Special Education Teachers, Middle School
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Related Careers
Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $42K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $50K
Median Salary: $61K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $79K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $99K
Demand
Core Tasks
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.
Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.
Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development.
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Collaborate with other teachers that provide instruction to special education students to ensure that the students receive appropriate support.
Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
Monitor teachers and teacher assistants to ensure that they adhere to inclusive special education program requirements.
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems, or special academic interests.
Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
Meet with parents and guardians to provide guidance in using community resources and to teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
Prepare for assigned classes and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
Administer standardized ability and achievement tests and interpret results to determine students' strengths and areas of need.
Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
Provide additional instruction in vocational areas.
Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
Organize and label materials and display students' work.
Perform administrative duties, such as assisting in school libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
Visit schools to tutor students with sensory impairments and to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs.
Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Education and Training
96%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
95%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Psychology
79%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Customer and Personal Service
72%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics
71%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Computers and Electronics
69%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Clerical
66%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Therapy and Counseling
66%
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Public Safety and Security
64%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Geography
58%
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Top 10 Skills
Instructing
83%
Teaching others how to do something.
Speaking
83%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
80%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
80%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Learning Strategies
80%
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Critical Thinking
78%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
78%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness
78%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management
78%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Coordination
75%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Top 10 Abilities
Written Comprehension
83%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering
78%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Problem Sensitivity
78%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity
78%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition
78%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
87%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Assisting and Caring for Others
84%
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
84%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Getting Information
84%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Training and Teaching Others
84%
Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
83%
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Analyzing Data or Information
82%
Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Coaching and Developing Others
82%
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Developing Objectives and Strategies
82%
Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Documenting/Recording Information
82%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
Design psychological or educational treatment procedures or programs.
Develop educational programs.
Maintain student records.
Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance.
Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
Teach life skills.
Discuss problems or issues with supervisors.
Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
Monitor student performance.
Monitor student behavior, social development, or health.
Evaluate student work.
Assist students with special educational needs.
Plan educational activities.
Direct activities of subordinates.
Set up classroom materials or equipment.
Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
Prepare tests.
Create technology-based learning materials.
Apply multiple teaching methods.
Develop instructional objectives.
Advise students on academic or career matters.
Document lesson plans.
Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
Teach others to use technology or equipment.
Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
Plan experiential learning activities.
Display student work.
Supervise school or student activities.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Distribute instructional or library materials.
Order instructional or library materials or equipment.
Evaluate performance of educational staff.
Supervise student research or internship work.
Teach vocational courses.
Tutor students who need extra assistance.
Work Context
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Public Speaking
How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Coordinate or Lead Others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Education
Majors
Major
Interests
Social
100%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
72%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Enterprising
48%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Investigative
48%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional
39%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic
34%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Top 10 Work Styles
Concern for Others
98%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Adaptability/Flexibility
97%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Dependability
97%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Self Control
97%
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Cooperation
96%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Achievement/Effort
95%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Stress Tolerance
95%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attention to Detail
94%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Integrity
94%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Social Orientation
94%
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Work Values
Relationships
91%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions
77%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Achievement
72%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Support
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Recognition
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
