It's hard work

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Home : 2004 : January : 14

It's hard work
By Spec Ed ECE

I work in Early Childhood Special Education, so my students are 4 & 5 years old, most with speech delays and developmental delays. Only 2 of my students can speak well enough for others to understand them. One is a select
mute (doesn't talk in school)and the other has impulsive tendencies and answers all the questions whether I want her to or not! While another teacher with the same age group may have her students well versed in the basic shapes and colors and counting to 20 by now, we're still working on the primary colors and 4 basic shapes, but they can now count to 10 with some accuracy. One knows

several letters of the alphabet, a few can actually use scissors, but most are still learning how to hold crayons and pencils correctly. These are marked improvements from September! We count our successes in baby steps.
A special ed teacher's day is long and hard and filled with paperwork, documentation and meetings and often frustration. But when that student finally makes that connection and learns something and retains it...it's like Christamas! I quit my former district because I always felt under pressure, that I was constantly running and getting nowhere. I moved to another district and I'm doing the same thing, but the atmosphere is better; i feel less stress and frustration. I do "take my work home with me" in the sense that my students are often on my mind as I try to think of learning activities for their level. Then of course, there's all the paperwork and lesson plans I do at home.
Sometimes it's frustrating, sometimes it's wonderful. I have read somewhere that Special Ed teachers have a tendency to burn out sooner than regular ed teachers, and I believe it. Good Luck on your project.