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What does your role involve and how does
being a Special Education teacher differ from
mainstream teaching?
I assist students with a range of different disabilities and
impairments to be able to access the learning curriculum.
The main difference between my classroom and a
mainstream classroom is the scope of the curriculum
that’s covered. For example, we typically teach quite a
narrow and deep curriculum, so we cover three units for
the whole term, whereas a mainstream curriculum will
cover several units each term. The class size and structure
is also very different; we have an average class size of
5–6 students with one full-time teacher and at least one
(often up to three) full-time teacher aides each day.
What has been the most rewarding thing about
working in Special Education?
I take a lot of pride in watching the students’ progress
throughout the year, but it’s also been really special to
watch their parents’ reactions to their development.
I had a mum cry one day when I showed her footage
of her son reading in class. She’d never seen him read
before and actually said she was speechless at how well
he was progressing. That was a really rewarding moment!
What are some of the most common assumptions
people make about Special Education teaching?
I think people have quite a stereotypical idea of what
disability looks like, so I’ve had a lot of people assume
that all my students have physical impairments and are
confined to a wheelchair. None of them are! There’s
actually really complex intellectual and behavioural
impairments in the classroom as well. A lot of people
also assume that we just play all day, that we don’t
actually teach a curriculum or have lesson plans, which
is definitely not the case!
What’s the most challenging thing about working
in Special Education?
Meeting so many varied learning needs in the one
classroom is something I find challenging at times. Each
student is so different and there are so many things that
can influence their ability to access the curriculum, so
adapting to that can be difficult.
What can current Special Education students do to
prepare themselves for a career in the industry?
Volunteering is really invaluable and it’s something I regret
not doing during my studies. You get an insight into the
industry during your prac placements, but the classes
you work with during your prac may be completely
different to the classes you end up teaching, so ask lots
of questions of your prac teachers and volunteer as much
as you can to get a range of experience. You will have
challenging students, but remember that the perfect class
does not exist in mainstream learning or special education.
Not every day will be a great day and that’s ok.
Do you think having a teaching specialisation has
given you more opportunities in your career?
In my experience, yes, it has. There are a lot of challenges
that are unique to special education versus mainstream
teaching and I think that’s why a lot of graduates don’t
want to enter this field, and why there can be a higher
turnover of teachers in this industry. But I think that’s
what presents such great opportunities for students who
are passionate about this field of teaching. It’s a more
highly sought after specialisation and there’s great career
potential in that.
Find more
information about
USQ Education
(Special Education)