Top 12 Special Education Preschool Teacher Skills to Put on Your Resume
Crafting a resume for a special education preschool teacher position requires highlighting a unique blend of skills that demonstrate your ability to foster an inclusive, nurturing, and educational environment for young learners with diverse needs. Showcasing these top skills on your resume can set you apart as a compassionate, innovative, and effective educator dedicated to supporting every student's growth and learning journey.
Special Education Preschool Teacher Skills
- IEP Development
- Behavior Management
- Autism Spectrum Strategies
- Early Intervention
- Sign Language (ASL)
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
- Sensory Integration
- Boardmaker Software
- Inclusive Education
- Proloquo2Go
- Differentiated Instruction
- SMART Board
1. IEP Development
IEP Development involves creating an Individualized Education Program for a child with disabilities, detailing tailored educational goals, strategies, and accommodations to meet their unique learning needs, as guided by assessments and in collaboration with a team including educators, specialists, and the child's guardians.
Why It's Important
IEP (Individualized Education Program) development is crucial for a Special Education Preschool Teacher because it ensures tailored educational plans that address each child's unique needs, strengths, and potential, promoting optimal learning and development in an inclusive environment.
How to Improve IEP Development Skills
Improving IEP (Individualized Education Program) development, especially for a Special Education Preschool Teacher, involves a few key steps focused on collaboration, understanding individual needs, and ongoing assessment. Here’s a concise guide:
Understand the Child’s Needs: Begin with thorough assessments to understand the child's current levels of performance. Utilize tools and resources from the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center for assessment strategies.
Collaborate with Stakeholders: Engage in meaningful collaboration with parents, therapists, and other professionals. The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers guides for effective collaboration.
Set SMART Goals: Ensure goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The Understood website provides examples of SMART goals in the context of IEPs.
Select Appropriate Teaching Strategies and Tools: Incorporate evidence-based teaching strategies and tools tailored to the preschool level. Explore resources like the What Works Clearinghouse for vetted educational strategies.
Implement and Monitor Progress: Regularly monitor the child's progress towards IEP goals. The Intervention Central offers tools for progress monitoring and interventions.
Review and Adjust IEP Regularly: Based on progress monitoring, adjust the IEP as needed. This ensures that the IEP remains relevant and effective in meeting the child’s changing needs.
By focusing on these areas, Special Education Preschool Teachers can develop more effective IEPs that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each child.
How to Display IEP Development Skills on Your Resume
2. Behavior Management
Behavior management in the context of a Special Education Preschool Teacher involves the use of strategies and techniques to promote positive behavior, reduce disruptive behavior, and teach essential social and emotional skills to young children with diverse learning needs, ensuring a supportive and effective learning environment.
Why It's Important
Behavior management is crucial for a Special Education Preschool Teacher as it creates a structured, supportive environment that enhances learning, facilitates communication, and fosters social skills, catering to individual needs and promoting positive behaviors essential for the development of children with diverse abilities.
How to Improve Behavior Management Skills
Improving behavior management in a special education preschool setting involves understanding individual needs, establishing clear expectations, and implementing consistent strategies. Here are concise tips:
Understand Individual Needs: Recognize each child's triggers and preferences. Tailor strategies to meet their unique needs. CDC’s Understanding Child Development is a useful resource.
Establish Clear Expectations: Use simple language to set clear, achievable rules. Visual aids can be particularly effective. PBIS World offers tools for creating supportive environments.
Positive Reinforcement: Reward positive behaviors promptly to encourage repetition. This could be through praise, stickers, or extra playtime. The Positive Reinforcement Guide by APA provides insights.
Consistent Strategies: Apply behavior management strategies consistently. Consistency helps children understand consequences and expectations. Child Mind Institute’s Behavior Strategies can be adapted for preschool settings.
Communication and Collaboration: Engage with parents and caregivers to ensure strategies are supported at home. Understood’s Collaboration Tips offer practical advice.
Self-Regulation Skills: Teach children self-regulation techniques, such as deep breathing or counting to ten, to manage their emotions. Head Start’s Self-Regulation Tips are specifically designed for young children.
Professional Development: Continuously seek training on behavior management and special education strategies. IRIS Center’s Modules provide free professional development resources.
By focusing on understanding, clear expectations, positive reinforcement, consistency, communication, self-regulation, and ongoing learning, special education preschool teachers can significantly improve behavior management in their classrooms.
How to Display Behavior Management Skills on Your Resume
3. Autism Spectrum Strategies
Autism Spectrum Strategies are tailored approaches and techniques used by educators to facilitate learning, communication, and social skills development in preschool-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These strategies are designed to accommodate the unique needs and strengths of each child, promoting their engagement, independence, and success in a supportive and structured environment.
