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I am a brooklyn kollel guy considering getting a masters in special ed.
can any one advise me if this would be a good field to enter.
I ma not interested in teaching a classroom , but would be great in a one to one setteing
thanks
In order to work one one one, you only need an undergrad certificate to be an aide. It does not make so much money. By the time you get a masters degree, you are expected to be in a program to develop the leadership skills to teach a class. I also have to add that there are different categories of disabilities, learning disabilities, this is dyslexic or dyscalculia or others, they typically need one on one attention in a resource room. Special needs, like down syndrome, if they are in a mainstream class, they need an aide. And behavior disabilities, social skill deficit/ high functioning autism. They may be less likely to need one on one instruction depending on what is needed but are often found in social skill groups with a social worker.
if you are not interested in going into a classroom – then probably not. There is a big demand for male special ed teachers in the jewish world but one on one can be a female too. There are less options
Do you want to be a special education teacher? If so, the answer is “yes” (but be a bit wary of a masters that doesn’t get you certifified by the government as a teacher – it might not be worth the time and money involved). Frum schools generally don’t care “bubkes” about certification, but many special education programs are structured such that you can have a publicly funded program for frum kids using (and requiring) state certified teachers. But then again, do you want to specializing in dealing with kids with serious mental and physical problems?
Being a Special Ed teacher means more than just thinking about wanting to be one. it is demanding, takes a lot of work, and you will not simply be place one on one just like that. You need to be licensed with a Masters degree in Special Education, which means taking REAL classes and working really hard. IF you are up for those requirements, you will still not m ake a whole lot of money, EVEN when you are on top step, which takes MANY years to reach. I know because my husband was a Special Ed teacher for the Board of Ed for over 40 years, and it was a demanding program when eh first started, and even more so now. You need to really WANT this for yourself, because only someone truly idealistic, will find satisfaction in this extremely demanding career.
If you are sincere, you would be an asset to the Chassidish community. Unfortunately, getting a degree is made very simple by one certain program that so many young men with the degree had alot of help from their wives in doing such as termpapers because of their minimal English.
While doing so called Sp Ed in yeshiva setting, some yungeleit are doing very well in area of having breakfast with the melamdim,talking on their cell phones and leaving their students alone while running off to Mincha!!!…..and the kid(s) children run around, without structure and are doing nothing.
Many yeshivos only want men therapists in the yeshiva,true.Too many children previously being serviced by patient women are not reaching their goals.
Yes, have been in the field for many years and do so per diem currently.
So, if your middle name is EMES, go for it. Yes, you will have to work hard, be patient and be prepared with new activities and realize that each child is an individual and you can’t come in with one plan that will be good for all. Hatzlocha Rabba!!! You will have to work many hours to take home a decent pay to support your family. Good Luck!
Whoa! so many typos in my post, so little time…
If your goal is to support your family, nice….but you also have to enjoy what you are doing! You could learn what children are about,how they think, how they “work”,who they really are, how to help them understand, how to be patient,how to enjoy reading books which help in comprehension important especially for Torah learning. Yes, alot of the material you will be taught, you may already know and feel that it is a waste of time but inorder to get that piece of paper most of us doing Sp Ed legally, went through this system. Two programs whose goal is to teach(not only get the piece of paper) and help you through in a shorter time are Touro mentor program on 53rd St in Boro Park, across from Shomer Shabbos. The head of dept is Shoshanna Gruen and will help you to the best of her ability. The second is Sara Schneirer on 47th St in Machzikei Building, with the dept head Batsheva Shanek. However, am not sure if they have a men’s division. Remember not everything that has rite in it’s name is RIGHT! So if you go for it do it right!!! On the BA level you can get financial aid and probably pick up Yeshiva and life experience credits. Hatzlocha!
In NYC, you could do one-on-one as a P-3 provider for $42 per hour. You’re considered self-employed, so you have to pay self-employment tax. You get no benefits. You may not be able to get a full caseload, and you don’t get paid for prep time. So although $42 may sound like a lot (especially to a kollel guy), it’s really not.
It’s hard work, and if you mess up, the consequences are dire.
If you care and want you can work for the BOE which has some BYWI programs which is services for frum children in Public School Setting and you get very good benefits.You can check their website in regard to salaries. SEIT pays about $65 per hour and some agencies will give you a salary with health insurance if you commit to the amount of hours they request of you. In general, it is very individual. PTACH pays very well if you are good and inovative. In regard to P3, there is a need for good providers, unfortunatel many P3 providers are such that wanted to do SEIT or EI and feedback on them was not good so being out of work they get hold of parents who are just happy to have someone work with their child even if it ends up being someone to take their children to the park or for pizza. Yes, unfortunately many children are not being service, the time slot is just being filled. There are yeshivos such as Rabbi Bender’s in Far Rockaway that can use and hire Sp Ed fulltime teachers. To my knowledge, the job is good, pays well and has consistency, meaning you don’t have to worry about caseloads. Hatzlocha!
Frum special ed programs like Ptach pay quite a bit less than public schools. That’s even taking into account that they’re generally part-time. There’s no shortage of special ed teachers these days, so it’s hard to get a decent job.
In the old days, NYS Special Education certification was for all grades. These days, it’s called Students with Disabilities, and you get certification in any of four age ranges. That limits the ages you can work with. So what Ms. Critique said about many P-3 providers being failed EI and SEIT providers wouldn’t hold true for teachers who are only certified in the older groups (EI is birth to three, SEIT is 3-5).
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