Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
SOC code 25-2055 · O*NET-SOC 25-2055.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Education and library
What do special education teachers, kindergarten do?
Teach academic, social, and life skills to kindergarten 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Instruct students with disabilities in academic subjects, using a variety of techniques, such as phonetics, multisensory learning, or repetition to reinforce learning and meet students' varying needs.
- Prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or school or state requirements.
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, or social development.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
Can you become a special education teachers, kindergarten without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Learning Strategies3.9/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Active Learning3.6/5
- Monitoring3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.7/5
- Education and Training4.2/5
- Psychology4.0/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Administrative3.3/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.9/5
- Computers and Electronics2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Instructing, Social Perceptiveness.