The Complete Guide to Becoming A Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten

Chapter 1: What Does a Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten Actually Do?

When you picture a kindergarten special education teacher, you might imagine yourself sitting on a tiny chair, reading a picture book to a small group of children, one hand resting on the back of a wiggly five-year-old. That does happen. But it is maybe a third of the job. The rest of it happens at a battered teacher's desk, in a windowless conference room with parents, and in a web-based system that tracks every goal and every data point you collect.

Let's start with the children, because they are why you're reading this. Your classroom is likely a "self-contained" special education room, which means it serves a small group of students - usually 6 to 10 - who have been identified with significant disabilities. These can include autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, speech or language impairments, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbances, or multiple disabilities. Your students may be non-verbal, or they may have limited vocabulary. Some will struggle with fine motor skills and cannot hold a crayon. Some have severe tantrums triggered by a change in schedule. A few might bolt for the door the second your back is turned. Your core job is to meet each child at their current level and build an academic and behavioral foundation for the rest of their school career.

Your primary academic tool is the Individualized Education Program, the IEP. This is a legally binding document that lists, for each student, their current