6 First Year Special Education Teacher Tips

It seems like a life-time ago and yet it feels like yesterday.

The first day as a new special education teacher.

After years of classes and student teaching, you've finally been offered a job as a first-year special education teacher. Congratulations. I'm sure you are feeling very excited, completely terrified, a little confused and a lot nervous. 

Just breathe...and know that all of those feelings are completely normal and valid.

As a veteran special educator of over 25 years, I can honestly say it's probably going to be a tough year. But you can get through it using my 6 tips for surviving the first year of teaching special education.

You are going to be a rock star! I just know it.

FIND A MENTOR

The first piece of advice I like to give new teachers is to ask for help. Even if the district assigns you to a mentor, it may not be the right fit for you. If your mentor isn't as helpful as you would like, find someone you feel comfortable with and ask them to help you. When you first go to those district meetings, try to make some connections with people, even if they are outside your building. Those of us who have been here a while truly don't mind helping out someone who is just starting out (and if they do mind you wouldn't want them as a mentor anyway.) It really takes a team to work with students with disabilities and special educators seem to understand that it takes a team to learn this job as well.

You are going to need help with the procedures of the school and district including (but definitely not limited to):

• The IEP web-based system
• Progress reporting
• Policies for taking grades
• Scheduling

Having a friend in your corner will be super helpful when it's time to ask questions.

REVIEW IEPS

For special education teachers, timelines and deadlines are critical. You will be responsible for holding annual Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings and three-year reevaluations within certain timelines. Missed deadlines can lead to IEPs that are out of compliance, which can mean potential citations from your state.

At the start of the year, go through each student's IEP file and mark your calendar with their due dates. Having this all on one calendar will be helpful to know ahead of time and plan for the months when you'll be busiest with meetings and paperwork.

When you are looking through the IEP, take notes. Write down days and minutes of services, any behavior concerns that stand out, medical needs including medication and approximate levels of performance.  Make sure you know what services each child receives such as inclusion or resource (pull-out), or if they are self-contained with you all day.  Also take note if they have any related services such as speech, OT or PT and what those minutes are.

You'll want to know who your bus 🚌 riders are and contact transportation to see when they will arrive and be picked up.

There is so much information packed into that document that it is easy to miss things. I would suggest completing an IEP Summary so that you don't forget any big items that you need to know right away.

MAKE CONTACT WITH PARENTS

As a first-year special education teacher, developing positive relationships with your students' parents will make your job easier.  You'll find that most parents with a child who has special needs often make a bond with the special education teacher.  You could be replacing someone they had a connection with, so start off on the right foot by introducing yourself through some type of email or newsletter. Include a picture of yourself and tell about yourself. Let them know the best way to contact you.

If you want to make it more personal, reach out with a phone call to each parent, asking to learn more about their child. Not only will this provide valuable information, but it also lets parents know you view them as partners, and will start your relationship out on a positive note.

Establishing positive rapport at the beginning of the school year is greatly appreciated, and it will make parents more receptive should you need to contact them about less positive news in the future.

GET ORGANIZED

There are many aspects to this tip, but just know that organization is extremely important in a special education classroom. Being organized will help your classroom run more smoothly and will help alleviate some stress.

Paperwork

After reviewing the IEPs, it's a good idea to clean up the files and organize them the way that makes sense to you. For each of my master files I use one of these poly expanding hanging file pocket. (affiliate link) Within each master file, I have the following folders:

• Current IEP 
• Previous IEPs
• Meeting Notices
• Placement Forms
• Staffing Reports
• Progress Reports and
• Miscellaneous

I try to keep everything color coordinated by student (Sami has everything red) but this isn't necessary.

Student Data

Keep all data in one easy to access place.  I use this sped teacher binder and I keep all important information in here including calendars, passwords, vision/hearing results, para information and student data.

After a new IEP is written, I print off the progress report and put it in the folder. Being able to quickly see what I need to be progress monitoring is important. I have seen other ways of keeping and organizing student data like this one from Stephanie DeLussey that I want to try out.

Student Work

My students also have individual work binders that are color coded to their assigned color to work through during times when I am working with a student one on one. Valuable instructional time can be lost in a disorganized classroom, and since there is a limited amount of time to work with students in a pull-out setting, organization is a crucial part of the successful special education classroom.

But, organizational systems have to be your own.  It will look different for each person and their individual classrooms and program. Implement systems that will keep your sanity in check. 

BE FLEXIBLE

Just when you think you have everything figured out and things are working smoothly, something will change. It might be a new student added to your caseload, new behavioral problems with an existing student, a sudden reduction in staff or a variety of other challenges. While it can be frustrating to continually face change, it ensures that this job never gets boring 😉

As a special educator, it is an ABSOLUTE MUST that you remain flexible. Roll with the punches. Adjust and modify. Don't get yourself worked up that the schedule changed again...just deal with it because things will never be a constant.

DON'T LIVE AT THE SCHOOL

As a first year teacher you are going to feel that you NEED to be at the school getting things organized, prepped, planned and scheduled. While I know those things are necessary, you HAVE to have a good work/home balance or you will get burned out quickly. 

Set a Schedule

If you are wanting to work at the school in the summer before school starts, set a schedule for yourself of when you will make this happen. I would choose times that you are most productive. Make yourself a to-do list for the day and only work on those most important tasks. Turn off your social media, hide your phone and get to work on that list. The quicker you get your list done, the quicker you can spend time on yourself. (Listen to this podcast about showing yourself a little self love.)

When school is in session, don't stay late and work every day. Choose a day or 2 a week and give yourself a time limit. I like to stay Tuesdays and Thursdays until 5:00. This gives me a good hour and a half to get paperwork done, make my to-do list for the next day and still get home in time to make dinner (or order take-out 😉).

Don't be a 'Yes' man

This is an important lesson for everyone, but it is especially important for first year teachers. Don't feel like you have to say yes to everything. I would recommend not being on any committees, volunteering for the after school program or serving on any teams within your school during your first year.

Granted, there are some of those Type A personalities who can handle it, but for the most part you will be setting yourself up for exhaustion.

If asked, just tell them your plate is really full right now as a new teacher and that you will consider it for next year. And then don't feel bad. Often, teachers are reluctant to say no, but it is absolutely essential if we want to keep from burning out.

Don't Forget your Friends

Because teachers spend so much time with one another, they often socialize together, too—and that can be an important stress reliever. But don't forget your non-teacher friends. They need you too. Schedule outings and dinner dates with people outside of the education field. Try to get out of the "sped" world and all it's stress and spend time with those you love the most.

Bottomline is...Yes it will be a tough year, but it will be one you will always remember. By implementing the 6 tips above you will be able to think back on your first year as a special educator with good memories instead of bad ones.

Do you have any other new special education teacher tips? Share them in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please share it on your favorite social media platform.

P.S.  Need help learning how to build a relationship with your paraprofessionals? Get the free 10 Steps to Building a Cohesive Special Education Department

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