Special Education Inspiration

Recently, the #compelledtribe published a collaborative post about building relationships with students. It was a neat experience to be part of a writing team that combined ideas from so many authors. It got me thinking about the power of collecting thoughts and inspiration from everywhere including those we work directly with every day!

With that in mind, I posted an open blog post to the Google Classroom I keep for our Special Education Department. I invited anyone who was interested to add to the post. I asked them to think about our work and why we do it.

“What motivates you to continue to be an incredible special education teacher/provider? How do you find the inspiration to continue to support and advocate for some of our most neediest students?”

Here’s what some of the amazing people I have the opportunity to work with every day wrote:

1. Our similarities to our students and their families are far more powerful than our differences. My motivation comes from the challenge and reward of finding common ground on which to recognize their goals and validate their concerns & struggles. Once you have established common ground, you can progress and accomplish.

2. There is so much need for our services and the hope we can offer to students and their families by helping them to make progress. I can help by being part of the change I want to see for all of our kids. It is amazingly rewarding to see a student make progress, so we celebrate any small step they take! Those celebrations and accomplishments make me want to see more and motivate me to work harder. The awesome people I work with and learn from every day also make me want to do better.

3. I see how much the students need us, whether it is for academic assistance, emotional support, a listening ear, or a kind word. They truly appreciate knowing someone cares about them.

4. Every student deserves a fair shot at a quality education. Uncontrollable forces should not deter them from receiving one.  

5. I find inspiration in celebrating even the small milestones.  Seeing my students’ faces light up when they are recognized for their accomplishments makes every hardship that we encounter together worth it.

6. That secret smile we share when they are recognized for doing something we have been working hard on is what motivates me.

7.  For much of my childhood, there was darkness in so many facets of my life.  Everyday was a struggle for one reason or another.  Then, a second grade teacher took me under her wing.  I will never forget how she gave me a glimpse of light and hope that things could and would be different.  I want to be the hand that reaches out to my students and give them some hope.  

8. I teach special ed to give a voice and face to incredible kids with incredible stories. I advocate for students with special needs because it’s still so very much needed. We all have gifts and contributions to make, kids included.

9.  Every year we have the opportunity to be one of the reasons that a child smiles that day.  Children with special needs have to work harder to do most things, whether it is due to physical challenges in the gross or fine motor domain, or because it takes longer for them to process the educational world around them.  When I can reach out to a child that I work with, and help them to feel successful, it allows us both to smile.  

10.  I think we need to be mindful that everyone has a story; students, teachers, parents, your neighbor, the cashier at the store. Most likely, the story is unknown to others. We need to always remember that, and not be reactive to others, but be the kindest person you can be.

11. The resilience of our students, that is what motivates me. Very often a student's story makes me think, would I  come to school and try if that were my story? Sometimes, I am not sure if I would.  Despite some pretty significant obstacles, many of out students still come to school. They are here, doing their best. Some days their best is not great, some days just being here is all they can do, all they have to give. But if they are here, then I will be too.

12. I stay motivated by reminding myself that everyone, kids and adults alike, need to feel valued, understood, and appreciated. As a special educator, I can help contribute to a child’s character by being a “beacon” for them in the school setting. When a student grins from ear to ear at their own hard work and successes, and wants to share that with me, it definitely keeps

my head in the game.

13. Every day I feel energized to greet my students and give them everything I got.  My positivity and fun loving spirit is a contagious energy in my classroom.  I believe that every day has the potential to be amazing.  When adults put out those vibes the kids can feel it.  That is why I teach.  I love to get back what I give.  Kids want to be part of my daytime family because it’s filled with laughter, love and trust.  I think that’s a pretty cool

14. My most favorite moment as a special education teacher happened in Rite Aid.  A student in my co-teach social studies class pointed me out to his mother in Rite Aid saying, “Hey look, there is my favorite social studies teacher!”.  Not his favorite special education teacher, just teacher.  This gave me motivation to be the best teacher I could be to ALL students!

15. I stay motivated by the amazing people I work with.  I get excited when teachers implement strategies I have suggested to in the classroom and they help the student become more independent/successful. It makes my day, sometimes even my week when someone stops me in the hallway to say “thank you your idea worked”. The excitement on my students’ faces when they say “look what I can do now” makes me feel proud of their hard work and what we have accomplished together.  

16. I am motivated by my love of working with kids.  They make me smile on a daily basis.  What a wonderful way to make a living!

17. I stay motivated by the little accomplishments everyday.  The moments when my students show their  growth and independence always remind me why I love my job!

18. I get inspiration and support from the amazing team of people who work with my students.  I am so lucky to work with a team of people to help find the lighter moments in a difficult day or to brainstorm when I am faced with a problem.  

19. I strive to be the teacher that never gives up and teaches students to see their true potential.  Every child deserves to have a champion; therefore, I find at least one success each day that motivates me to keep going.  Perspective makes the difference!

20. I have been working in this field for enough years to see children I worked with as preschoolers now as high schoolers and adults.  It is rewarding to see how they have grown and become who they now are. I like to think my time in their life made a difference. I love seeing small accomplishments and big breakthroughs. I smile every day because of the children.  

21. I am driven by the opportunity to find the survivor in the challenging student - the opportunity to temporarily remove him/ her from the group, the “social arena” and replace it with the tranquility of a quiet room; where the hat comes off and profanity is replaced with please/ thank you and the anger and apathy subsides. These are the great moments when you’re allowed to glimpse the survivor inside, still hanging on, wanting to do well. I’m always grateful & inspired when students give me this chance.

If you serve in the field of special education, what would you list as your inspiration?

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

- Winston Churchill

Contributors:

Brenda Brooks

Debbie Teppo

Amy Bush

Andrea Varecka

Elizabeth Conley

Dan Lloyd

Lori Bleibtrey

Erin McMahon

Lisa Meade

Caralyn Dwornik

Katy Cummings

Justine Miles

Amanda Guay

Angie Hogan

Lisa Hogan

Emily LaPointe

Debbie Clynes

Karen Hartman

Kate Kelly

Christian Bruce

Brenda Van Wie