Why It's Important
Autism Spectrum Strategies are crucial for a Special Education Preschool Teacher because they provide tailored approaches to support the diverse needs of autistic children, facilitating their learning, communication, and social skills development in an inclusive and understanding environment.
How to Improve Autism Spectrum Strategies Skills
Improving Autism Spectrum Strategies in a Special Education Preschool setting involves adopting tailored approaches to cater to the diverse needs of children with autism. Here are concise strategies with relevant resources:
Understand Individual Needs: Recognize that each child has unique strengths and challenges. The Autism Society offers resources on understanding various aspects of autism.
Create a Structured Environment: Use visual schedules and clear, consistent routines to provide stability. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism provides examples of visual supports.
Use Visual Aids: Incorporate pictures, symbols, and visual schedules to aid communication and understanding. Do2Learn offers educational resources, including visual aids for different activities.
Incorporate Sensory Activities: Design activities that address sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviors. STAR Institute provides insights into sensory processing issues.
Foster Social Skills: Employ story-based interventions and role-play to teach social norms and cues. The Social Thinking website has resources for teaching social skills.
Encourage Communication: Use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tools if necessary and always promote the use of language. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers guidance on AAC.
Collaborate with Families and Therapists: Maintain open lines of communication with the child’s support team for coordinated efforts. Wrightslaw provides information on special education law and advocacy.
Professional Development: Continuously seek training and stay updated on best practices in autism education. Autism Internet Modules offers free modules on a wide range of autism-related topics.
Implementing these strategies requires patience, observation, and ongoing adaptation to meet the evolving needs of preschool-aged children on the autism spectrum.
How to Display Autism Spectrum Strategies Skills on Your Resume
4. Early Intervention
Early Intervention is a system of coordinated services that promotes the child's growth and development and supports families during the critical early years. For a Special Education Preschool Teacher, it involves identifying and providing timely, appropriate, and individualized support to young children with developmental delays or disabilities to enhance their abilities and minimize potential developmental setbacks.
Why It's Important
Early intervention is crucial because it capitalizes on the brain's remarkable plasticity during the early years, offering the best opportunity to support developmental progress and learning strategies in young children with special needs, ultimately aiming to enhance their long-term educational outcomes and social integration.
How to Improve Early Intervention Skills
Improving Early Intervention in a Special Education Preschool setting involves adopting a multifaceted approach focused on evidence-based practices, family involvement, and continuous professional development. Here are concise strategies:
Adopt Evidence-Based Practices: Stay updated with the latest research and methodologies in special education. Utilize strategies proven to be effective for children with various developmental delays and disorders. The Division for Early Childhood offers resources on evidence-based practices.
Enhance Family Involvement: Work closely with families, providing them with strategies and resources to support their child's learning and development at home. Develop strong, communicative relationships with parents. The Center for Parent Information and Resources has guides and articles for engaging families.
Implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): Tailor educational approaches to meet the unique needs of each child. Regularly review and adjust IEPs based on the child’s progress. The U.S. Department of Education provides guidelines on IEP implementation.
Use Technology and Assistive Tools: Incorporate appropriate technology and assistive devices to enhance learning experiences and promote independence. Assistive Technology Industry Association offers insights into the latest tools and technologies.
Engage in Professional Development: Continuously seek opportunities for training and professional growth to stay abreast of new teaching strategies and interventions. The Council for Exceptional Children provides professional development resources for educators.
Foster an Inclusive Environment: Create a classroom setting that supports the inclusion of children with various needs, promoting peer interactions and social-emotional learning. The National Association for the Education of Young Children shares strategies for fostering inclusion.
Collaborate with Specialists: Work collaboratively with therapists, psychologists, and other specialists to provide a comprehensive support system for students. Establish regular meetings and share insights to ensure a cohesive approach to each child’s development.
Improving Early Intervention requires a commitment to ongoing learning, collaboration, and a focus on creating a supportive and inclusive educational environment for all students.
How to Display Early Intervention Skills on Your Resume
5. Sign Language (ASL)
Sign Language, specifically American Sign Language (ASL), is a complete, natural language that employs signs made with the hands, facial expressions, and body postures to convey meaning. It is primarily used by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals for communication. As a Special Education Preschool Teacher, incorporating ASL can facilitate inclusive communication, support language development, and promote a more accessible learning environment for children with diverse hearing and communication abilities.
Why It's Important
Sign Language (ASL) is crucial for a Special Education Preschool Teacher as it facilitates communication and learning for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, promotes inclusivity, enhances cognitive and social development, and supports early language acquisition and literacy skills in a visually engaging way.
