5 Steps To Starting Your Careers As a Special Education Teacher

You've decided that you need a change in life. You feel the need to do something meaningful that will help others. You've investigated and gained information and you've concluded that you'd like to become a teacher, not only a teacher, but a special education teacher. Your aspiration is praiseworthy and now is the time to explore the profession and determine if it's REALLY something that you want. Teaching is one of the most significant careers that anyone can become involved with. You must be passionate, temperate, and dedicated and that's just the beginning. Do keep in mind that each student touched is a life that you'll imprint forever. That imprint can be the incentive for good or the impetus for harm. It all depends on how you the teacher will emboss your stamp on that student.

So what's the process? How can you become a teacher who specializes in special education? Well the first step is to do research and garner information. Begin by asking the question what is a special education teacher? She/he is a teacher that devotes their career to working with students that have diverse disabilities. As such you will encounter students with learning disabilities that range from mild to severe, physical disabilities, mental disabilities, and emotional issues. You'll need to be organized, methodical, and meticulous as your students will often be the opposite and will need you to help keep them on task. You'll encounter students with speech impediments, hearing impairment, autism, and much more so you will have to be resilient. During this phase learn all that you can about this profession and determine if this is truly what you want to do.

The second step is to establish the educational requirements and salary proportions. Firstly you must obtain a bachelors degree, preferably in special education. Although not required, but definitely preferential. Upon completion of your bachelors you may want to continue on and earn your masters. Take note, there are some states that require a master's degree prior to securing your teaching certification/license. You must be sure to check with the state where you plan to teach to determine what their requirements and qualifications are. You may also want to secure board certification from the American Academy of Special Education Professionals. Certification from this board will signify that you have achieved the maximum in professional proficiency in the field of special education. Once you have determined your educational prerequisites then investigate salaries. Depending on the degrees you've earned, where you've selected to teach, and the grade that you teach salaries vary greatly. You can expect a salary that ranges from $34,000 to $83,500 annually depending on the criteria just stated.

You are now ready to proceed to the third step and find an accredited school from which to obtain your degree. The good news is that you live in a global society and if time and place don't allow you to physically attend the college of your choice, you can still achieve your goal through virtual attendance. Many acclaimed universities and colleges offer online courses. Don't limit yourself; seek out the very best education possible, it will serve you well in the long run. Make a list with several schools that you would like to attend. Contact each school and obtain information on their courses and admission procedures. Once you've selected your school, enrolled, and selected your major commit to doing the best job possible. Can you say Dean's list!

Your fourth step will commence as you near the completion of your bachelor's degree. You will get your feet wet as you begin the process of student teaching. Here you'll get a real sense for what you have desired to do. You will interact with students and get authentic on the job training. You'll be able to put into action all that you have learned while in school.

The fifth step will occur as you are nearing graduation. You'll begin to seek employment. Start by finalizing what city and state that you want to teach in and then select the school or school district you desire. Once you've determined the where, then start applying. Be flexible and persistent about the process and keep going until you have secured a position.

