Teaching Special Education

By providing opportunities for students to succeed, especially students who have been systematically excluded, it is possible to change those internalized beliefs about their abilities and build belief in their potential to be citizens who can make a valuable contribution.

                    -2005 Oakland Teaching Fellow and special education teacher

Now that I'm in the classroom I can [truly appreciate] how useful and applicable our summer institute was, and say how much I am looking forward to continuing [my development] through the OPTP seminars. 

                    -2008 Oakland Teaching Fellow and special education teacher

What is special education?

Special education is a legal definition for programs that provide greater resources for certain students. “Special education” does not refer to a specific location or fixed concept but rather includes a broad range of student services from a smaller, more individualized learning environment, to assistive technology, to a modified curriculum that capitalizes on a student’s particular strengths. Under the law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), all students are provided services that support their needs.

Special education teachers teach academic subjects and social, emotional, and vocational skills like any other teacher.  There is no such thing as “teaching special ed,” rather teachers instruct in a special education setting.  As a special education teacher, Fellows teach academic subjects such as math, language arts, science, social studies, and much more.  No matter what setting or grade level a Fellow teaches, he or she, like all Fellows, will be working to increase student achievement. 

Every teacher in the public education system works with children with disabilities and therefore needs a basic understanding of the special education system. “Special education teachers” work largely or exclusively with students who qualify for services.

Oakland Teaching Fellows who teach in a special education setting with students who have mild-to-moderate disabilities will work with students who have difficulty in areas such as reading, math, writing, or communication.  Fellows who express interest may also work in classrooms with students who have moderate-to-severe needs, focusing on the development of their students' academic, social, vocational, and independent living skills.

For more information on the history of special education and the movement to provide all children with a free and appropriate education (FAPE), visit the website for the Council for Exceptional Children.

For resources for teachers, parents, and students involved in the system, visit the website for Learning Disabilities (LD) Online.

What are the benefits of teaching special education?

Special education is designed around the concept of individualized curriculum. Classes are smaller, and the teacher has the opportunity to get to know students and their families at a much more personal level. The teacher’s job is to meet educational goals that have been tailored to the needs of a particular student and write new goals each year as (s)he meets with a team that assesses the child’s progress and determines next steps in the student’s education. Fellows teaching special education will  use other teachers as resources, building relationships throughout the school site to support learning in the classroom. Fellows in this setting may also design individualized schedules so that students participate in academic classes with their grade-level peers for a portion of the day.

One of the most exciting aspects of a placement in special education is the opportunity to be both advocate and teacher by working to develop real skills in students and produce concrete gains that change students’ perception of themselves. While teachers are first and foremost responsible for academic goals, they also work to develop a positive school environment for students with special needs and take on leadership roles on campus.

Teachers encourage students to participate in all aspects of school life and become a liaison to ensure that students receive the same opportunities as their counterparts taking a mainstream course load. As a case manager, special education teachers monitor students’ progress and report to families and other teachers, while at the same time relying on organizational skills to develop individualized tracking systems and manage case-related paperwork. In addition, Fellows will receive specialized training and support through their credentialing program and the District's Programs for Exceptional Children department.

While there are many challenges in this placement—students are often far behind their academic potential, many have internalized negative assumptions about their abilities, and special education teachers need to balance the demands of teaching and case management—there are enormous rewards. Teachers in a special education setting have the potential to see significant growth in students’ abilities and join a civil rights movement to ensure that all children have access to an outstanding education.

Teachers of special education can make a difference with kids who have consistently not been given opportunities and tools to be academically successful and often cite strong personal relationships with students and their families, as well as smaller class sizes, as additional reasons for teaching in a special education setting.

For more information about teaching special education in Oakland, visit the website for OUSD’s Programs for Exceptional Children.