Roles of the special education teacher

Part one:

Watch three videos depicting different special education teachers in action. Summarize and analyze components of each role in action.

1. Watch the following three videos: A Day in the Life of a Special Educator,  Virtual Tour of an Early Childhood Special Education Classroom, and Mrs. Kelley's Special Education Classroom
2. Analyze the three videos and for each video, summarize what you observed related to the depiction of each of the special education teacher’s responsibilities related to the following roles (use the three headings for each video):

Resource Room Teacher: The special education teacher’s primary task is to meet each of the goals established in his students’ IEPs. The teacher who works with special education students in a separate classroom creates lessons geared to meet those objectives. The classroom setting, which is sometimes call a resource room, also provides the teacher the chance to work with his students on life skills and behavior modification techniques.

Co-Teacher: Under the IDEA, an IEP places children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE)- so within the general classrooms as much as possible. In general education classroom, the special education teacher may: work with small groups of students who may or may not qualify for special education (push-in services); assist general education teachers to adapt curriculum materials and teaching techniques to meet the needs of students with disabilities; team-teach the entire class with the regular classroom teacher; provide students with special learning needs modified homework that covers the same topics covered in the daily lessons.

Administrative Duties: The special education teacher serves on the IEP team, along with parents, administrators and other teachers, to see that the IEP goals are met. Communicating and coordinating with families and other school personnel (social workers, speech and language therapists, physical and occupational therapist, school psychologists, school administrators, other teachers).

3.) What do you notice about inclusive practices within the videos? How might you advocate for more inclusive practices within each?

Part 2:

Develop and complete a comprehensive interview with a special educator in a K-2 role (this can be over Zoom). It would be appropriate to develop questions about the role of the special educator based on DEC Recommended Practices. Consider the role as it relates to assessment, direct services, family services, and service delivery. Following are questions that must be included in the interview. Supplement them with your own questions about the role of the special educator as described above.

Description of school: grade levels (PreK-6, K-5), student demographics, programs (Title I, ELL, etc.), traditional calendar/year round, other information pertinent to your selected school.

Short bio of person interviewing:

How many special educators are at your school?

Do your special educators focus on a particular grade level (e.g., K-2 or 3-6)?

What percentage of your time do you spend in the following settings/roles?
-Self-contained classroom teaching only students with special needs
-Resource room working with students with special educational needs (pull-out groups)
-General education classrooms working with small groups or providing        individualized help to students within the classroom (push-in services)
-Assisting general education teachers to adapt curriculum materials and     teaching techniques to meet the needs of students with disabilities
-Co-teacher with general education teacher in inclusive classroom
-Communicating and coordinating with parents, social workers, speech and      language therapists, occupational and physical therapists, school              psychologists, school administrators, and other teachers
- Planning for and facilitation of IEP meetings

What do you see as your most important role/responsibility?

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Documentation to submit:
Include Part one, along with your interview questions and answers for part two. For part two, describe in a paragraph or two how the video clips compare to the role of the special educator you interviewed. Upload to "ECED 6914: One credit documentation" on LiveText.