Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Strongly human-essential role
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Core Tasks
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).
- Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, or potential.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
- Monitor teachers or teacher assistants to ensure adherence to special education program requirements.
- Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.
- Meet with parents or guardians to discuss their children's progress, advise them on using community resources, or teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
- Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
- Establish and communicate clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects to students, parents, or guardians.
- Modify the general preschool curriculum for students with disabilities.
- Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, or social development.
- Prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to maintain or improve professional competence.
- Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
- Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
- Arrange indoor or outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, or safety.
- Organize and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their perceptual skills.
- Present information in audio-visual or interactive formats, using computers, television, audio-visual aids, or other equipment, materials, or technologies.
- Collaborate with other teachers or administrators to develop, evaluate, or revise preschool programs.
- Plan and supervise experiential learning activities, such as class projects, field trips, or demonstrations.
- Prepare assignments for teacher assistants or volunteers.
- Control the inventory or distribution of classroom equipment, materials, or supplies.
Supplemental Tasks (2)
- Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
- Serve meals or snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
Education & Training
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
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Where This Career Leads
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Teaching, Training, & Facilitation Education
Learner Support & Community Engagement Education
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