Life As a Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher
Job Description: Teach elementary 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.
Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher Responsibilities
- Modify the general kindergarten or elementary education curriculum for special-needs students.
- Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
- Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students’ behavioral or academic problems.
- Control the inventory or distribution of classroom equipment, materials, or supplies.
- Instruct special needs students in academic subjects, using a variety of techniques, such as phonetics, multisensory learning, or repetition to reinforce learning and meet students’ varying needs.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
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What a Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers say are important on the job.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Severe Emotional Behavioral Disorders Teacher
- Paraeducator
- Paraprofessional
- Integrated Program Teacher
- Emotional Support Teacher
What Kind of Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 188,900 jobs for Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 13,900 new jobs for Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 15,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Connecticut, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher ranges between $38,980 and $95,730.
Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers who work in California, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $49,320 |
| Alaska | $72,770 |
| Arizona | $44,590 |
| Arkansas | $49,740 |
| California | $80,370 |
| Colorado | $54,500 |
| Connecticut | $76,780 |
| Delaware | $61,010 |
| District of Columbia | $78,830 |
| Florida | $60,720 |
| Georgia | $55,160 |
| Hawaii | $54,000 |
| Idaho | $47,990 |
| Illinois | $63,740 |
| Indiana | $53,570 |
| Iowa | $56,300 |
| Kansas | $54,340 |
| Kentucky | $54,010 |
| Louisiana | $50,300 |
| Maine | $51,980 |
| Maryland | $64,590 |
| Massachusetts | $74,470 |
| Michigan | $66,820 |
| Minnesota | $63,030 |
| Mississippi | $46,590 |
| Missouri | $54,190 |
| Montana | $53,840 |
| Nebraska | $57,870 |
| Nevada | $53,180 |
| New Hampshire | $58,230 |
| New Jersey | $70,630 |
| New Mexico | $51,050 |
| New York | $77,840 |
| North Carolina | $47,760 |
| North Dakota | $56,660 |
| Ohio | $56,180 |
| Oklahoma | $42,630 |
| Oregon | $76,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,860 |
| Rhode Island | $70,720 |
| South Carolina | $56,960 |
| South Dakota | $43,760 |
| Tennessee | $52,350 |
| Texas | $57,770 |
| Utah | $46,320 |
| Vermont | $63,230 |
| Virginia | $66,790 |
| Washington | $65,400 |
| West Virginia | $42,400 |
| Wisconsin | $56,210 |
| Wyoming | $60,790 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Children’s educational software
- Screen reader software
- Screen magnification software
- Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking
- Voice activated software
- Drawing software
- American Sign Language Browser
- Individualized Educational Program IEP software
How to Become a Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher
Individuals working as a Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teacher?
Where Kindergarten or Elementary School Special Education Teachers Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: woodleywonderworks via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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