Teaching SPED

This is my 7th year as a SPED teacher. Through the years I've experienced the huge emotional swings that come from teaching these students. Sometimes I wonder if my swings are more extreme, given the sometimes exaggerated behaviors I encounter each day. But honestly, I know that all teachers face this in the classroom. As a teacher, you're typically already the type that invests heavily in relationships. That makes you vulnerable. And children are especially good at recognizing vulnerability.

Does that mean I don't like teaching? Or that I don't like SPED teaching?

On the contrary. I have found this to be one of the most challenging, interesting, engaging, and rewarding experience anyone can have in a chosen career. Sure, sometimes I have students that drive me crazy or make me wonder why I ever became a teacher. But I have to say, as the years pass, some of these students come back to visit. They grow up. I run into them as adults. And I see what amazing adults they have become. 

They validate me. It's taken time, but I no longer question my investment of time and anguish. 

They are worth it.

If you are considering becoming a SPED teacher, know that you will need patience, endurance, an ability to outwit and out think surprising nimble students. Expect they to reach into your chest and seize your heart, and then some will rip it out and laugh. But many more will enlarge your understanding of the world, and of our role in it. 

If you can survive the first three years, if you can make it to that point where you feel almost competent, and if you can learn to laugh and let go - you will love your job.

Here's a general video from Utah State explaining some of the SPED career options. I'm a resource teacher, meaning I teach academics. I have friends and great respect for those who work in clusters. Because I'm resource, I get to work closely with both my mainstream teacher buddies and my cluster teachers. Most of my students are competent and even excelled in lots of areas. I help them work on developing specific skills and strategies. College is a realistic goal. I get them ready. It's a great place to be.