Summary Report for:
25-2055.00 - Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
Teach academic, social, and life skills to kindergarten students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Sample of reported job titles: Emotional Disabilities Teacher, Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teacher (HI Itinerant Teacher), Learning Support Teacher, Resource Program Teacher, Special Education Inclusion Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, Special Education Teacher
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Detailed Work Activities | Credentials | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks
- Administer standardized ability and achievement tests to kindergarten students with special needs.
- Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to maintain or improve professional competence.
- Collaborate with other teachers or administrators to develop, evaluate, or revise kindergarten programs.
- Confer with other staff members to plan, schedule, or conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
- Control the inventory or distribution of classroom equipment, materials, or supplies.
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Instruct special needs students in academic subjects, using a variety of techniques, such as phonetics, multisensory learning, or repetition to reinforce learning and meet students' varying needs.
- Interpret or transcribe classroom materials into Braille or sign language.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
- 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.
- Modify the general kindergarten education curriculum for special-needs students.
- Monitor teachers or teacher assistants to ensure adherence to special education program requirements.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Organize and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their perceptual skills.
- Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, or social development.
- Perform administrative duties, such as assisting in school libraries, hall or cafeteria monitoring, or bus loading or unloading.
- Plan or supervise experiential learning activities, such as class projects, field trips, demonstrations, or visits by guest speakers.
- 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.
- Prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study following curriculum guidelines or school or state requirements.
- Prepare, administer, or grade assignments to evaluate students' progress.
- Present information in audio-visual or interactive formats, using computers, televisions, audio-visual aids, or other equipment, materials, or technologies.
- Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Visit schools to tutor students with sensory impairments or to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs.
Technology Skills
- Computer based training software — Children's educational software; Scientific Learning Fast ForWord
- Data base user interface and query software — American Sign Language Browser; Individualized Educational Program IEP software
- Device drivers or system software — Screen magnification software; Screen reader software; Synapse outSPOKEN; The vOICe Learning Edition
- Electronic mail software — Email software; Microsoft Outlook
- Graphics or photo imaging software — Drawing software
- Internet browser software — Web browser software
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Voice recognition software — goQ WordQ; Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking; Voice activated software
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
Tools Used
- Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged — Jellybean switches; Sound switches
- Assistive listening devices — FM amplification systems
- Balance or gross motor equipment — Play structures
- Binocular light compound microscopes — Optical compound microscopes
- Board games — Educational board games
- Braille devices for the physically challenged — Braille label makers; Braille note-taking systems; Braille rulers; Braille writers
- Building blocks — Toy block sets
- Canes or cane accessories — Laser canes
- Childrens science kits — Science activity kits
- Compact disk players or recorders — Compact disk CD players
- Compasses — Pencil compasses
- Computer mouse or trackballs — Eye controlled computer mouse equipment; Foot operated computer mouse equipment; Trackballs
- Desktop calculator — Large display calculators; Talking calculators
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras — Compact digital cameras
- Digital voice recorders — Digital audio recorders
- Document camera — Document cameras
- Emergency medical services first aid kits — Emergency first aid kits
- Enteral feeding administration sets — Enteral feeding equipment
- Game pads or joy sticks — Head operated joysticks; Mouth operated joysticks
- Handheld thermometer — Talking thermometers
- Handicraft tools or materials or equipment for the physically challenged — Adaptive paint brushes; Adaptive scissors
- Hearing aids for the physically challenged — Hearing aid devices
- Keyboards — Alternative computer keyboards
- Laminators — Laminating equipment
- Laser printers — Computer laser printers
- Letter or symbol boards for the physically challenged — Portable communication boards
- Medical suction cannulas or tubes or accessories — Oral suction tubes
- Notebook computers — Laptop computers
- Overhead projectors — Overhead data projectors
- Page turners for the physically challenged — Page turners
- Patient scooters — Motorized scooters
- Personal computers
- Photocopiers — Photocopying equipment
- Pointers — Optical pointing devices
- Puzzles — Educational puzzles
- Sand or water tables or activity centers — Sand tables; Water tables
- Scanners — Computer data input scanners; Computer voice input devices; Reading pens
- Standers or standing aids — Standing aids
- Telecommunication devices TDD or teletypewriters TTY for the physically challenged — Telecommunication devices TDD
- Therapeutic pegboards or activity boards — Pegboards
- Touch screen monitors — Interactive whiteboards; Wireless touch screen monitors
- Voice synthesizers for the physically challenged — Voice output devices
- Walkers or rollators — Walkers
- Wheelchairs — Powered wheelchairs
Detailed Work Activities
- Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
- Develop strategies or programs for students with special needs.
- Administer tests to assess educational needs or progress.
- Develop instructional materials.
- Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
- Evaluate student work.
- Modify teaching methods or materials to accommodate student needs.
- Monitor student performance.
- Assist students with special educational needs.
- Attend training sessions or professional meetings to develop or maintain professional knowledge.
- Create technology-based learning materials.
- Develop instructional objectives.
- Direct activities of subordinates.
- Discuss problems or issues with supervisors.
- Display student work.
- Distribute instructional or library materials.
- Establish rules or policies governing student behavior.
- Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
- Maintain student records.
- Monitor student behavior, social development, or health.
- Plan educational activities.
- Plan experiential learning activities.
- Prepare tests.
- Set up classroom materials or equipment.
- Supervise school or student activities.
- Teach life skills.
- Teach others to use technology or equipment.
- Tutor students who need extra assistance.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wage data for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School.
Employment data for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School.
Industry data for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School.
Median wages (2019) | $60,460 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2019) | 193,000 employees |
Projected growth (2019-2029) | ![]() |
Projected job openings (2019-2029) | 13,900 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2019) |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 wage data
and 2019-2029 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2019-2029). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.