Profession special educational needs teacher secondary school

Special needs teachers teach physically or mentally handicapped young persons or adults, or those with learning difficulties or other special needs. They promote the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of their students.

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Personality Type

• Social / Artistic

Related professions training and teaching, all other

• Arts teacher
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• Music teacher
• National/second language teacher
• Remedial teacher
• School inspector
• Special needs teaching professional, all other
• Sports teacher
• Training or teaching professional, all other
• Yoga teacher or similar

Knowledge

• Children's physical development

  Recognise and describe the development, observing the following criteria: weight, length, and head size, nutritional requirements, renal function, hormonal influences on development, response to stress, and infection.

• Special needs education

  The teaching methods, equipment and settings used to support students with special needs in achieving succes in school or community.

• Disability care

  The specific methods and practices used in providing care to people with physical, intellectual and learning disabilities.

• Curriculum objectives

  The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

• Learning difficulties

  The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.

Skills

• Liaise with educational support staff

  Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issues relating the students' well-being.

• Apply teaching strategies

  Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners' level, goals, and priorities.

• Give constructive feedback

  Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.

• Balance participants' personal needs with group needs

  Apply a variety of approaches in your practice that balances the needs of each individual with that of the group as a whole. Strengthen each individual's capability and experience, known as person centred practice, while at the same time stimulating the participants and support workers to form a cohesive group. Create a supportive and safe atmosphere for an active exploration of your artistic discipline.

• Teach secondary education class content

  Instruct students in the theory and practice of the secondary school course of your specialisation, taking into account the age of the students and modern teaching methods.

• Liaise with educational staff

  Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.

• Demonstrate when teaching

  Present to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.

• Adapt teaching to student's capabilities

  Identify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.

• Compile course material

  Write, select or recommend a syllabus of learning material for the students enrolled in the course.

• Manage student relationships

  Manage the relations between students and between student and teacher. Act as a just authority and create an environment of trust and stability.

• Secondary school procedures

  The inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.

• Observe student's progress

  Follow up on students’ learning progress and assess their achievements and needs.

• Monitor student's behaviour

  Supervise the student's social behaviour to discover anything unusual. Help solve any issues if necessary.

• Provide specialised instruction for special needs students

  Instruct students in need of specialised attention, often in small groups, catering to their individual needs, disorders, and disabilities. Promote the psychological, social, creative or physical development of children and teenagers using specific methods such as concentration exercises, role-plays, movement training, and painting.

• Assign homework

  Provide additional exercises and assignments that the students will prepare at home, explain them in a clear way, and determine the deadline and evaluation method.

• Assess the development of youth

  Evaluate the different aspects of development needs of children and young people.

• Assist children with special needs in education settings

  Assist children with special needs, identifying their needs, modifying classroom equipment to accommodate them and helping them participate in school activities.

• Prepare lesson content

  Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.

• Maintain relations with children's parents

  Inform children`s parents of the activities planned, program`s expectations and children`s individual progress.

• Guarantee students' safety

  Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.

• Monitor developments in field of expertise

  Keep up with new research, regulations, and other significant changes, labour market related or otherwise, occurring within the field of specialisation.

• Perform classroom management

  Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.

• Maintain students' discipline

  Make sure students follow the rules and code of behaviour established in the school and take the appropriate measures in case of violation or misbehaviour.

• Apply intercultural teaching strategies

  Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.

• Assist students in their learning

  Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB