Top 5 Special Educator Actions
What does a special educator bring to a team?
I have been puzzling over this question ever since I first heard of the new special education law in 1975. Exactly what is a special educator supposed to do? What does she contribute to a child’s learning?… to general educators’ rigorous instruction? …to a parent’s understanding of how to support that child?…to a youth’s development of efficacy and independence?
Across my career, I have experienced this special education dilemma from multiple perspectives. First, as a general educator seeking support from my colleague with specialized skills. Second, as a special educator and transition coordinator, doing my best to perform the special education role myself. Third, as a parent of two children with disabilities thankful for services. Most recently, as special education professor and consultant, committed to supporting special educators to be more effective. I continue to ponder the question: WHAT DO THEY DO?
Their mission is clear in special education law. IDEA 2004 states that special education services provide all children a program “…designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.”
But that mission doesn’t provide clear direction for daily tasks of a special educator. I recall a principal vocalizing the confusion in the field with, “I don’t think that spec ed teacher should be hanging around in the back of the room, but I don’t know what she should be doing.”
Here are my Top Five Special Educator Actions. I welcome your comments, and suggestions!
Know each student. Unlock the puzzle that each child or youth presents. Investigate the unique strengths and challenges each brings as a whole person to academics, social, emotional opportunities? Get to know his mindset, his executive skills and multiple intelligences. Learn about her family history, cultural background, outside interests, and dreams. Be sure to acknowledge and encourage his small achievements and proclaim them to others.
Foster collaborative relationships. Expand your collaborative skills with all colleagues. Establish trusting, respectful relationships with general educators, counselors, behavioral specialists, administrators, cafeteria/ office/ custodial/ bus personnel, and families. The stronger your relationships, the easier it will be for you to build support networks for students. You don’t need to become best friends with each one, but everyone responds better to someone who sincerely listens, notices and appreciates their strengths.
Be a learner. Consider every moment a learning opportunity for you and your colleagues. Look for resources and chances to deepen professional reflection and learning. If you teach with general education teachers, collaboratively develop classroom routines and plan to effectively implement the 7 co-teaching structures. As a learner, intentionally model active learning, growth mindset, and wisdom from failures for your students.
Identify critical data. In addition to readily available student data, strategically design other data collection methods that target individual student issues, goals, and progress. Be ready to share data at IEP meetings, with parents, and during professional planning sessions. Finally, teach students to use their own data to strive for personal goals.
Build empowerment networks. Ultimately, your task is to empower each student to learn self-efficacy skills based on knowing himself, developing his strengths, compensating for his weaknesses, and advocating for his self-selected supports. Students will be much more effective with a network of supportive peers, professionals and family members. Be on the watch for connections you can make to support student growth. Encourage all network partners to make optimum use of learning opportunities, coaching youth to set goals and develop wisdom from breakdowns.
Notice I didn’t say a special educator protects students from failure. Let’s eliminate that mistaken notion. I will be using these Top Five in a workshop this fall and would welcome feedback. What have I missed? What else does a special educator do?
