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Elementary special education teacher skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Peg Hughes Ph.D.,
Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical elementary special education teacher skills. We ranked the top skills for elementary special education teachers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.4% of elementary special education teacher resumes contained autism as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an elementary special education teacher needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 elementary special education teacher skills for your resume and career

1. Autism

Here's how elementary special education teachers use autism:
  • Create and develop student specific lesson plans through Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia for children with Autism and other special needs.
  • Case Manager to multiple Developmental Cognitive Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Health Disabilities students grades K-5.

2. Classroom Environment

Here's how elementary special education teachers use classroom environment:
  • Organized and managed a classroom environment that include developmentally appropriate practices.
  • Design and facilitate a classroom environment that incorporates positive expectations, diversity and high standards to support students academically and developmentally.

3. Instructional Materials

Here's how elementary special education teachers use instructional materials:
  • Identify needs and make recommendations for appropriate instructional materials and assessments.
  • Developed and implemented lesson plans and instructional materials.

4. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how elementary special education teachers use professional development:
  • Attended professional developments to stay abreast of accountability and student performance.
  • Participated in ongoing staff training and professional development sessions.

5. Math

Here's how elementary special education teachers use math:
  • Spearheaded the district-wide technology-based supplemental math program.
  • Worked with students who met the criteria for learning disabled in math, reading, and written expression.

6. IEPs

Here's how elementary special education teachers use ieps:
  • Supervised the provision of special education academic services and ensure that Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) were successfully delivered.
  • Developed and implemented IEPs and behavior intervention plans.

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7. Student Learning

Here's how elementary special education teachers use student learning:
  • Organized parent/guardian-teacher conferences to maximize student learning opportunities.
  • Instructed eight autistic and MMI students with standards-based lesson plans Collaborated with teachers to adjust lesson plans and improve student learning

8. Instructional Techniques

Here's how elementary special education teachers use instructional techniques:
  • Differentiate the general education lessons/curriculum for special-needs students based upon a variety of instructional techniques and students' ability levels.
  • Collaborated with general education teachers to create curriculum based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.

9. Adaptive

Here's how elementary special education teachers use adaptive:
  • Utilize adaptive technology and a variety of movement equipment needed for the physical well being of students.
  • Consulted with Special Education Counselor, Speech Pathologist, Adaptive Physical Education Teacher, and Occupational Therapist.

10. Education Programs

Education program refers to a program written by the institution or ministry of education meant to determine each subject's learning progress in formal education stages.

Here's how elementary special education teachers use education programs:
  • Developed Individualized Education Programs for each student.
  • Instructed elementary students in the cyber school program Implemented individualized education programs Provided 1-on-1 resource services to cyber school special education students

11. Classroom Management

Here's how elementary special education teachers use classroom management:
  • Maintained classroom management; ensured a positive, nurturing learning environment.
  • Administered classroom management and behavior management for students with behavior problems.

12. Student Achievement

Here's how elementary special education teachers use student achievement:
  • Facilitated team meetings for continued student achievement.
  • Assisted in school effort in implementing effective teaching, powerful learning, and improving student achievement.

13. Public Schools

Public schools are available for everyone. They are funded and controlled by the government. With state guidance, each school board determines the curricula, finances, and jobs for schools within its borders. The government also decides on academic standards and standardised tests.

Here's how elementary special education teachers use public schools:
  • Promoted/transferred to neighboring school district based on exemplary performance for Clayton County Public Schools.
  • Participated in a two-year alternative certification route in Baltimore City Public Schools.

14. Kindergarten

Kindergarten is an early form of education that begins when a child is about five years old. During kindergarten, children learn the basic elements of reading, writing, and mathematics in addition to colors, telling time, sharing, and similar principles. Kindergarten classes are typically overseen by a single teacher who lectures on all of the subjects listed.

Here's how elementary special education teachers use kindergarten:
  • Provided individualized instruction to students in grades Kindergarten through grade five.
  • Helped coordinate screening students for Kindergarten readiness.

15. K-12

K12 is a term that incldues all 12 years of education in the US education system. It includes the education offered at the primary stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. It includes children of ages as young as 5 to 18 years. The grades included in K12 are Kindergarten, the initial 5 stages, grades 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. This system is followed specifically followed in the US and may vary in other countries.

