Do you know what roles are played by special educators of CBSE schools?
Special educators play an essential role in supporting children with disabilities. Special educators in CBSE schools help in creating an inclusive learning environment through proper support and guidance to students.
Special educators work with children who have learning disabilities or common disabilities, which include sensory, locomotor, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, intellectual, language and behavioural challenges.
A special education teacher assists students with special needs in acquiring the same knowledge and abilities as other students in the school.
Even though the work can occasionally be difficult, it can also be rewarding to see kids thrive and realise their full potential. CBSE schools ensure that every student receives equal learning opportunities, enabling them to study without any barriers.
Special educators of CBSE schools help students with disabilities to assess their performance and provide them with intervention programs.
Table of Contents
- Who Is A Special Education Teacher?
- 10 Roles of Special Educator in CBSE School
- 1. Supporting Students
- 2. Co-Teaching
- 3. Implementation of IEP Programs
- 4. Assessment and Feedback
- 5. Curriculum and Adaptation
- 6. Collaborate with Teachers
- 7. Include Specialised Teaching Techniques
- 8. Evaluation of Students’ Performance
- 9. Promoting Social and Emotional Well-being
- 10. Advocacy and Awareness
- Qualifications of a Special Educator
- How CBSE focuses on Special Education
- Ending Note
Who Is A Special Education Teacher?
A special education teacher is a specific teacher who teaches, provides support and guidance as well as provides intervention programs to students with challenges.
Special education teachers are trained teachers who work with students of mild, moderate and severe disabilities. These teachers are also known for creating Individualised Education Programs (IEPs) in order to set goals and monitor each student’s progress.
In addition, special educators collaborate with counsellors and other educators to create reports and lesson plans. They regularly provide parents with progress reports about students’ performance and help them with early intervention support.
This also helps students with disabilities to enhance their confidence and boost their ability to improve their academic performance.
10 Roles of Special Educator in CBSE School
In CBSE schools, special educators play a variety of responsibilities including advocacy support, teamwork and adaptation. For students with special needs to receive a high-quality education and the chance to thrive both academically and socially, their efforts are crucial.
It ensures that students with special needs receive the support and resources they need to grow academically and personally. Here are the following roles played by special educators in CBSE schools.
1. Supporting Students
Special educators help students with disabilities overcome academic challenges by providing them with specialized and personalized learning opportunities.
They offer interventions that are especially created to promote inclusive learning and participation by assessing each student’s unique needs and strengths.
This includes proper support and providing one-on-one classes to students with challenges, which enhances their motivation and focus.
2. Co-Teaching
Special educators collaborate with general education teachers using the co-teaching model to deliver instruction to a diverse classroom. This collaboration helps in differentiating instruction and student assessment between the two teachers.
Co-teaching is beneficial for slow learners as it integrates the expertise of both teachers to accommodate various learning needs and styles of students.
3. Implementation of IEP Programs
Special educators help in implementing IEP programs. Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) are essential for students with special needs.
Special educators develop, implement and oversee these plans, which include tailored education, accommodations and learning objectives. They make sure that the IEP is followed in the classroom and adjust strategies as needed to support the student’s growth.
4. Assessment and Feedback
Special educators conduct tests and assessments to evaluate students’ academic performance, social emotional learning skills and emotional well-being.
They gather data using a range of assessment tools and sometimes formative assessment tools, which enables them to track student development and make well-informed decisions regarding instruction.
Giving parents and students constructive criticism is another essential part of this work, which encourages continuous improvement and an entrepreneurial mindset.
5. Curriculum and Adaptation
Special educators adapt the curriculum for students with disabilities to meet their diverse needs. This includes creating new assignments, modifying lesson plans or utilising assistive technology to encourage learning.
By ensuring accessibility, special educators help students succeed academically and engage in a positive manner with the curriculum. This allows students to indulge in lifelong learning and reduces their study stress.
6. Collaborate with Teachers
Special educators help in creating a collaborative learning environment with educators. Working together with general education teachers is crucial to establishing an inclusive learning environment.
Special educators work closely with their peers in order to share strategies, resources and information regarding the needs of their students.
These collaboration skills create a positive learning environment that makes all teachers more equipped to deal with the challenges faced by students with special needs.
7. Include Specialised Teaching Techniques
The teaching methods used by special educators are customised to meet the needs and learning preferences of every student with disabilities. These strategies could involve structured teaching methods, visual aids and multisensory instruction.
By employing these strategies, special educators improve student understanding and engagement, which improves their learning outcomes.
