Special Needs In Early Childhood?
you need to be more specific with your question there are many different ways you can look at the topic you can look at the neccessary modifications you need to make in your physical classroon, or in your lesson plans to be sure all of the children get the same amt of your attention and get to do all of the things all of the other children do you can look at it like how to deal with children who have ieps ( individual education plans) or how you can work with the other professionals who are already trying to help the individual child or family, and you can look at it like you notice that a child in your classroom that is having some trouble in participating properly in the classroom environment and they need to be evaluated. either way i probably have dealt with the situation, i was a headstart teacher for over 8 yrs and have dealt with all of the above and more for a variety of children (with ceberal palsy, mental disorder, deaf and hard of hearing, and several other disabilities or differing abilities)but the first and most important idea to keep in mind is they are ALL CHILDREN FIRST and need to be treated that way.
Early Childhood Education Units? How hard or easy?
I guess it all depends on where you take them. At the local community college where I live I took them and loved them. I thought that they were a lot easier then my education classes for the university. They were fun, we read children's stories, painted, created fun lesson plans, and observed preschool classrooms. I really got to show my creative side. We had a few papers, but not a whole lot.
Should I go back to school to get a masters in special education?
I am not a teacher. I am an aide. So I REALLY do it for the kids. The teacher I work with has his masters degree. He gets paid more because of that. But he did it because he has passion for his job. If you just want money or a respected career... then its so not worth it. To do the job any kind of justice you must have a real passion for helping kids. Sometimes it is the hardest thing imaginable. And burn out is a big problem. You don't always have the staff, training or equipment you need. But at the end of the day you can go home knowing you are making a REAL difference in the world. And many of those kids only get love and support at school. Teachers make a real difference in the world. I hope you decide to go forward with your masters and make a difference to some kids in need.
Why do special education teachers make more money?
As the other answers have said, in most places in the US, they don't. Each district has a salary schedule which tells how much each teacher will make based on their years of experience and their level of education. This schedule is used for every teacher in the district, Kindergarten through high school, general ed and special ed. The difference in pay would be if perhaps more special ed teachers have higher degrees (I think it may sometimes be required of them). Teachers with a Masters degree make a few thousand dollars more than those with just a Bachelors.The exception would be if a special ed opening is classified “hard to fill.” This designation basically says that we can't get anyone to take this job, so we need to offer more than the typical salary. I'd assume that would be rare though, and they'd have to show that they could not get anyone at the base salary.It would make sense for special ed teachers to make more, though. In addition to all of the duties of a regular ed teacher, lesson planning etc; they have piles of IEP paperwork, lifeskills lessons, assessments, and maybe things like assisting students in eating/bathrooming.
What advice would you give to a future early childhood educator?
I have 2 pieces of advice, based on my years of experience. First – get yourself the right qualifications. That is the best way to be sure of moving your career ahead. There are too many unqualifies people in ECE and you need professional qualifications to move ahead. Second – be prepared to exercise a lot of patience. Its not the kids who will test you so much (although they will!) but the parents who think they know more than you and that their child needs special treatment. Early childhood education it is a very rewarding and fulfilling vocation if you like being with children and being a part of their development.