(Part 2)
Special education teachers design and teach appropriate curricula, assign work geared toward each student's needs and abilities, and grade papers and homework assignments. They are involved in the student’s behavioral, social, and academic development, helping them develop emotionally and interact effectively in social situations. Preparing special education students for daily life after graduation also is an important aspect of the job. Teachers provide students with career counseling or help them learn life skills, such as balancing a checkbook.
As schools become more inclusive, special education teachers and general education teachers increasingly work together in general education classrooms. Special education teachers help general educators adapt curriculum materials and teaching techniques to meet the needs of students with disabilities. They coordinate the work of teachers, teacher assistants, and related personnel, such as therapists and social workers, to meet the individualized needs of the student within inclusive special education programs. A large part of a special education teacher's job involves communicating and coordinating with others involved in the child's well-being, including parents, social workers, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school administrators, and other teachers.
Special education teachers work in a variety of settings. Some have their own classrooms and teach only special education students; others work as special education resource teachers and offer individualized help to students in general education classrooms; still others teach together with general education teachers in classes including both general and special education students. Some teachers work with special education students for several hours a day in a resource room, separate from their general education classroom. Considerably fewer special education teachers work in residential facilities or tutor students in homebound or hospital environments.
Some special education teachers work with infants and toddlers in the child's home with his or her parents. Many of these infants have challenges that slow or preclude normal development. Special education teachers help parents learn techniques and activities designed to stimulate the infant and encourage the growth and development of the child's skills. Toddlers usually receive their services at a preschool where special education teachers help them develop social, self-help, motor, language, and cognitive skills, often through the use of play.
Technology is becoming increasingly important in special education. Teachers use specialized equipment such as computers with synthesized speech, interactive educational software programs, and audiotapes to assist children.
VOCABULARY:
· to design – разрабатывать, проектировать
· to assign – давать (задание, работу)
· geared – зд.: в соответствии
· to grade – ставить оценку
· to interact – взаимодействовать
· balancing a checkbook – ведение чековой книжки
· inclusive – инклюзивный
· increasingly – всё больше и больше
· general education – общее, обычное образование (в отличие от специального)
· to adapt – приспосабливать, адаптировать, упрощать
· related personnel – сопутствующий персонал
· occupational therapist – специалист по трудотерапии
· physical therapist – физиотерапевт
· setting – окружающая обстановка, окружение
· resource room – специальный кабинет
· considerably – значительно, гораздо
· residential facilities – учреждения для (постоянного) проживания
· to tutor – обучать, руководить
· homebound – тот, кто не может выходить из дома
· challenges – зд.: проблемы
· to preclude – мешать, препятствовать
· specialized equipment – специализированное оборудование
· software – программное обеспéчение
4. Find the English equivalents for these words and word combinations in the text:
В соответствии с нуждами и способностями студента; в общественных ситуациях; для повседневной жизни; в общеобразовательных классах; учебный план; новорожденный; ребенок, начинающий ходить; синтезированная речь, компьютерные программы; профессиональные терапевты; движение; познавательные навыки, социальные работники; посредством игры.
5. Complete the following sentences in a logical way:
a. Toddlers usually receive their services at ….
b. Preparing special education students for daily life ….
c. Special education teachers help parents ….
d. Special education teachers are involved in the student’s behavioral ….
e. Special education teachers help general educators adapt ….
6. Answer the questions about special education teachers:
1. In what settings do special education teachers work?
2. How is modern technology used in special education?
3. What role do special education teachers play at school?
4. How do toddlers receive their service from special education teachers?
5. Who helps special education teachers at school?