8. Evaluation of Students’ Performance
Special educators employ specialised teaching techniques to accommodate the needs and learning preferences of students with disabilities. These methods include structured teaching methods, multisensory instruction and visual aids.
Using these techniques, special educators can increase students’ knowledge retention and students engagement, which boosts learning efficiency among them.
9. Promoting Social and Emotional Well-being
One of the most important responsibilities of special educators is to support the social and emotional well-being of students with special needs.
The main aim of special educators is to make the environment safe, supportive and help students develop their social skills, self-esteem and emotional regulation. This could include social skills, training sessions, counselling, support and the application of conflict resolution techniques.
10. Advocacy and Awareness
Special educators defend students with disabilities rights and needs within the school community. Through raising awareness of the challenges, special educators help students to promote inclusive practices among parents, teachers and students.
In order to create an environment where all students can thrive, special educators work to foster an environment of understanding and tolerance.
Qualifications of a Special Educator
Many individuals want to become special educators, and this needs some essential qualifications. Qualifications for special educators are beyond the limits of formal education. Individuals also need to have a government-approved certification for special education.
To become a special education candidate, one has to complete their higher secondary in any stream and need to graduate with a B.Ed. in special education or certification in special education.
Along with that, they also required a special education certificate provided by the respective state governments. Here are the qualification levels of special educators for every stage of classes
Pre-School
To become a special educator for preschoolers a candidate needs to have a bachelor’s degree in any field or B.Ed in special education. Along with the graduation, candidates also have to pass the certification test for special educators.
The certification test varies from state to state and some may not be required. Gaining real-world experience through internships or student teaching in early childhood programs is also essential to understand the dynamics of working with young children who have special needs.
Elementary
For elementary education candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in special education or any other field. Candidates applying for the teaching profession must have a bachelor’s degree in B.Ed or a master’s degree in M.Ed.
Along with the graduation, individuals are also required to appear for a special education certification test, through which they will be given certificates or licences for special education teachers. However, the process of certification and licensing varies from state to state.
Secondary and Senior Secondary
Candidates applying for the secondary and senior secondary programs need to have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in special education or they have to complete B.Ed or M.Ed.
A state license for special education may also be required by the candidates to become eligible for the examination.
It is essential for individuals to have working experience through internships or full time as special education teachers or supporters. This experience helps in understanding students’ needs and style of learning.
How CBSE focuses on Special Education
CBSE focuses on special education through implementing various strategies and techniques that foster a positive learning environment. CBSE make sure that every child should receive quality and equal education without any social or economic challenges.
CBSE creates an equal learning environment where students with disabilities can thrive alongside their peers. These initiatives ultimately aim to advance a more inclusive society. Here are the points that CBSE focuses on in special education.
1. Provides Inclusive Education
CBSE promotes an inclusive education in India by encouraging schools to create a space where students with disabilities can learn with their classmates in regular education classes.
This approach encourages social integration and helps students with and without disabilities to study together and develops mutual respect towards each other.
CBSE provides resources and guidelines to assist schools in integrating students with a variety of needs and ensuring that they have equal access to educational opportunities.
2. Teacher Training and Awareness
CBSE is also responsible for teachers’ training and awareness programs. The knowledge and skills that educators need to assist students with disabilities are provided by the CBSE courses specially designed for special educators.
CBSE organises training sessions, seminars and workshops to raise public awareness of special education needs and inclusive teaching practices. The main aim of this program is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning through flexibility.
3. Creates Guidelines for Special Education
CBSE has developed comprehensive special education guidelines that outline the rights of students with disabilities and the responsibilities of schools. These guidelines provide a framework for recognising, assessing and supporting students with special needs.
They also emphasise on establishing Individualised Education Programs (IEPs), which are tailored to each student’s unique requirements.
4. Modifies and Implements the Curriculum
CBSE is also responsible for modifying and implementing curriculums according to the needs of students. The same curriculum will not work for every student, especially for children with disabilities.
This means that in order to make the curriculum more accessible, schools must change and adapt it. This could entail offering alternate assessments to make the material easier to understand or implementing assistive technology to enhance the knowledge retention of students.
Ending Note
By providing the necessary guidance and support, special educators play a vital role in CBSE schools in ensuring that students with disabilities receive an equal education alongside their peers.
Through individualised instruction, the implementation of specialised programs like IEPs and collaboration with general educators and special educators foster an inclusive learning environment that promotes social and academic development.
CBSE emphasis on inclusive practices, curriculum modifications, teacher training and comprehensive guidelines demonstrates its commitment to special education. When combined, these programs aim to enable students with disabilities to thrive and reach their greatest potential in a supportive and compassionate educational setting.