Search found 6 matches

by JMD25
Sun Aug 16, 2015 1:56 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: A confused teacher...
Replies: 11
Views: 16669

Re: A confused teacher...

@vettievette

I have read a few of your responses to those inquiring about special ed positions abroad. I have a long special ed career here in the states (14 years) and a graduate degree in Special Education. I think I am a very qualified candidate but am wondering if you can recommend anything that may make me look even stronger (I'm hoping to have more choice in what areas to work in, specifically Asia/EU). I have my CTEL (Certified to teach English Learners) as part of my CA credentials (mild/mod and mod/severe certified ages K-21) but wondering if I should get my early childhood credential,etc? Or should I go through another organization for a separate TEFL certificate? Just wondering if I should add anything on to help. I am thinking I will look for the 2016/17 school year abroad and not sure how early to register with SEARCH or any other organizations. Thanks!


vettievette wrote:
> Run a search for Learning Support and Special Ed - you're likely to find a
> couple of informative forum posts.
>
> But to answer your initial questions - no your experience at a hagwon is
> not likely to count for much, unless you're going for an ESL/ELL position.
> Your qualifications, however, could lead you anywhere. Learning
> Support/resource positions are becoming quite popular as schools begin to
> fulfill the needs of a changing population. You might even land a position
> at a "first tier" school you just never know. In terms of tier -
> there's no real system of how schools are labeled as such, but people tend
> to give the rank depending on how well-resourced the school it is, if it's
> the school (usual in capital city) that attracts all the diplomats'/NGO
> kids, etc.
>
> Special Ed/Learning Support/resource looks very different in the
> international schools. Few international schools are equipped to cater to
> kids who have severe mental handicaps, etc. Even the bigger, well-resourced
> international schools will be quite up front with parents about which
> learning needs they can adequately address. You will likely see students
> who may have mild to medium processing issues,
> dyslexia/dyscalculia/dyspraxia, ADHD or some mild autistic-spectrum
> disorders. IEPs are not as long and drawn out as the ones you see in NJ or
> NY State (where I was before). I like to call it "special ed
> lite".
by JMD25
Sat Jan 25, 2014 2:59 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Next Frontier Inclusion
Replies: 11
Views: 15128

Re: Next Frontier Inclusion

Great! I am going to join SEARCH later this year to do some perusing of Learning Support jobs. Another question I have is about moving costs/housing and if you have a partner that is not a teacher. We are unmarried but he is a musician and we both have friends/ties in Europe. Not sure what kind of housing you can find in certain cities with these types of jobs. I always assume teachers at IS are better paid than those of us in the public school systems here in the US. Especially since I have an MA and 12 years of experience! We would love to end up in Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland or really any of the Western European countries but I am also open to Eastern Europe and we both really loved Poland. Any further info appreciated until I have time to sign up, get on there and look around at job postings. I had heard about the International School of Brussels having a good program for kids with special needs from someone and that is what I had been referring to in the previous posts :)
by JMD25
Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:38 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Next Frontier Inclusion
Replies: 11
Views: 15128

Learning support

I have spent a month in Romania a few summers ago and love the country so it is good to know that they have a good school there with openings. I cannot leave my current job this year so not sure how far ahead of time I need to sign up and apply to jobs. Any ideas on timeline?
I guess from what I was reading I was not sure that "learning support" sounded like "professional credentialed teacher." I would not want to go from working in a professional field to being a glorified assistant in someone else's classroom so I am wondering if that is what the positions would be like. I know that the paperwork would be different and I have traveled extensively so am prepared for different ways of addressing needs so no illusions about that. However, I want to make sure that my skills are utilized fully, I have a tendency to get bored if I am not challenged. Thanks for the info!
by JMD25
Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:29 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Next Frontier Inclusion
Replies: 11
Views: 15128

Cheery,

Thanks for your help! This is somewhat disappointing news as it does not sound like there are good professional jobs abroad for learning support unless you apply to a school specifically for students with special needs. I have only heard good things about the one in Brussels. Do you know of any others that come recommended for this population?
by JMD25
Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:24 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Special Ed. Teacher With Small Family
Replies: 10
Views: 31469

thanks!

This is all excellent information for me as well! I feel I am very experienced and am already working in Inclusion so Learning Support sounds a bit similar to this with co-teaching and pushin/pullout service model. I have heard good things about ISB-Brussels but it looks like they don't post openings until December. I am glad to hear that there is some demand for special needs teachers abroad since I wasn't sure privatized schools would take students with special needs.
by JMD25
Mon Oct 14, 2013 6:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Next Frontier Inclusion
Replies: 11
Views: 15128

More info

I am going to check out the link that was posted on the original message but this thread caught my eye and I am hoping you can give me some more advice!

I am a teacher certified in Special Education in Illinois and California and am considering looking for work in an international school.
I am an inclusion specialist and mainly have students with Autism Spectrum disorders. I am quite experienced with multiple populations and have my master's degree in special education as well as 15 years of experience in public high needs school districts.

My concern is that it seems that many IS do not service students with special needs. I am not sure where to begin looking for positions and I am not sure how competitive I am for these schools.

Can you reply or possibly private message me with some info on how to best get started looking for the right school? I am open to the EU in general (have spend a lot of time there, Eastern Europe as well) and that would be my first pick. I have traveled all over Asia and SE Asia and South America as well but have more connections in the EU.