Special Education Teachers, Preschool

• Summary

• Details

Work Activities

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

Skills

• Active Listening
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
• Equipment Selection
  • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
• Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
• Programming
  • Writing computer programs.
• Equipment Maintenance
  • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
• Management of Financial Resources
  • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
• Negotiation
  • Bringing people together to solve differences.
• Service Orientation
  • Looking for ways to help people.
• Writing
  • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
• Time Management
  • Managing your time and the time of other people.
• Management of Personnel Resources
  • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
• Learning Strategies
  • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
• Reading Comprehension
  • Reading work-related information.
• Complex Problem Solving
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
• Monitoring
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
• Operations Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
• Troubleshooting
  • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
• Quality Control Analysis
  • Testing how well a product or service works.
• Systems Evaluation
  • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
• Management of Material Resources
  • Managing equipment and materials.
• Critical Thinking
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
• Instructing
  • Teaching people how to do something.
• Mathematics
  • Using math to solve problems.
• Persuasion
  • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
• Installation
  • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
• Science
  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
• Active Learning
  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
• Social Perceptiveness
  • Understanding people's reactions.
• Technology Design
  • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
• Operations Analysis
  • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
• Speaking
  • Talking to others.
• Coordination
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Systems Analysis
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
• Operation and Control
  • Using equipment or systems.
• Judgment and Decision Making
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.

Abilities

• Memorization
  • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
• Multilimb Coordination
  • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Selective Attention
  • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Finger Dexterity
  • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
• Glare Sensitivity
  • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
• Written Comprehension
  • Reading and understanding what is written.
• Gross Body Coordination
  • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
• Reaction Time
  • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
• Visualization
  • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
• Near Vision
  • Seeing details up close.
• Fluency of Ideas
  • Coming up with lots of ideas.
• Dynamic Strength
  • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
• Explosive Strength
  • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
• Trunk Strength
  • Using your lower back and stomach.
• Static Strength
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
• Dynamic Flexibility
  • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Visual Color Discrimination
  • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
• Sound Localization
  • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
• Information Ordering
  • Ordering or arranging things.
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Hearing Sensitivity
  • Telling the difference between sounds.
• Speech Recognition
  • Recognizing spoken words.
• Auditory Attention
  • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
• Inductive Reasoning
  • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
• Number Facility
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
• Flexibility of Closure
  • Seeing hidden patterns.
• Rate Control
  • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
• Spatial Orientation
  • Knowing where things are around you.
• Speed of Closure
  • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
• Control Precision
  • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
• Peripheral Vision
  • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
• Depth Perception
  • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
• Written Expression
  • Communicating by writing.
• Extent Flexibility
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Stamina
  • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Holding or moving items with your hands.
• Speed of Limb Movement
  • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
• Time Sharing
  • Doing two or more things at the same time.
• Response Orientation
  • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
• Night Vision
  • Seeing at night or under low light.
• Speech Clarity
  • Speaking clearly.
• Mathematical Reasoning
  • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
• Problem Sensitivity
  • Noticing when problems happen.
• Originality
  • Creating new and original ideas.
• Perceptual Speed
  • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
• Oral Expression
  • Communicating by speaking.
• Far Vision
  • Seeing details that are far away.
• Oral Comprehension
  • Listening and understanding what people say.
• Deductive Reasoning
  • Using rules to solve problems.
• Category Flexibility
  • Grouping things in different ways.

Knowledge

• Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Physics
  • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Geography
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Foreign Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
• Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Chemistry
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Administrative
  • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Philosophy and Theology
  • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Sociology and Anthropology
  • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
• Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Telecommunications
  • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education

Education

Bachelor's degree

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

No on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

×

Education and Training Opportunities

• Central Washington University
  400 East University Way, Ellensburg WA 98926
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 509-963-1111
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.cwu.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Post-master's certificate
  Save

  ---

• City University of Seattle
  521 Wall Street, Suite 100, Seattle WA 98121
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 888-422-4898
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.cityu.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Eastern Washington University
  526 5th Street, Cheney WA 99004-2496
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 509-359-6200
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.ewu.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Gonzaga University
  E 502 Boone Ave, Spokane WA 99258-0001
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 800-986-9585
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.gonzaga.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Heritage University
  3240 Fort Rd, Toppenish WA 98948
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  Under 1,000

  Financial Aid 888-272-6190
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.heritage.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Saint Martin's University
  5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey WA 98503-7500
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 360-491-4700
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.stmartin.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Postbaccalaureate certificate, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Seattle Pacific University
  3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle WA 98119-1997
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 206-281-2000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://spu.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Seattle University
  900 Broadway, Seattle WA 98122-4340
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 206-296-6000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.seattleu.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Post-master's certificate
  Save

  ---

• University of Washington-Seattle Campus
  1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle WA 98195-4550
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  20,000 and above

  Financial Aid 206-543-2100
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.washington.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
  Save

  ---

• Walla Walla University
  204 S College Ave, College Place WA 99324-1198
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-527-2615
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.wallawalla.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Washington State University
  French Administration Building, Pullman WA 99164-5910
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  20,000 and above

  Financial Aid 509-335-3564
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://wsu.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Postbaccalaureate certificate, Master's degree, Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
  Save
  Program Name
  Education/Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
  Length
  Less than one year
  Award Level
  Postbaccalaureate certificate
  Save

  ---

• Western Washington University
  516 High Street, Bellingham WA 98225-9008
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 360-650-3000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://wwu.edu/
  Program Name
  Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
  Save

  ---

• Whitworth University
  300 W Hawthorne Rd, Spokane WA 99251
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-777-1000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.whitworth.edu/
  Program Name
  Special Education and Teaching, General
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree
  Save

  ---

Close

Pay

Washington Annual Salary

80080/yr

Washington Employment Trends

Currently Employed

1,170

Yearly Projected Openings

110

Personality

Social: People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking. They do well at jobs that need:

• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Integrity
• Self Control
• Achievement/Effort
• Cooperation
• Dependability

Tools

• Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged
• Balance or gross motor equipment
• Board games
• Braille devices for the physically challenged
• Building blocks
• Canes
• Childrens science kits
• Computer mouse
• Cutlery or utensils for the physically challenged
• Desktop computers
• Digital video disk players or recorders
• Digital voice recorders
• Game pads or joy sticks
• Handicraft tools or materials or equipment for the physically challenged
• Headpointers or mouthsticks for the physically challenged
• Hearing aid
• Keyboards
• Laminators
• Laser printers
• Letter or symbol boards for the physically challenged
• Mobile medical services first aid kits
• Notebook computers
• Overhead projectors
• Page turners for the physically challenged
• Patient scooters
• Personal computers
• Photocopiers
• Positioning devices
• Puzzles
• Sand or water tables or activity centers
• Scanners
• Standers or standing cages or standing aids
• Therapeutic pegboards or activity boards
• Touch screen monitors
• Video cassette players or recorders
• Walkers or rollators
• Wheelchairs

Technology

• Computer based training software
• Data base user interface and query software
• Device drivers or system software
• Electronic mail software
• Graphics or photo imaging software
• Internet browser software
• Office suite software
• Presentation software
• Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software