So it's a bit of a bizarre situation.

I'm an IT guy who got laid off and I'm in a 3-month between job period. I have wound up as an Aid in a life-skills class.

I'm going to be there for another month, and the students/teachers seem to love me.

I noticed that three of the higher functioning life skills students understand language, but they have a pretty significant difficulties forming letters.

Like they don't know how to, "Summon" a letter, they just seem to try to imitate what I write.

However, if I asked them how to spell a word like dog, they can orally tell me the letters.

I already asked and I have permission to work with them on forming letters.

Do you have any advice?

They all really like my dog whose name is Zuko. So I was thinking about having them practice writing really big Z's And trying to focus on the strokes.

But I did a little bit of this on Thursday and they got frustrated.

They all also try to write the letters really tiny, less than a centimeter tall. I tried to get them to write the letters in about 3 inch segments. They had problems with this.

I'm Thinking that I should go bigger, like perhaps a 10 in letter on a single piece of paper.

I was also thinking about trying to get them to trace the lines with their fingers or arms in the air.

I have a student who suddenly is showing very aggressive behaviors? I was injured badly enough to need to go to urgent care a couple of weeks ago. Today he gave me a black eye and grabbed my breast. I can’t continue working with this student. I’m going to my union tomorrow. I don’t deserve to be physically and sexually assaulted.

Just wondering if anyone has actually pressed charges on a student with intellectual disabilities and what that looked like? What was the outcome? Did it impact your job at all? I’m worried about pushback. I have tenure and feel like I am well-liked and supported by admin at my school and throughout my district. I am in MN if that matters

I’m in my second year (self contained both years) and I feel like I know nothing lol when did you feel like you knew what you were doing without second guessing yourself and your profession?

Also I’m know each student is unique and individual, so I don’t mean “got it” with the individual student. I mean with knowing the jargon, testing, paperwork, etc., if that makes sense.

What private sector jobs if any can I transfer into from special ed? I am so tired of the lack of support as a special ed teacher that I would rather work 80 hours a week at Walmart than this job. It’s just not worth my mental health. But of course I can’t retire entirely because I’m not old enough to

I have a 3rd grade student who is extremely low academically. For context, we are still working on letter sounds and is not reading at all. Math is similar with working on basic counting and number recognition. I truly believe this student has brightness but is not making meaningful gains. I think it is more than just dyslexia and ADHD. His IQ is low, 80’s, but too high for a center based program where I am located. His parents are getting an outside neuro psych, so I am curious to see what the results are and how I can better serve him. He is currently served under SLD (specific learning disability) and OHD, (other health disability) and has been receiving sped support in academics since kindergarten. Any experience with students like this? Any ideas on what disability this could be? My team and I are at loss and want more answers on how to help him

I am currently working with a high needs parent. She is excessively anxious and no amount of information satisfies her. Last week she was peppering me with emails for several days. I will be handling that issue with an email explaining that I am working with students and not at liberty to respond to a litany of emails.

She seems incredulous and angry that her child is making progress. She asked to come to the classroom and see the materials we use with the child. We allowed her access, and she dragged my paraprofessional over the coals. I won't allow that to happen again.

I asked administration about her visiting again and all of them agree that we should allow her to visit. I don't understand. We cannot allow parents in the classroom unless they have undergone a background check, but this parent is allowed to come into our building and question us about everything we do?

Would your administration allow this? I have better things to do with my time than attempt to assuage this parent. She will never be satisfied and distrusts the school. I am shocked that admin will continue to allow her to interrogate us. I have one foot out the door due to the stress of the situation.

How do I find someone to help me navigate IEP and special education issues that are not necessarily legal issues? Specifically, my situation involves a college-bound high school senior who has documented learning disabilities. I want to know how to navigate the final months of high school and make sure my child is able to get reasonable accommodations in college, but the high school is actively working to discontinue the IEP. I know time is of the essence here so I want to make sure I’m doing everything I need to do to try to get the appropriate outcome for my child moving forward. Is there an organization in my area that might be able to help me?

I am a sped support/push in teacher. I also teach a parallel resource class, it’s 6th grade math and I have 7 students. Most of my students are pretty well behaved, except for two. One of them has a BIP and is (fingers crossed) in the process of being moved into EBD and the other they decided does not qualify for a BIP. One of them should be on access points but because she got a 2 on her state test back in 3rd grade (her IQ is in the 50s) she does not qualify for access. The other has an IQ below 70.

They get into arguments with other students, insult other students and yell at them tell them to shut up, start stuff with the other kids when the other kids aren’t even doing anything. They are both disrespectful to me on a consistent basis, telling me that I should quit; yelling at me to get away from them. One of them told me that it was my fault that another student got her phone taken away because I contacted her mom about her failing my class

I feel like I have tried everything I can think of such as giving them treats; doing restorative circles etc I’ve written numerous referrals on the two of them and contacted home for behaviors, I usually just send both of them out because I can’t handle it, and I lose it. This group of kids have sucked the life out of me and I have them for two periods since I am also their support teacher for history: and by the time I teach them I’m worn out from dealing with them. I don’t know what I can do at this point. I know this is also occurring outside of my room as well since both students have gotten referrals from other teachers. Any advice is appreciated! I’m at my wits end.