How to Improve Sign Language (ASL) Skills
Improving American Sign Language (ASL) skills, particularly for a Special Education Preschool Teacher, involves a combination of practice, immersion, and continuous learning. Here's a concise guide:
Engage Regularly with the ASL Community: Regular interaction with the ASL community can significantly improve your skills. Websites like Lifeprint offer resources and connections to local ASL groups.
Utilize Online Resources for Practice: Platforms like ASL University provide free lessons ranging from beginner to advanced levels, ideal for ongoing learning.
Incorporate Sign Language in Classroom Activities: Consistently using ASL in your teaching ensures practical application, benefiting both you and your students. Signing Time offers resources tailored for children's learning.
Attend Workshops and Professional Development: Workshops can offer specialized skills and strategies for teaching ASL to children with special needs. Check out Gallaudet University for relevant professional development opportunities.
Practice with Colleagues and Parents: Encourage a learning environment by practicing ASL with colleagues and teaching parents basic signs. This not only improves your skill but also fosters an inclusive community.
Remember, consistency and immersion are key to improving your ASL skills effectively.
How to Display Sign Language (ASL) Skills on Your Resume
6. PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is a communication system that uses pictures as a means for children, particularly those with autism or communication difficulties, to express their needs and desires non-verbally by exchanging a picture of an item with a teacher or caregiver to request that particular item. It is widely used in special education settings to facilitate communication and language development.
Why It's Important
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is crucial for Special Education Preschool Teachers as it fosters early non-verbal communication, enabling children with autism or speech delays to express their needs and thoughts through pictures, thus promoting independence and social interaction skills.
How to Improve PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Skills
Improving PECS for a Special Education Preschool Teacher involves strategic steps to enhance communication and learning. Here are concise recommendations:
Consistency: Apply PECS across various settings (home, school, community) to reinforce learning. Autism Classroom Resources.
Training: Invest in formal training for staff and caregivers to ensure proper technique and application. PECS USA Workshops.
Customization: Tailor the PECS book to the individual needs and interests of each child, ensuring it is meaningful and engaging. PrAACtical AAC.
Expansion: Regularly update and expand the PECS book with new vocabulary and concepts relevant to the child’s growing interests and environments. LessonPix.
Integration: Integrate PECS with other communication methods (e.g., verbal, sign language) to build on and enhance communication skills. AAC Language Lab.
Parental Involvement: Encourage and train parents and caregivers in using PECS at home to provide a consistent and supportive learning environment. PECS-USA Parent Resources.
Feedback and Adaptation: Regularly review the child’s progress and adapt the PECS system as needed, based on their evolving communication skills and preferences. Autism Speaks Toolkits.
Each step involves a commitment to continuous learning, adaptation, and collaboration among educators, therapists, parents, and caregivers to effectively support and enhance the communication abilities of preschool-aged children.
How to Display PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Skills on Your Resume
7. Sensory Integration
Sensory Integration is the process by which the brain organizes and interprets sensory information from the body and environment, enabling effective responses and learning. In a special education preschool setting, it involves tailored activities to help children with sensory processing challenges improve their ability to respond appropriately to their surroundings, supporting their learning and development.
Why It's Important
Sensory Integration is crucial as it helps children with special needs process and respond to sensory information from their environments more effectively. This enhances their learning, social interactions, and overall participation in classroom activities, providing a solid foundation for academic and personal growth.
How to Improve Sensory Integration Skills
Improving sensory integration in preschool children, especially in a special education context, involves creating activities that help children process and respond to sensory information in an organized way. Here are concise strategies:
Provide a Sensory-Rich Environment: Create an environment with a variety of textures, sounds, and visual stimuli. Classroom Design for Living and Learning with Autism offers ideas for setting up an engaging sensory space.
Incorporate Sensory Breaks: Short, supervised breaks with activities designed to meet individual sensory needs can help children re-focus. The STAR Institute provides a list of sensory break ideas.
Use Sensory Bins: Fill containers with rice, beans, water, or sand, and small toys for a tactile exploration experience. This Sensory Bin 101 guide explains how to get started.
Engage in Vestibular and Proprioceptive Activities: Activities like swinging, jumping, or crawling can help with balance and body awareness. The Inspired Treehouse offers examples of vestibular and proprioceptive activities.
Practice Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Incorporate activities that involve both small movements (like threading beads) and large movements (like obstacle courses) to support coordination and sensory integration. Understood.org provides insights into motor skills development.
