for what you want to do (I am sure there will be no problem if it's special needs you're looking for).

 

Best wishes!

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i think the answer is yes - you can never had enough educators. In fact, educators is one of the skills that is welcomed worldwide if you ever wanted to get approved for a Visa to move anywhere and work. So teachers can work anywhere they want in the world and find a job and be welcomed.

however, does "demand" = "pay" and "benefits"? I don't know.

 

Definitely do your research with any targeted locations you are thinking might be intersting to you to see if they have a specific need for what you want to do (I am sure there will be no problem if it's special needs you're looking for).

 

Best wishes!

 

Yes, especially if the person is geographically flexible and flexible as to subject and student body. Certainly educators of students with special needs typically are in high demand everywhere.

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you can never had enough educators.

This part is not true. I graduated with a B.A. in English teaching in 2008 and did not become a full-time teacher until 2011 because of the job market for teaching was nearly non-existent. School systems were cutting teachers for a few years due to the economy. That first teaching job I took was an inner city alternative school for kids who were expelled from public schools because nobody else wanted to work in that kind of environment. I faced physically assault, harassment, and was often threatened. I had a student on my first day of teaching threatened to bring a gun to school and "shoot up the classroom." That kid got arrested, I stayed and finished out the school year, but never again. Transferred out.

 

Humanity teachers (English, history, art, PE) are the most expendable teaching careers where it's hard to get a job in. One year I moved a few states away from home to take a job, which did not work out. I had to go back to school for a master's in Special Education and get dual certified because I couldn't get hired with just an English teaching degree/cert.

 

In fact, educators is one of the skills that is welcomed worldwide

This is also not entirely true. If you want to teach in first world countries in Europe, you need a master's, teaching experience, and the ability to speak the country's language. LOL, How's your Polish? Danish? German? Norwegian? I tried. Sure, you can get a teaching job in Asia but you may not be sent to a place that is stable. I had a contract offer from a school in Japan... only for the school to be wiped out by a tsunami a week before my initial departure date (and I later got engaged around the same time as well).

 

 

The top hiring subjects for teaching - in the US - are Special Education (high turnover), Math (math people make more money doing other things besides teaching), and ESL/ESOL/ELL (thanks to immigration). If the OP wants to do SPED, she will have better luck finding a teaching job there. But please, research the ins and outs of the job and see if it's right for you. SPED teachers are the real superheros of the field because of the amount of work they take on. They do way more than regular ed teachers.

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Snny and Purple Paisley have great advice. Yes, there is a need, but there isn't enough funding to be fully supported, so there is a very high burnout rate and lots of frustrations. The positive side- there are so many students that really need support. You could make such a difference in their lives!

 

Another possibility is to become a speech language pathologist. Then you have the option of working in the schools, in a clinic or hospital, or have your own private practice. I believe there is better funding available - but the certification requirements and training are quite rigorous and take a huge commitment to get through. Including practicum hours and a national exam.

 

There is a shortage of SPED teachers as well as SLPs, at least in the US.

 

As far as training to work with people with dyslexia, some states recognize it as a neurobiological disorder, and other states say there is no such thing. So do your homework on what is recognized and supported as a "Specific Learning Disability" in your area.

 

Research has shown that there is a higher incarceration rate in those with untreated dyslexia, so you could literally save someone's life if you get the right training.

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What population interests you? Children? Adults? People who have had strokes/brain injuries? Children with neurological, developmental or genetic disorders? Have you considered volunteering in children's hospital or stroke unit, rehab facility or with wounded veterans in a hospital or outpatient setting?

 

Keep in mind that most occupations that involve the touching or treatment of a person will require some sort of very specific license/certification. For example if you are a licensed hairdresser, you can't just start taking xrays or performing psychotherapy.

 

The best way to see what is a good fit and what suits you/interests you is to try it out by volunteering. Also it's important what educational level you have and what educational level you would need regarding training, certification, licencing, etc. Have you contacted local community colleges to see what type of things they offer? Look up online what places have programs that you want to consider and what the requirements are.

I can’t do SLP because my college grades aren’t good. I’m going to slowly start with tutoring regular kids and adults and see what happens. I’m doing medical billing work in the mean time.
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That’s a shame you can’t to SLP because they make damn good money. That is worth going to school for. They have it made, and I considered doing it at one point.

 

Being a reading specialist is a great way to work with children with high incident disabilities. However it is not an easy cert or job to get. My state recently changed the requirements to making you take additional graduate credits AND have are tenured - I tried to get in with my dual teaching certs in English and special ed, but the state department of ed changed it literally a weeks BEFORE I turned in my credentials and didn’t qualify because I didn’t have tenure status.

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