Special Education Teachers, Middle School: Career & Application Guide

What do special education teachers, middle school do?

Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school 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.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

ED SPED Teacher (Emotional Disabilities Special Education Teacher)
Interrelated SPED Teacher (Interrelated Special Education Teacher)
Learning Disabilities Teacher (LD Teacher)
Learning Support Teacher
Middle School Resource Teacher
MS SPED Teacher (Middle School Special Education Teacher)
Self-Contained SPED Teacher (Self-Contained Special Education Teacher)
SLD Teacher (Specific Learning Disability Teacher)

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.
Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.

Prepare an application for this occupation

Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

Ready to plan your search?

Start with special education teachers, middle school as your target. You can change your role in the quiz and tell us your location and work preferences.

Start my job-search quiz