SPED TEACHER: A CHALLENGE

ANNE MYLENE F. JUSTO

The real challenge among the teachers is to handle a SPED class. Regular classes hold normal and within the average students. Contradictory to SPED classes, for one teacher to handle a SPED class is a serious decision to take. It takes passion, dedication and commitment. I am grateful for all those teachers like me who took a stand to pursue the calling.

What are the challenges that call for a SPED teacher? Obviously, he/she must possess two distinct characteristic: flexibility and patience. These two go hand in hand in understanding the student’s behavior. Flexibility requires a teacher’s positive response to the changing behavior such as: mood swings, tantrums and shift of character among his/ her students. So let us take a closer look why is it a real challenge. First, a teacher should undergo a special training like sign language, interpreting emotions, and understanding the student’s special character. As one student progresses from one level to another, the teacher will then decide if the child is a candidate for promotion in inclusion or mainstream. While the teacher is placing and recommending the child in mainstream, a follow-up and assessment should always be done to track down his improvement and progress.

Mainstreaming and Inclusion are part of the SPED classes served as recovery stage for the students who showed progressive record. On this stage the teacher hopes are high knowing that her students when reaching mainstreamed and inclusion they can join general classroom education program, both academically and socially. They are now part of their peers interaction where they could have collaboration on tasks and performance. Although they are not making any significant gains what important is they could be able to handle adjustments, create support groups, in addition to expectations and assessments that are tailored exclusively to their own development.

Patience is a virtue, this has been an over rated statement that majority of us does not possess. , the second character of a SPED teacher PATIENCE most of us does not like the idea of waiting, falling in line, and following the process and procedure that is required, just because these acts require patience. If you have two students, one is so hyper active and the other one is so timid, how will you handle both? Patience should be evident for a SPED teacher because proper approach and strategy is necessary to handle such special cases. The high demand for SPED teachers showed that they possess certain character that many people don’t have. In addition, being patient is necessary. Working with children with special needs requires enormous amounts of patience. Giving them activities and time to finish it, no matter how long it takes, is essential to his growth and development.

Special Education teacher is really challenging because for one to be a SPED teacher you must take the time to understand each student’s individual disabilities and special needs. With a goal of helping them see their worth and place under the sun.

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The author is Teacher II at San Fernando Elementary School