Implement Visual Supports and Schedules: Using visual timetables and cues can help children with sensory processing challenges understand and manage transitions and routines. Do2Learn offers resources for creating visual supports.
By integrating these strategies into daily routines, you can support the sensory integration needs of children in a special education preschool setting.
How to Display Sensory Integration Skills on Your Resume
8. Boardmaker Software
Boardmaker is a software tool designed for creating customized learning materials for students with special needs. It features a vast library of symbols and templates to support visual learning and communication, making it an essential resource for Special Education Preschool Teachers to develop engaging, accessible educational content.
Why It's Important
Boardmaker Software is important for a Special Education Preschool Teacher because it allows for the creation of customized visual supports and communication boards tailored to the unique learning needs of preschoolers with disabilities, facilitating better understanding, engagement, and communication in the classroom.
How to Improve Boardmaker Software Skills
Improving Boardmaker software for a Special Education Preschool Teacher involves focusing on enhancing usability, accessibility, and content adaptability to cater to the diverse needs of young learners with special needs. Here are concise suggestions:
User-Friendly Interface: Simplify the user interface to make it more intuitive for both teachers and students. Incorporating a tutorial or guide that demonstrates how to use various features can be beneficial. Boardmaker Guide.
Customizable Content: Enhance the ability to customize and create content tailored to individual student needs, including adjusting complexity levels and integrating personal interests. Customizing Boardmaker Activities.
Interactive Elements: Introduce more interactive elements and game-based learning activities to increase engagement and motivation among preschool children. Interactive Learning with Boardmaker.
Accessibility Improvements: Improve accessibility features, such as voice navigation, screen reader compatibility, and switch access, to ensure all students, regardless of their abilities, can benefit from the software. Accessibility in Boardmaker.
Professional Development: Provide ongoing professional development and resources for teachers to effectively use Boardmaker in various educational settings. This includes webinars, how-to videos, and a community forum for sharing tips and strategies. Boardmaker Learning and Support.
Expanded Symbol Library: Continuously update and expand the symbol library to include diverse and culturally relevant images that reflect the backgrounds of all students. Boardmaker Symbols.
By focusing on these areas, Boardmaker can become an even more effective tool for Special Education Preschool Teachers, enabling them to create highly personalized and engaging learning experiences for their students.
How to Display Boardmaker Software Skills on Your Resume
9. Inclusive Education
Inclusive education is an approach that ensures all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, learn together in the same classroom environment. It emphasizes adapting teaching strategies, materials, and classroom settings to meet the diverse needs of all students, including those with special educational needs.
Why It's Important
Inclusive education is important because it ensures that all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, learn together in the same classroom. It promotes understanding, respect, and support among students, helping to prepare them for diverse societies. For a Special Education Preschool Teacher, it fosters early intervention, maximizes the potential of each child, and supports the development of inclusive communities from a young age.
How to Improve Inclusive Education Skills
Improving inclusive education, especially in a special education preschool context, involves several key strategies to ensure all children, regardless of their abilities, have access to learning opportunities that cater to their individual needs. Here are concise recommendations:
Professional Development: Continuously upgrade your skills and knowledge in inclusive practices. The IRIS Center offers modules on inclusive education.
Differentiated Instruction: Adapt teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of learners. This approach ensures that all children can access the curriculum. The Understood Team provides insights on differentiated instruction.
Collaborative Planning: Work closely with other educators, parents, and specialists to create and implement effective inclusion strategies. The SWIFT Schools guide is a great resource for fostering collaboration.
Positive Classroom Environment: Establish a classroom culture that celebrates diversity and promotes empathy among students. Edutopia offers strategies for creating an inclusive classroom.
Accessible Learning Materials: Ensure that learning materials are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials provides guidance on creating and selecting accessible materials.
Parental Engagement: Engage parents in their children's education. Effective communication between teachers and parents can support a child's learning. The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers tips on parent-teacher collaboration.
By focusing on these areas, special education preschool teachers can enhance the inclusivity and effectiveness of their teaching, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment.
How to Display Inclusive Education Skills on Your Resume
10. Proloquo2Go
Proloquo2Go is a symbol-based communication app designed for individuals who cannot speak or have difficulty speaking, enabling them to communicate through customizable buttons that represent words or phrases. It is widely used in special education settings, including preschools, to support language development and communication skills.
Why It's Important
Proloquo2Go is important because it provides a customizable and easy-to-use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solution for children with speech and language disabilities, enabling them to express their needs, thoughts, and feelings, thereby enhancing their ability to communicate and learn within a special education preschool setting.