Advance Your Career With Distance Education

Picture this: there's an exciting new role at your workplace, and you think you're perfect for the job. You work hard to land the position, only to find out the guy in the next cubicle has bagged it. When you dig deeper, you realize the one thing that separates you two is the additional degree he has. And that's when you start to regret thinking you were too busy to go back to school to get that advanced degree, which could have put you on the road to corporate success.
Doesn't paint a pretty picture, does it? But the good news is that it doesn't have to stay that way. You can easily set your house in order by getting an advanced degree through distance education.
Advancing careers with distance education and other non-traditional means has become quite commonplace these days, and there are many factors that contribute to the growing popularity of these programs. Distance education makes sense for full-time professionals, because it allows them to study without taking time off work. Because of the flexible nature of distance education, most people are able to strike a balance between their jobs and schoolwork.
Plus, there is a growing acceptance and integration of distance learning programs into the mainstream education system, because of the drastic improvements in the quality of the course structure as well as content of these programs. Distance learning programs have undergone a massive overhaul thanks to the technological revolution. High-quality e-books and CD-ROMs that can be accessed at the click of the mouse have replaced poorly-printed study material sent to students by postal mail, plus online collaboration, chats, email, and more have made it easy to communicate with instructors and fellow students.
What to Look For
If you think you've had it with doing the same job year after year, distance education might be your ticket to new opportunities. But before you take the plunge into this unique pool of knowledge, there are some things you should consider.
Needless to say, accreditation is at the top of the list of things to check for before throwing yourself into a distance learning institution. Not only is accreditation proof of the quality of an institution's education, it is also a good indicator of how your degree will be received in the business world.
Another very important factor when selecting a distance education program is its relevance to your goals. It's important that you understand why you're pursuing this degree. Is it to move ahead in your current job, or to acquire a completely new set of skills for a fresh start? Look for a program that has the breadth of courses and programs you need.
You also need to keep an eye on your budget. Any type of college degree-whether it's distance learning or a classroom-based degree-is not going to be easy on your pocket. You may have to dip into your savings or take out a student loan. But if you select a university that participates in Title IV Federal Aid programs and/or offers its own in-house grants and scholarships, you will have more options for financing your education if you qualify.
How Does It Work?
That distance education doesn't require you to sit in a classroom is a well-known fact. What's probably not common knowledge is that even within distance education, there are different course formats offering varying degrees of flexibility.
Synchronous distance education, for example, needs all students to connect to their computers at the same time for pre-scheduled lectures, seminars, video conferencing, etc. The idea is to get everyone together, even if they're not under the same roof, for an interactive session on a regular basis.
Asynchronous distance learning programs provide unparalleled flexibility, as students are generally free to complete their coursework anytime they like. However, students in asynchronous distance programs may also be required to listen in on recorded lectures, participate in webinars, etc.
Both types of programs make liberal use of the Internet through emails, live chats, online discussion forums, and more. In fact, distance learning students may even be asked to submit their assignments and take exams online.
Is It Right For You?
Distance education provides a uniquely flexible opportunity for professionals to earn the advanced college education they thought could not fit into their busy work and life schedules. Before you choose a program, make sure you think about your goals, research your opportunities, and select the program that fits your needs.

Current Trends in Today's Educational System

The chosen path for many people always started with a successful high school education, leading onto three or four years in a University, and then a safe career inside a multi-national corporation. This pathway may of disappeared in the late 1990's, but education still remains a priority for most career minded people. What are the current trends in today's educational system?
1. The Growth in Vocational Training
Our labor markets have become extremely competitive, and flexible, leading to a need to continuously re-train, and develop new skills. The traditional and on-line vocational educational industry has become the main provider of education- since leaving college has only become one step in the continuous personal development we need in the 21st Century.
2. Online Universities Outgrowing Traditional Universities
In the United States over 60% of new students study online, instead of in a traditional university. Internationally, private and on-line Universities have boomed, because of the flexibility of the degree programs they offer, and the savings compared to studying in a traditional university.
Government cutbacks and increased student debts compared to decreasing salaries in many countries, have also eroded the popularity of studying in a traditional college. This trend should continue as the link between student debts and potential earnings increases- leading millions of people to seek a more affordable and viable option to attending College for several years.
3. Self- Education
In the distant past, information was limited to the books we could get access to, the newspapers we could buy, and the amount of TV channels we could watch. Previous generations may of been less knowledgeable than the internet generation, because it simply took so long to discover the information, we can find at a click of a mouse.
Today, we can own our own library of ebooks, read a hundred if not a thousand opinions on a subject, and link to real people experiencing an event, rather than listen to the opinions of a single TV news channel.
Our knowledge society has led to a "self- educated" generation, who could discover and train themselves, or even create off-line and on-line skill sharing groups. This phenomenal growth in self education, is bridging the gap between a cost cutting state run educational sector, and a new generation who need more specialized skills to thrive in today;s societies.
As the internet grows more affordable, and continues a recentness expansion into the developing World. Education should become more global, and based on the need for millions of people to re-train, learn new skills and find an affordable College education.

Lack of Education Contributes to Crime

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Top 10 Books on Online Education, Diploma Mills and More

Let's face it - as potential online students, it is not uncommon for us to turn to our favorite online site for research and news. A quick search in Google or Yahoo will almost immediately bring up information on what we are looking for without us having to do too much work. The speed and convenience of the internet is what has revolutionized business and eduction today.
However, despite the overwhelming use of the internet today, many people still enjoy researching and gathering information from more traditional, off-line sources. The ability to sit with a book and a cup of coffee is something that many enjoy on a daily basis.
With that in mind, listed below are our top 10 list of books discussing distance education and online degrees. This list comes from a search of Amazon.com and includes books that have been rated highly with their popular "star" system. Although these books do not provide an exhaustive overview of the online education system, we hope to provide a glimpse of what information is available in the "off-line" world.