Here's how elementary special education teachers use k-12:
  • Battle Ground, WA 1989-2007 District providing advanced placements, career training, special education and ELL programs in K-12 classes.
  • Experienced at both regular education and alternative education K-12 planning and organizing instructional methods for youth with intellectual and behavioral challenges.
top-skills

What skills help Elementary Special Education Teachers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on elementary special education teacher resumes?

Dr. Peg Hughes Ph.D.Dr. Peg Hughes Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Special Education. Coordinator of ECSE Programs, San Jose State University

-Transformative educators who are skilled in addressing racial and social inequities in their programs
-Educators who are fullly qualified and trained to work with students with disabilities who are also English-language learners
-Educators who are trained to work collaboratively with general educators on planning, teaching, and assessing those students with disabilities in gen-ed classrooms, i.e., co-teaching in inclusive settings
-Fluent in other languages besides English due to the diverse language backgrounds of students and families (at least in California)
-Any evidence of leadership work on the job, e.g., trainings for general educators on inclusion, diversity, families, and more
-Strong technology skills for communication with all stakeholders and for teaching students virtually
-Trained to teach using UDL approaches to address diversity of student learning styles

What soft skills should all elementary special education teachers possess?

Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian

Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, Ashland University

Communication skills are the key soft skills for educators. The ability to communicate ensures that ideas and information are effectively presented during instruction. It also helps regulate the social tone of the learning environment and resolve classroom management issues. Of increasing importance is the ability of educators to effectively engage with their students' families. They need to demonstrate that they are ready and able to initiate contact, establish good relationships, and build trust.

What hard/technical skills are most important for elementary special education teachers?

Melissa Kamyab

Assistant Professor, Director of Graduate Program, Cedar Crest College

Educators need to have a deep understanding of three elements of teaching and learning: how students learn, how to build a community of learners and content pedagogy. Skillsets which support this, such as proficiency in technology, planning, and organization, are important to convey to future employers, but the effective educator knows that these skills are the means to the end---designing instructional opportunities which support student understanding and academic growth.

What elementary special education teacher skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Suzanne TiemannSuzanne Tiemann LinkedIn profile

Professor, Park University

I think that learning is on a continuum. By advancing their degrees and graduate credit, teachers can move up the district’s salary schedule while continuing to perfect their craft.

What type of skills will young elementary special education teachers need?

Michelle Sobolak Ph.D.Michelle Sobolak Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director of Teacher and Professional Education, University of Pittsburgh

All teachers need a myriad of skills to be effective educators. In addition to the traditional skills required of teachers, new graduates also need an understanding of anti-racist and culturally relevant and sustaining educational practices to improve schooling for all students, a deep understanding of child and adolescent development to guide instruction and engagement, the ability to connect with students and build strong relationships with both students and families, the ability to manage their own online presence and time online, and strong technological skills. Not only do new graduates need these skills, but current teachers also need to develop or strengthen their skill set in these areas to best support all learners and improve our school systems.

What technical skills for an elementary special education teacher stand out to employers?

Linda DauksasLinda Dauksas LinkedIn profile

Director of Early Childhood and Special Education, Professor, Elmhurst University

School districts are seeking resilient teachers. These teachers can teach using a variety of different instructional delivery systems (traditional face to face, remote or hybrid instruction). ALL of these formats will be desired after the health pandemic. Districts will continue to use a variety of instructional formats for a variety of reasons (e.g. health-related needs, weather related, natural disasters).
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about elementary special education teacher

List of elementary special education teacher skills to add to your resume

Elementary special education teacher skills

The most important skills for an elementary special education teacher resume and required skills for an elementary special education teacher to have include:

  • Autism
  • Classroom Environment
  • Instructional Materials
  • Professional Development
  • Math
  • IEPs
  • Student Learning
  • Instructional Techniques
  • Adaptive
  • Education Programs
  • Classroom Management
  • Student Achievement
  • Public Schools
  • Kindergarten
  • K-12
  • Learning Styles
  • Elementary Education
  • Data Collection
  • Instructional Strategies
  • Progress Monitoring
  • Social Development
  • Mathematics
  • Student Performance
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Behavior Management
  • Kids
  • English Language
  • General Education Curriculum
  • ELA
  • Social Studies
  • Mastery
  • K-5
  • Learning Disabilities
  • ASD
  • Language Arts
  • K-6
  • Academic Subjects
  • RTI
  • Assessment Tools
  • PBIS
  • K-4
  • Team Planning
  • Education Classes
  • Co-Taught
  • Team Teaching
  • K-2
  • FBA
  • Guided Reading

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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