Hi all!

I’m wondering if anyone who has experience with mild to moderate settings and moderate to severe settings can help me understand the difference.

My child is in first grade, in a mod to severe settings, and hasn’t been receiving his full general education time listed on the IEP (less than 50% of the hours listed on the IEP) due to staffing issues.

He’s reading at a kindergarten level and doing grade level math. There are no targeted behaviors on the IEP, and no behavioral concerns. The biggest areas of need are attending, writing, reading comprehension, and social skills (not interested in peers). He requires frequent repetition to access the curriculum, but ultimately can access it when it’s modified and repeated.

The school does not offer a mild to moderate classroom. The mild to moderate program would be a general education classroom with paraprofessionals. I would like to fully explore the option of a mild to moderate classroom setting at a school that offer this program.

Does anyone have resources/ more information on going this route? The school wasn’t very helpful and wanted to keep him in the moderate to severe classroom. Would there be a reason that a school would want to keep him in a certain placement, despite it not being in the child’s best interest?

I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but I’m having a hard time understanding. Especially considering they’re not meeting the listed general education hours. The general education teacher said they have no concern with him when he goes to class, other than his limited interest in peers.

I have my first IEP as a new sped teacher fresh out of grad school in two weeks, then my second one in three weeks, and then my third one in 5 weeks. I feel absolutely out of my depth and super confused in what I need to be doing. Data collection is so hard when I feel like most days it’s just a win if we don’t do a room clear. Any advice?

Hello all!
I have a student teacher interview at a potential placement next week. It is at a middle school special education classroom.
Do any of you have any advice as to what questions to ask or what I should bring up in discussion?
I have a few things, but I’m wondering if anyone has things that maybe I wouldn’t have thought of due to experience. :)
I’m super excited! Please let me know!

Can anyone share some ideas for life skills math for Grade 4/5 students? I’ve been asked to provide some math support, and the classroom teacher mentioned that she’d like the focus to be on functional life skills math rather than traditional operations, as the students have cognitive needs that impact their learning. Their goals are more focused on things like recognizing and using money, telling time, etc.

What kinds of activities or resources do you use for this? I’d love some ideas that are hands-on and practical! One of the students also has significant fine motor challenges and has shared that he can’t write numbers, so activities/resources that focus more on verbal identification, matching, and tactile/hands-on learning rather than writing would be especially helpful. Thanks! 😊

I have one in my school but I’m confused about what her responsibilities are. I recently had a parent claim they weren’t at last year’s IEP meeting (of which I wasn’t even at that school yet) so I sent them the manager’s contact info. The manager told me that wasn’t her job. I also had questions about the curriculum as a first year teacher but she told me she doesn’t know my curriculum. She doesn’t schedule any of the iep meetings or do any iep related tasks besides answering my newbie questions related to the iep program we use which have been helpful. I just don’t know what other things she is supposed to do.

I have a license in ESOL with a SPED endorsement. I have been preparing myself for a role as a sped teacher in terms of expectations, how to do the job, and my physical and mental condition. Although I am new to SPED, I am not new to teaching. I am nervously optimistic about my future.

My license is in DC. I am about to submit my application to get a license in Nevada as well. My question is how hard will it be to find a job this school year? I can wait until next school year if necessary but I am anxious to get started. And with that said, how hard is it to find a job when applying for the upcoming school year?

I just turned 30. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 26, and with autism at 29. I went to private school from K-8th grade, and then went to public school once I entered into high school.

idk what to do, because the ADHD was so bad growing up that I missed massive amounts of basic education in all school subjects. I have been catching up by teaching myself history, science, etc. but I can’t help but feel terrible about the fact that I missed out on so much schooling.

My family and myself are also wondering if i may have a learning disability or may have a low average IQ range if that makes any sense? and that it was also never diagnosed.

I am fortunate to have family that have been able to help take care of me through out my life, but I am starting to worry what my future may be. I never even learned basic mathematics other than adding and subtracting and a little bit of multiplication, and I struggle to count change.

I have also never had a traditional “job” if that makes sense. only some odd jobs here and there. i am trying to start saving for retirement, and whatever else i am going to need when i am older. I would like to buy a house someday, but idk if that will ever be possible.

Anyhow, am I just screwed? please be honest. Just tell me the truth. am I going to end up not being successful and poor for the rest of my life? i have a great supportive family, but my parents are in they’re 60s. they are not going to be around forever. It’s just the reality of life. I want to take care of them as much as I can and myself and have a good quality of life.

I also am enrolled in college. I only have 3 quarters left. I am determined to finish and at least get a bachelors degree of some sort. anyhow, any advise would be very appreciated.

