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Special Education Teachers, Middle School

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.
Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
Monitor teachers and teacher assistants to ensure that they adhere to inclusive special education program requirements.
Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine students' strengths and needs.
Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
Meet with parents and guardians to provide guidance in using community resources and to teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
Organize and label materials and display students' work.
Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.
Collaborate with other teachers that provide instruction to special education students to ensure that the students receive appropriate support.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

Supervise, evaluate, and plan assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.
Provide additional instruction in vocational areas.
Visit schools to tutor students with sensory impairments and to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)