1. Virtual Education: Cases in Learning & Teaching Technologies by Fawzi Albalooshi
2. Dollars, Distance, And Online Education: The New Economics of College Teaching And Learning (American Council on Education Oryx Press Series on Higher Education) by Martin J. Finkelstein, Carol Frances, Frank I. Jewett, and Bernhard W. Scholz
3. Bears' Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning by John Bear, Mariah Bear M.A., Mariah P. Bear, and Tom C. Head
4. Bears' Guide to College Degrees by Mail & Internet: 100 Accredited Schools That Offer Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorates, and Law Degrees by Distance Learning (College Degrees by Mail and Internet) by John Bear and Mariah P. Bear
5. Earn Your Degree Online and Get Good Grades: Tips For Success in Online Courses from an Online Education Faculty Expert by Russell C Kick
6. The Complete Idiot's Guide To Getting Your MBA Online by George Lorenzo
7. Declining by Degrees: Higher Education at Risk by Richard H. Hersh, John Merrow, and Tom Wolfe
8. How To Be a Successful Online Student by Sara Dulaney Gilbert
9. A Classroom of One: How Online Learning is Changing our Schools and Colleges by Gene I. Maeroff
10. Degree Mills: The Billion-dollar Industry That Has Sold Over A Million Fake Diplomas by Allen Ezell and John Bear

While most of the books that made our list are focused on higher education, it is important to note that online education is beginning to make a significant impact on high school and home school education as well. In fact, there are already full-time, diploma-granting online public high schools in existence today such as Insight School of Washington State.
As the internet and technology continues to change the face of our education system, it will be imperative that students and parents alike learn the intricacies of online education. Whether you prefer to do research online or off-line, one thing is clear. There is an abundance of information available to you today. You must learn learn to use it to your advantage.

News Article Expert Annuity Lead Program

Successful annuity agents are those who position themselves as the "expert" in their field. An expert is held in higher regard than a salesperson. An expert substitutes the sales presentation for a polished dialog of probing, educated questions that expose symptoms of financial disorder. After proper diagnosis, an expert does not attempt a close. An expert simply prescribes a cure, finishes up the paperwork and moves on to the next patient or client, the unspoken question being, "Do you want to stay sick or do you want to get well?"
Experts are experts because their reputation precedes them. It's all in the setup. There is no reality, only perception. If the prospect first hears about you by reading your newspaper article, you are already the expert. People want to be clients of experts for many reasons, including bragging rights. Sales transactions are pretty much understood even before appointments are set. Your starting point in the sales process is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition. Your annuity lead program is uniquely personal. And one of the most powerful ways of becoming the expert while generating referral-quality leads is through systematically submitting topical, high-content news articles for publication in hometown Senior newspapers.
Newspapers hunger for news and will gladly print informative content, especially from a local expert whose specialty is of interest to their readers. Articles of 400 and 600 words in length should be submitted periodically, should be informational (not a sales pitch) and filled with take-home value. The author's name, photo and contact information is included in case readers wish to pursue additional information or contact the expert about specific concerns. There is no cleaner annuity lead program, no higher quality lead than a news article inquiry.
Unfortunately, most successful annuity advisors don't have the time to write compelling news copy. I've known successful agents barely capable of constructing one-word sentences. But now, a limited number of agents have the opportunity to participate in our News Article Expert Annuity Lead Program.
In the time-honored tradition of ghostwriting, I provide qualifying agents with a new article each month, packed with vital information on Senior financial issues. Territories are exclusive to avoid overlapping geography, and I include my author's release of copyright allowing you to list your name as author, your photo and contact information.
If you are a licensed life insurance agent not currently contracted through Life Sales and wish to begin or advance your career selling fixed annuities, our News Article Expert Annuity Lead Program is for you. Come onboard with two or more of our carriers - Allianz, ING, Sun Life Financial, or American Equity - and receive 200 leads as a signing bonus. Then with your first 2000 QPCs (roughly $40,000 in paid business depending on carrier and product) in any one month, within two months of coming onboard, you'll receive your free six-month subscription to our News Article Expert Annuity Lead Program. Remember, territories are exclusive and you will receive my ghostwriter release of copyright.

Intelligent Design and the Decline of American Education

Intelligent Design is not a theory:

"One requirement of science is that it makes specific predictions, which can be tested in a laboratory." states geologist Robert Hazen "Another requirement is that it does not rely on supernatural or miraculous processes."