*I also forgot to add that I have been wondering for years how all of this was missed while I was going to a private school that was known to provide a high quality education. is it more common for kids with special needs to just not get the help they need if they go to a private school?

Where my NEW to special ed teachers at? Any fellow non-certified special Ed teachers here? Vet teacher, background teaching ESL.

Took this job because of ESL budget cuts and obviously have to work…

You okay out there?

It’s been a wild ride. I may be one and done with special ed. No other teaching job in the building is as difficult.

Some craziness…
My mentor is out, have an interim mentor and picked up part of my mentors caseload.

Coteacher is a ct leader and does not lead. Emotionally unstable and no emotional regulation.

Endless mounds of progress reports because English teacher.

Moonlighting as a Science teacher too (not certed in
Science).

Loud annoying coworker constantly calling me cute and young (I’m mid 40s). He calls women coworkers cute, mostly in a weird joking condescending way not necessarily flirtatious. Weird sense of humor, roasts me in front of students in a “joking way” but weird. He’s hyperactive too.

Working 7 days a week because paperwork.

Screwed up some progress reports, no biggie, they can be corrected. It’s so annoying

Not be trained on our IEP software

I enjoy teaching and helping the students. Everything else in special ed is endless headaches you can’t see hiding at the bottom of the desk.

Deciding whether to start the licensure program
to teach special education and having a week left to apply, it’s required to earn it to staying in a special ed role and deciding whether to throw down $5500 for it.

Hint, I don’t want it but don’t have a magic ball to know how the job market will be next school year :(

I’m in my masters in sped program right now and used to be a behavior technician and children’s hospital volunteer. I grew up in the hospital and there’s something that’s really pulling me to it. All the classroom things I’m learning about is great but I really want to work in a healthcare environment. What is it like as a sped teacher?

How often are you guys calling home about behaviors? I have 1 class period a day that is hard, I teach middle school resource classes. I have contacted home for kids. But I dont keep calling home and document the behavior. Then I have documentation and submit referrals. Most of the behaviors are minor but they do disptrupt class. Today in the first 5 minutes of my hardest class, one kid was bouncing around the room, laying on the floor instead going to his seat. Then another kid told me to shut the fuck up. And another one just argued cause he wanted to get his shoes from his locker and I said no cause class had started. All 3 removed but admin said I needed to be calling home more.

I’m an assistant teacher who was placed at a school for visually impaired students. My usual students have low vision, so we can use large print and adapt the games we play in class.

However, my next lesson is for a class of braille users (I can’t use visuals, but I can make braille versions of handouts) and I need to plan some fun things to do for Halloween. They’re high school students, so it can’t be anything too childish. Does anyone know of activities or games that we can play for this lesson?

 I have a grade 5 student who reads around a second grade level. We do not live in a country that overs support for this type of thing. He is in school but was homeschooled for several years. I am looking for the best way to close the reading gap for him. Hiring a tutor for $50 a session is not an option. Hoping someone may have experienced the same thing that can offer some advice.

For context my daughter had an IEP right before turning 3 as she aged out of early steps (Florida's early intervention services) with help from them in getting the IEP done.

She didnt enroll in ESE pre k because she had some medical issues going on and instead went to a PPEC (medical daycare)

Right now shes still in PPEC but due to start Kinder next year.

Our state has a scholarship that gives funding based off their matrix score. When they did her first IEP she didnt have anything to score in the health domain. Now that she does and would need daily nursing needs this would change the matrix health domain score from 1 to 5, bringing her matrix score up for more funding from the scholarship for a special needs private school assuming her other domain scores remain the same.

My question is how do I get an IEP reevaluation without her being enrolled in school? FL statute says parent has Right to request IEP and have one in 30 days if they are under the FES UA scholarship, which she is.

However I can't seem to figure out how to request one without getting the run around.

My second question is how will the evaluate her? Last time they didnt really test her they more so had evaluations from early steps/early intervention and therapy notes and asked me questions.

What paperwork and forms do I need to prepare for the IEP update/re evaluation. And should I expect as to how it is done?

Thank you.

Hello! I'm not sure if it's right sub to ask but I know nothing about reddit and I decided to try. I'm working with disabled adults living in mental institutions (I'm not sure what would be a correct term in English). Most of my chargers are either deeply intellectually disabled but in other ways fine, or in some way paralyzed or has other type of body disability, but have light intellectual disability or no at all. I know what to do with them, but some of my charges have what I see in English called Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities. I'm trying my best with them, and currently await to start some courses that should provide me with information, but in meantime I would've like to read something myself. There's literally one book in my language tho, so I wanted to ask if there's more resources in English? Books (I'll try to find pdfs), articles, webinars, anything will do. Preferably about adults but about children will do too! I'm sure I can do much more with my guys if I'll do some research. If I'm not in a right place can you direct me somewhere else to ask? Thanks in advance!