Finding Joy in the Classroom as a Special Education Teacher
It’s no secret that special education teachers are among some of the most passionate, kind, patient, and brave educators in any district. Many other educators look to special education teachers for inspiration. They’re creative problem-solvers with an energy that’s hard to match. But special education teachers have been far from exempt from the challenges all teachers have faced over the past few years. If anything, those challenges are compounded by the unique circumstances and day-to-day demands of their work. If you’re a special education teacher feeling tired, overworked, and strained, you’re not alone.
If you came to this blog with those feelings, looking for something to spark some joy, we hope you find some inspiration! The joy you bring to your students every day makes a difference in their lives, and by extension, has an impact on families and communities. You deserve to not only survive but thrive in your profession. Of course, it’s also important that you give yourself the space and patience to feel a range of emotions besides joy, too — toxic positivity is real, and there’s no reason to hold yourself to unrealistic standards! But we all have to take happiness where we can find it, and your students and learning communities happen to be an excellent source.
Here are a few ways to start your journey in finding or simply renewing your joy in your work as a special education teacher:
Prioritize community, teamwork, and well-being.
In a time when you’re juggling countless competing priorities — even more than usual! — it doesn’t hurt to put your and your students’ well-being first. Find joy in that practice with a focus on community and togetherness. A classroom or learning culture that fosters a sense of belonging and connectedness is more important than ever, especially for students who felt the toll of long periods of remote learning and potential isolation from other students. Emphasize with students that they are valued, that they belong, and that they have so much to contribute to their classroom community.
If you’re looking for a few activities to foster community in your class or network of students, check out our free, printable set of resources to help students (and adults) practice empathy. Our Empathy Changes Everything resource package focuses on developing self-compassion and understanding others’ perspectives. If the specific printable activities don’t match your students’ needs, don’t miss our empathy music playlists at the bottom of the page!
Of course, for you to find joy through this focus on community building, you must be kind to yourself, accept hiccups and days where things just don’t go as planned, and relish the moments where you see your work paying off and your classroom community flourishing. The most important thing is that you and your students have a safe, respectful, and inclusive place to grow together.
Set routines — but be kind to yourself when you break them.
Nearly any special education teacher will tell you just how important it is to be organized — managing the complexities and paperwork of multiple IEPs is no joke — and how important routines are for many of their students to be successful. If you’re a veteran educator feeling overwhelmed by the changes and tolls brought on from COVID, consider revisiting your existing routines and organizational systems to see where you can tighten things up and potentially reduce your stress. For inspiration, check out some of the wonderful ideas special education teacher bloggers have shared:
- Stephanie of Mrs. D’s Classroom uses a thorough (and fun!) color-coding system, where each color represents a student. Color-coding helps her keep files and classroom materials exactly where she needs them — and keeps her classroom bright!
- Pam from Mrs. P’s Specialties gives her students tools to help her keep track of her bustling classroom. She uses a clothespin-card system for students to show when they are out of the room. It’s a great self-management practice for learners, too!
- Erin from You AUT-aKnow also uses clothespins. Her morning choice routine enables students to choose an activity during designated choice time by moving their clothespin to the activity on a board. This routine helps Erin and her students manage transition times (and is a great way for students to make decisions about their learning!)
Regardless of the changes or tweaks you make to your organizational systems and routines; this part is important: be kind to yourself when you break routines or deviate from your systems! You put those elements in place to help you and help your students —they shouldn’t be a source of stress or self-critique.
Seek advice and support from your peers.
Just as your students find support and community in one another, be sure to lean on your networks for advice and inspiration. No one understands the obstacles you face like your peers. You can always join a global conversation by connecting with special education teachers on Twitter (follow #spedchat, #specialeducation or simply #EdChat to start). Seek out other educators in your district for regular check-ins to share both your frustrations and your joys and swap ideas for what’s working in your classroom.
Establishing those peer-to-peer partnerships can be hard — and sometimes it helps to hear from someone outside of your learning community who can bring a fresh perspective to the conversation. If you’re looking for a partner educator to check in with on a regular basis, consider signing up for our Art of Teaching Mentorship or Peer-to-Peer programs. Our mentorship program matches veteran educators with new educators, and our peer-to-peer program matches two veteran teachers. For both programs, pairs meet virtually once a month for about an hour to share experiences and swap ideas. Every monthly meeting has a theme with a corresponding, optional worksheet to guide your conversation. If you’re interested, feel free to sign up here and include any questions you have in the form.
Be silly with your students!
The difference you make for your students — the gift of empowerment that you build upon every day as you guide them on their path to growth — will be a source of endless joy for them throughout their lives. Find your own joy in your work by keeping that in mind, and simply by enjoying your students as they learn and grow! Their quirks, interests, strengths, and even their affinity for silliness can bring so much joy and humor to the classroom. You deserve to give yourself the space and flexibility to stop and be silly with them everyone and a while, too.
Best of luck on your journey to find joy in your work while keeping up with the incredible expectations that have become standard in your profession. The difference you make every day means the world to your students!
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