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My Philosophy Of Special Education

Nazmun Shanta

Department of Education, College of Southern Nevada

EDU 203: Introduction to Special Education

Professor Constantina Pappas

May 4th, 2021

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My philosophy of special education comes not just from my work experience in the field but

is woven together from my personal life, my years as a substitute both general and special

education teacher, studies in psychology, what I am learning in graduate school, and my general

beliefs and values about people. I believe that special education is a dynamic, energetic, fun,

demanding, and learning field for educators. Special education Specially designed instruction to

meet the unique needs of an individual recognized as exceptional.

Many types of disabilities may qualify students for special education programs, a few of

these are specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, mental retardation,

emotional disturbance, etc. Early identification of a child with special needs is an important part

of a special education teacher’s job because early intervention is essential in educating children

with disabilities. Special education teachers use various techniques to promote learning.

Depending on the student, teaching methods can include intensive individualized instruction,

problem-solving assignments, and small group work.

When students need special accommodations to learn the general curriculum or to take a

test, special education teachers ensure that appropriate accommodations are provided, such as

having material read orally or lengthening the time allowed to take a test. Special education

teachers help to develop an IEP for each student receiving special education. The IEP sets

personalized goals for the student and is tailored to that student’s individual needs and abilities.

When appropriate, the program includes a transition plan outlining specific steps to prepare

students for middle school or high school or, in the case of older students, a job.

Teachers review the IEP with the student’s parents, school administrators, and the

student’s general education teachers. Teachers work closely with parents to inform them of their
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children’s progress and suggest techniques to promote learning outside of school. Special

education teachers design and teach appropriate curricula, assign work geared toward each

student’s needs and abilities, and grade papers and homework assignments. They are involved in

the student’s behavioral, social, and academic development, helping them develop emotionally

and interact effectively in social situations.

There are many attributes that a special education teacher must possess to be an effective

teacher. Knowledge of their state standards and a strategy to implement these standards is very

important. Standards are the rules for judging the performance levels of individuals and the

criteria for determining acceptable expertise with specific concepts. Standards are what create

the structure within a discipline for specifying expected proficiencies, the professional or

academic consistencies that dictate what individuals should know and be able to.

According to NCLB, academic standards, adequate yearly progress, improved graduation

rates, state assessment requirements, a proficient level of academic achievement, and continuous

progress apply to all students, including students with disabilities. Even faced with a nationwide

shortage of special education teachers, school districts must meet the NCLB requirement of

High-Quality Teachers. Teachers must be certified in the area of disability they are teaching and

demonstrate knowledge and skills in related academic areas.

My goal as a special educator is to treat everyone equally and fairly. Any student that enters

my classroom will be treated with respect. I believe that our school districts, the state office of

education, early intervention agencies, the department of health, and other community agencies

are essential partners in improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. As a special

education teacher, I would collaborate with the administration, principals, support staff, and the
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community to enhance student learning as much as possible. If you have the support of all or

most of these individuals, your special education classroom/program will run more effectively.

In conclusion, the special educator has a lot of obstacles to overcome and achieve.

Hopefully, there will be a recognition of the differences between the responsibilities of regular

and special educators in the future. All students should be treated equally when it comes down to

the education that they receive but assuming that all students, especially those with disabilities,

should not be forced into learning material that is nearly impossible for them to comprehend.
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Reference

Special Education Philosophy. (2016, Oct 20). Retrieved from

http://studymoose.com/special-education-philosophy-essay

Gargiulo, R. M., & Bouck, E. C. (2021). Special education in contemporary society: An

introduction to exceptionality(7th edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.