Special Education Teachers, Preschool Career

Job Description: 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.


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Special Education Teachers, Preschool Career

What Special Education Teachers, Preschools do:

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

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Holland Code Chart for a Special Education Teachers, Preschool