Dear general education teachers, there are some things that we special education teachers would like you to know.
Let’s start by saying that we love working with you and we love that you are part of our student’s team. The more hands on deck, the better. The more brains, the better.
But there are some things we would like to clarify.
OUR STUDENTS
Our students are not that different from your students. Our students are capable. They are smart. They understand so much more than you think they do.
- And to piggyback on that, our students are capable of high level learning and achievement too. It might not look the same as what the regular ed classroom is doing, but our kids can do it. Give them a chance.
IEPs are legal documents that you must follow, and not just when you feel like it. Accommodations are also a part of the IEP… so you have to provide them at all times.
- Accommodations do not make our student’s work easier.
- If you don’t understand a part of a child’s IEP or if you have questions, please ask us. We want you to understand it and understand how to implement all of its parts.
That also means that if a child with an IEP is in your classroom for any part of the day, that child is YOUR student too. And we are a team, so we need to work together. Together we will help them succeed. They are OUR students.
- This goes for including parents in classroom emails and celebrations too. Our kid’s parents want to be involved just as much as the other student parents.
- And this should go without saying… but our students want to be included in your classroom too. Please stop forgetting about them.
Our caseload may be small, 4 … 8… 13 kids, more or less, but we have the same amount of paperwork and responsibilities – if not more paperwork.
BEING A TEACHER
We are teachers too. In fact we are a highly qualified teachers, just like you are. Don’t doubt us or undermine us. However, our job is to support the students in your classroom, not your lesson plans.
- We have standards to meet, lesson plans to write, and district mandates to follow just like you do.
- We deserve our planning period and lunch time just as much as you do.
- Just because I don’t have students in my classroom when you walk in, doesn’t mean I’m getting a break or that I’m not working.
Also, just because we have paras doesn’t mean our job is easier or that we have more help. Support staff are assigned to our classroom to help each child get the individualized instruction needed throughout the school day.
- We are expected to manage the other adults in our classroom. Yes, we absolutely could do function without our paras, but we also spend a lot of time working with our paras.
- We don’t play all day, and we’re not babysitters. We collect data. We teach functional life skills so our students can be and are independent. We use alternative curriculum to meet the needs of all of our students. We differentiate every single lesson to meet the individual, specific needs of our students.
Yes, I love what I do whole-heartedly. But my job title is TEACHER, not magician. There is no magic wand to “fix” a child.
- We are teachers just like every other teachers. Our job just learns and operates a littler differently, that’s all.
BEHAVIOR
Behavior IS communication.
- Just as respect is earned with adults, it works the same with our students. Show them respect and you’ll get respect in return. Trust me when I say that Student A knows you don’t like her.
So you’ve met one student with behaviors… which means you’ve met ONE student with behaviors. That does not mean that every child with an IEP has behaviors. Don’t carry a jaded perspective from one student onto another student. The two are unrelated.
- Treat them as individuals and do not generalize or profile them.
Do not talk about a student in front of him or her.
- A majority of our students are very well aware that they are behind their peers, yet everyday they get up and show up to grow their brains and bring happiness to others.
We get it, some students are difficult… and it can make your class harder to manage with the addition of one student. We really do understand your frustrations, but it’s all about building relationships.
RESOURCE SETTING
We need to follow proper procedures to get students special education services. Don’t promise parents resource room help before we test or before you’ve tried your own interventions.
When I take the student out for Resource, they’re not “losing” instruction time. We do work in my room. We work on goals, plus some. They’re getting individualized instruction that best HELPS them in my room.
The students are not “my” students… they are YOUR students and I am a resource to support them!
As a resource room teacher: I work with 10-15 different teachers/schedules on a daily basis. I can’t change my schedule around as easily as you can.
At the end of the day, the ultimate goal of special education is dismissal from the program. While special ed services may be needed as a long term program for some students, its not needed for all students.
Enjoy OUR students. Love our students. Treat our students with respect, and hold high expectations. They can and want to learn from you, with you.
What do you wish other teachers knew about your job? Your students? Your classroom? Tell us in the comments below!
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