How to Improve Proloquo2Go Skills
Improving your use of Proloquo2Go as a Special Education Preschool Teacher involves tailoring the app to better suit your students' individual needs and enhancing engagement. Here are concise steps:
Customize Vocabulary: Tailor the vocabulary to match each child's needs and abilities, focusing on core words and relevant topics. Proloquo2Go User Guide provides instructions on customizing vocabulary.
Use Visual Supports: Incorporate visual supports like symbols and photos to aid comprehension. Proloquo2Go allows for symbol customization for this purpose. AssistiveWare Visuals.
Engage Through Play: Integrate Proloquo2Go into play-based activities to encourage natural language use. Playing and Learning with AAC offers strategies for engaging students.
Collaborate with Families: Work closely with families to ensure consistency between home and school. Share strategies and updates through Proloquo2Go’s backup and share features. Family Involvement.
Professional Development: Continuously enhance your skills through webinars, tutorials, and courses. AssistiveWare Learning provides resources for educators.
By personalizing the app, engaging students in meaningful activities, collaborating with families, and pursuing ongoing learning, you can significantly improve the efficacy of Proloquo2Go in your classroom.
How to Display Proloquo2Go Skills on Your Resume
11. Differentiated Instruction
Differentiated Instruction is a teaching approach where a Special Education Preschool Teacher tailors learning experiences to meet the diverse needs, abilities, and interests of each child in the classroom, ensuring all students can access and engage in meaningful learning activities.
Why It's Important
Differentiated instruction is crucial for a Special Education Preschool Teacher because it allows them to tailor learning experiences to meet the diverse needs, abilities, and interests of each child, ensuring all students have access to meaningful and engaging education at their level.
How to Improve Differentiated Instruction Skills
To improve Differentiated Instruction in a Special Education Preschool setting, follow these concise strategies:
Know Your Students: Understand each child's strengths, needs, and learning styles. Use assessments and observations to gather information.
Set Clear Learning Goals: Have specific and achievable objectives for each lesson that cater to the diverse needs of your students.
Flexible Grouping: Rotate students through different groups based on their learning needs, interests, or abilities to ensure they receive targeted instruction.
Adapt Teaching Methods: Incorporate a variety of teaching strategies such as visual aids, hands-on activities, and technology to meet different learning styles.
Modify Assignments: Adjust task difficulty, provide different ways to demonstrate knowledge, and offer choices to keep students engaged.
Provide Scaffolded Support: Offer the necessary supports like visual cues, prompts, or peer assistance to enable students to complete tasks independently over time.
Regular Feedback: Give immediate and constructive feedback to guide students’ learning and keep them on track.
For more detailed strategies and resources tailored to Special Education Preschool Teachers, refer to the following links:
- Differentiated Instruction Strategies from Reading Rockets.
- Council for Exceptional Children's resources on differentiated instruction.
- NAEYC's Developmentally Appropriate Practice to understand and implement teaching strategies that cater to young learners' diverse needs.
Incorporating these strategies can lead to a more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environment for preschool children with special needs.
How to Display Differentiated Instruction Skills on Your Resume
12. SMART Board
A SMART Board is an interactive whiteboard that allows teachers, including those in special education preschool settings, to display lessons, engage students with touch-sensitive screens, and use educational software to enhance learning through interactive and sensory activities.
Why It's Important
A SMART Board is important for a Special Education Preschool Teacher because it provides interactive, multisensory learning experiences that can be tailored to each child's unique needs, enhancing engagement and facilitating better understanding and retention of information.
How to Improve SMART Board Skills
Improving your use of a SMART Board as a Special Education Preschool Teacher involves leveraging its interactive features to enhance learning experiences for your students. Here are concise strategies:
Interactive Lessons: Utilize the SMART Board's touch interface to create interactive lessons that encourage hands-on participation. Tailor activities to your students' individual learning needs.
- SMART Exchange offers ready-made lessons.
Visual Support: Use bright colors and large images to capture attention and aid visual learners. Incorporate videos and animations to explain complex concepts simply.
- SMART Learning Suite can help create dynamic lessons.
Sensory Activities: Incorporate activities that stimulate the senses, like drawing or sorting games, using the board's touch feature for tactile learners.
- Explore apps like Gynzy for interactive games and activities.
Customization: Adapt the SMART Board's settings and tools to the needs of your students, such as adjusting the sensitivity for those with motor difficulties.
- Check out SMART Technologies Support for customization options.
Professional Development: Regularly update your skills with the latest SMART Board tools and techniques to keep lessons fresh and engaging.
- SMART Technologies Training offers courses and webinars.
By integrating these strategies, you can enhance the learning experience for your preschool students, making lessons more engaging and accessible.
How to Display SMART Board Skills on Your Resume
