Being a special education teacher can be a very rewarding job if you put your heart into it. You get to teach children with, cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities. You get to teach them not only academic skills but social and life skills. What got me into this field was previously working with children who have autism. I will be researching:♥Nature of Work♥Working Conditions♥Training, Qualifications, Advancement♥Job Outlook/Employment♥Earnings♥Related Occupation

Help to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Instructing and monitoring student progressTeaching life skillsTeaching AcademicsPersonal care

Physical Work Conditions:

Mostly indoor but also outdoor

Noisy, loud distracting classrooms

Near other students and teachers

Speak loud and clearly in front of groups

Stand to teach and assist students

Heavy work loads of paper work

Mental Working Conditions:

Stress due to heavy work loads

Making decisions for others

Dealing with upset parents

Responsible for health and safety of others

Communication between parents, students and co-workers

Hours:

36.5 hours per week for a 10 month school year

Have to take work home often

Qualifications:

•Patient

•Understanding

•Caring

•Corresponding

•Work under pressure

•Organized

•Speak well

•Get along with others

•Listen well

•Motivate others

•Creative

•Acceptance to others

Training:•High school diploma•Have bachelors degree•In some cases masters•Complete teacher training program•Pass state licensing exams•Student teacher internship•Early childhood learning program (lake view offers this class)•Curriculum and instruction (Harper Woods offers this class)

Advancements:

•May become supervisors or ministers

•earn advanced degrees to teach others

•Mentor

Employment is expected to increase faster then average

Number of special education teachers is expecting to increase 17% between 2008-2018

Number of kids diagnosed with disabilities is increasing and so are teachers for them Throughout the state of Michigan there are currently 428 job openings

I would be willing to work anywhere in the state of Michigan

Pre-school, kindergarten and elementary school special needs teachers earn around $50,020

Middle school education teaches earn around $50,810

High school teachers earned around $51,340

Lifestyle goals:

earn between 70,000-80,000

Money does not match my circumstances

Fist purchase would be a car

Occupational TherapistResponsibilities:

Help others improve daily tasks

Use treatments to develop recovery

Work with patients suffering from physical, mental or developing problems

Help clients become independent again

Work conditions:

Indoor/outdoor

Very physical and hands on

Near people

In cars driving home to home

Spacious-equipment filled rooms

Training:

Master’s degree or higher in occupation therapy

National certifying exam

4 doctoral degree programs

High school courses in biology

Earnings:

Home health care services$74,510

Nursing care facilities72,790

Offices of other health care practitioners69,360

General medical and surgicalhospitals68,100

Elementary and secondary schools60,020Why this is my back up plan:

I enjoy elderly people

Satisfaction of helping others

Very physical

Similar education needs

Outlook:

Expecting to increase 26% between 2008-2018

Increasing with the elderly population

I feel that being a special education teacher would make me feel like I am giving back to those who have limitations by giving them my best. After researching more of this topic I think I would make a good special education teacher, giving love and passion to all of my students. The one I look forward to the most is reaching my education goals so I may start working in this field and coming up with fun lesson plans. One thing I least look forward to is having to take extra work home with me to finish. My learning experiences overall is that you can never be close-minded about a situation or student.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5244893_roles-responsibilities-special-education-teachers.html

http://www.monster.com/

http://www.healthguideusa.org/careers/occupational_therapist_working_conditions.htm

http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/pt-career.html