WHAT I WISH I KNEW MY FIRST YEAR OF TEACHING SPED

“It gets easier” the best thing I needed to hear

I don't care what the percentages are, or how small a percentage the actual reaching is, I am 54 and about to get my SpEd BA and then to go into a Masters program. As long as I am doing what is expected and putting in the effort, I am fine.

I went back to school a few years ago to follow my dream. Now at 44 years old, I am about to begin my first year as a special education teacher. Your videos are helping to reduce the intimidation factor of this new season in my life. Thank you.

An avalanche of paperwork everyday is a challange; but I like to think I am making a positive difference in my students' lives and in my school's community as a whole; so that motivates me.

I am SO HAPPY I found your channel! Next week I am starting my final year studying Special Education, and I am both so nervous and excited!

I was really nervous about changing my major to SPED but just hearing your last point about it getting easier, I actually feel a lot better. I always get nervous about not knowing what I’m doing even though I’ve only taken one class about teaching SPED. Thank you so much.

I like your videos, i'm a college student who is finishing soon, and going for my bachlors degree in special education. i'm a product of special education, I've lived through the difficulties as a student through my Jr. High school and high school years. when I graduated high school I didn't have a high school diploma, I had a IEP diploma, and nine years later I went back and accomplished my goal and got my high school diploma, and went on to college. I feel if we had more special education students who lived through special education, and knows what it takes, the special education percentage will go up. Teachers who give up teaching special education, just don't have patience.

This is an awesome video for up-and-coming special education teachers like myself. I feel like at first it is super overwhelming in regards to all of the paperwork and stuff but this video made me feel a lot better about it. Sharing this video with my professor!

Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing this. As someone who just changed careers and is new to SPED, your sharing was incredibly insightful

Love it! Everything you said is soooooooo true! Being more of an introvert , I had such a difficult time speaking up and asking questions . Also, standing up for what I KNEW was correct was hard. It was so intimidating working with teachers who have been teaching for 10+ years! I was always trying to be "flexible" with co-teachers for the sake of the partnership but it came across as me being too laid back. I am entering my 5th year now and FINALLY have my voice ! Thanks for the video!

This is my first year teaching SPED and this video helped out a lot! Thank You so much

You're amazing! Count me a fan. ❤ This video has such great information which is all new to me. Its hard to conceive that a mere 21% of your time is spent teaching.

I'm also so glad I found your channel. I'm going from a nursing major to special education because I hurt my back. I'm no longer physically capable of being on my feet 12h a day. I love that you go over the reality. I grew up in special education classes myself and that's what drives me to give back. I am my teachers success story and now I want to help challenged youth to realize they CAN become anything they put their minds too.

I have worked with special needs kids/teens for years, but I have just started as a sped teacher, and I'm so overwhelmed and questioning this career move. This helped me a bit more at ease, so I thank you!

Thankyou I have additional needs and I go to a special school , you guys have an amazing personality and we really do appreciate you even if sometimes we don’t do it

I love this video! Thank you! The only part I understand but disagree with is the mentoring and asking questions. My first job, I was told I ask too many questions. My mentor was not a sped mentor and could care less about what we go through! I had a weak foundation that I am still trying to recover from. It is imperative to speak up and request a sped mentor, someone like you, who understands what we face. I FINALLY got a sped mentor my 5th year this year and it has been phenomenal in just one week!!😃

Your video is amazing you really hit on many important points!

You have got a lot of great information here! After working as a Special Ed EA for 3 years, I decided last year to go back to school and get my Masters in Special Education. This was my first year as a Special Ed teacher and oh my goodness it was a doozy! I definitely know that there were some things I could have done better and I have some more ideas for next year. I will definitely be subscribing to your page in the hopes I am able to pickup some other tidbits of SPED wisdom!

As a first year teacher I can totally relate to this on all levels!

I'm in middle school and just found your videos. In my stem class we looked into career choices and I'm really enjoying looking into special ed, I know I have a very long time before I have to decide but this topic and job really interests me and I think I will actually consider this job. Even before we looked in to the topic it has always interested me I babysit constantly one of the kids I watch is mildly autistic and he is the sweetest kid ever. I love helping people and I would love to make a difference in peoples lives. I know I definitely want to do something in the human services/ teaching field.