What does a kindergarten special education teacher do?
Kindergarten special education teacher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real kindergarten special education teacher resumes:
- Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
- Prepare and carry out specially design instruction for students with specific learning needs in the areas of literacy and mathematics.
- Differentiate lessons and learning centers to address the needs of students with emotional disabilities, speech/language impairments, and autism.
- Produce practice style reinforcement worksheets to enhance student mastery regarding phonics, vocabulary, phonological awareness, and comprehension.
- Lead the data team with interpreting results, including NWEA and other benchmark assessments.
Kindergarten special education teacher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 26% of Kindergarten Special Education Teachers are proficient in Classroom Management, IEP, and Mathematics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Communication skills, and Patience.
We break down the percentage of Kindergarten Special Education Teachers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Classroom Management, 26%
Provided clear and effective classroom management techniques.
- IEP, 17%
Attended individual IEP meetings to assess student goals and progress (as regular education teacher).
- Mathematics, 9%
Introduced mathematics concepts using manipulative materials.
- Math, 9%
Provided remedial literacy and math instruction during Saturday School Program.
- Autism, 7%
Provide one-to-one instruction for a student with Autism for the second half of the day.
- Language Arts, 5%
Provide math and language arts education to students with mild to moderate disabilities, maintain educational and behavioral records
Common skills that a kindergarten special education teacher uses to do their job include "classroom management," "iep," and "mathematics." You can find details on the most important kindergarten special education teacher responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a kindergarten special education teacher to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "special education teachers work regularly with a team of educators and the student’s parents to develop ieps." Kindergarten special education teachers often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "instructed small learning groups and facilitated in the development of: phonemic awareness, fine motor skills, and interpersonal communication. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling kindergarten special education teacher duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "special education teachers need to explain concepts in terms that students with learning disabilities can understand." According to a kindergarten special education teacher resume, here's how kindergarten special education teachers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "tutored students and taught small group lessons in math and communication arts. "
Patience. This is an important skill for kindergarten special education teachers to perform their duties. For an example of how kindergarten special education teacher responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "special education teachers must be able to stay calm instructing students with disabilities, who may lack basic skills, present behavioral or other challenges, or require repeated efforts to understand material." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a kindergarten special education teacher: "assisted the primary instructor in an early learning environment by demonstrating skills in communication, instruction, patience, and creativity. ".
Resourcefulness. For certain kindergarten special education teacher responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "resourcefulness." The day-to-day duties of a kindergarten special education teacher rely on this skill, as "special education teachers must develop different ways to present information that meet their students’ needs." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what kindergarten special education teachers do: "showed resourcefulness and teaching effectiveness in meeting the needs of students with limited english language proficiency as well as learning disabilities. "
The three companies that hire the most kindergarten special education teachers are:
- Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES2 kindergarten special education teachers jobs
- East Side Union High School District1 kindergarten special education teachers jobs
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Compare different kindergarten special education teachers
Kindergarten special education teacher vs. Teacher
Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between kindergarten special education teachers and teacher. For instance, kindergarten special education teacher responsibilities require skills such as "autism," "creative curriculum," "teacher assistants," and "group lessons." Whereas a teacher is skilled in "esl," "handle scheduling," "kids," and "cpr." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Teachers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $49,700. Comparatively, kindergarten special education teachers tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $50,195.The education levels that teachers earn slightly differ from kindergarten special education teachers. In particular, teachers are 24.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a kindergarten special education teacher. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Kindergarten special education teacher vs. Head teacher
A headteacher is responsible for monitoring the students' overall learning process, managing and evaluating the performance of school staff, implementing effective learning strategies for the students, encouraging them to reach their maximum potential, and gain self-confidence. Headteachers often lead meetings, especially discussing school activities and the child's performance to their parents, implementing safety policies, and enforcing disciplinary actions for policy violations. A headteacher must have excellent leadership and communication skills to handle the students' needs and support their high-quality performance.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that kindergarten special education teacher responsibilities requires skills like "math," "autism," "group lessons," and "instructional strategies." But a head teacher might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "child care," "toddler," "cpr," and "child development."
On average, head teachers earn a higher salary than kindergarten special education teachers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, head teachers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $52,971. Whereas kindergarten special education teachers have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $50,195.In general, head teachers achieve lower levels of education than kindergarten special education teachers. They're 25.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for kindergarten special education teachers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Kindergarten special education teacher vs. 5th grade teacher
A 5th Grade Teacher is responsible for educating children and teaching them subjects like math, English, science, or art. They work in a public or private school at the elementary level.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from kindergarten special education teacher resumes include skills like "mathematics," "autism," "creative curriculum," and "classroom environment," whereas a 5th grade teacher is more likely to list skills in "student learning," "instructional materials," "student achievement," and "state standards. "
5th grade teachers earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $48,617. Kindergarten special education teachers earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $50,195.5th grade teachers typically earn lower educational levels compared to kindergarten special education teachers. Specifically, they're 16.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Kindergarten special education teacher vs. 4th grade teacher
A 4th Grade Teacher educates 4th grade children and creates an environment with high standards in education and personal growth. They teach children various subjects such as reading, vocabulary, math, science, and art.
Types of kindergarten special education teacher
Updated January 8, 2025