The primary case that intelligent design promotes is that life and the universe have systems that are so complex that they can only be explained by a creator. The very essence of that theory is completely un-testable. The only test that stands up is if we can not explain complex systems scientifically then they must have been designed by some form of intelligence.

If it was designed by "a creator" a single being or entity; whether that be God, an Alien or the Giant Spaghetti Monster then we are left without testing. The implied protocol for testing is to give up and stop researching because the answers to the question are to difficult to explain.

It is this conclusion that brings me to the "bigger problem" that Intelligent Design is just a symptom of.

Why continuing to push this non-theory on public education is irresponsible:

While this attitude and the answers themselves are unacceptable they do bring attention to the bigger problems in public education.
The problems we are faced with in our schools is the declining quality of education that our children receive today. The entire history of our Country has been built on the foundation that the children had a better life than their parents.

This was reflected in:

The child would have a better education than the parents.

The child would have better health care than the parents.

The child would have a better, safer job than the parents.

The child would have a nicer house than the parents.

etc...

These things are no longer true of this generation coming out of our High Schools today.

The whole concept of "No Child Left Behind" is false and misleading at best. The children are now receiving training to pass a test that measures progress. The bar for that progress was only getting lowered so that the appearance was that children are improving when, in fact, they were not.

Only recently have demands for more stringent testing been met in Texas. The TAKS test has been made more difficult in recent years and as a result we can see where the quality of education was really heading.

According to an article in the Dallas Morning news dated December 15th, 2005:

The Texas Education Agency identified 821 campuses across the state Thursday where students will have the right to leave if their parents are dissatisfied. That's nearly double the number of campuses last year - 420....
The state's annual school performance ratings in August showed the number of "academically unacceptable" schools nearly quadrupled this year based on poor TAKS scores. A handful of factors were cited for the lower test scores and lower school ratings, including that students had to get more answers correct and, for the first time, special education students' test scores were included in overall passing rates.
Large numbers of students had trouble with the science and math sections of the exam even though only a minority of students - 25 percent in science and 35 percent in math - were required to pass those sections for their school to be considered academically acceptable.

If what we are seeing is true, then the idea of further decreasing the quality of education, especially in the sciences, is not only irresponsible it is immoral.

According to an article published in the January 2006 issue of Discover Magazine:

The performance of U.S. students in middle and high schools on international math and science exams is below the average of 38 other countries. Even advanced American math and physics students score near dead last among students in 20 tested countries, the panel reported. Since 1990 the number of bachelor's degrees in engineering has declined 8 percent; in mathematics, 20 percent. While 32 percent of U.S. students graduate with degrees in science and engineering, the figure in China is 59 percent. Fewer grads means less research.Science Watch, a review of the Web research tool Essential Science Indicators, found a decline in U.S. representation among the world's published scientific papers, dropping from 38.5 percent in 1990 to 33.3 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, the Asian-Pacific share increased and "will likely outstrip that of the United States in six or seven years." Such declines may be reflected in the business of science; the National Academies reported the U.S. share of global high-tech exports fell during the last two decades from 30 to 17 percent, and its share of manufactured goods dropped from +33 billion in 1990 to -24 billion in 2004.

I believe America is a first rate country with more rights and privileges than just about any country in the world. There is no excuse for us to be ranked 39th in the world for education. As an American the idea that there are 38 other countries with a better quality of education just infuriates me.

What have our government officials been doing that they have fallen down on the job to such a degree?

We can not just blame one political party for this. For our educational system to have become so badly damaged has taken years if not decades of neglect to get to this point. Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat this issue needs to be a top priority in America starting yesterday.

In order to fix the problems we need to focus on the real issues. We need to stop talking about Intelligent Design and focus on what needs to be done to get the best quality of education in the world for our children.

How can we do it?

We need to change our priorities. If our children are truly what is important then we need to put our money where our brains are going to be tomorrow.

Instead of taxing the citizenry to build bigger and better sports arenas, how about using that money to build bigger and better schools?

How about increasing teachers salaries so that the income of a teacher is appealing to the most talented people?

How about tax or financial incentives for retired or semi-retired professionals to come and teach our children?

How about increasing the financial rewards for students that do well in school and actually paying for them to attend college?

How about looking at the 38 countries that have us beat in the quality of education to see what they are doing right?

There have to be a few thousand other things we can do to help our children get the best education possible. In my opinion all we have for education these days is excuses.