Teacher

Different Kinds of Self-Employment That Don’t Require Running a Business

August 23, 2023 by Tim McMahon

If you’re considering self-employment, you may assume that running a business is your only option. While starting a business can be a great way to be your own boss and pursue your passions, it’s not the only way to go about being self-employed. In fact, there are many different ways to be self-employed that don’t require owning a business. Whether you’re looking to start a new career or are simply interested in exploring your options, here are a few different kinds of self-employment to consider.

Freelancing

Freelancing involves offering your skills or expertise to others on a project-by-project basis. This can involve anything from writing to graphic design to consulting. As a freelancer, you can choose your own clients and projects, set your own rates, and enjoy the flexibility of working from home or wherever else you choose. While freelancing can be a great way to be self-employed, it does require some hustle to find clients and projects. To get started, consider setting up a portfolio website and networking with potential clients.

Contract work

Contract work is similar to freelancing, but typically involves larger projects or longer-term contracts. For example, you might work as a contract project manager or IT consultant for a company. As a contractor, you’ll typically be paid a flat rate for the duration of the contract, and may be responsible for covering your own expenses. While contract work can be lucrative, it does require finding and negotiating contract opportunities. [Read more…] about Different Kinds of Self-Employment That Don’t Require Running a Business

5 Things You Can Do with a Degree in Special Education

June 7, 2018 by Tim McMahon

Special education is one of the most in-demand specialties for teachers today. According to the CDC, about one in every six children has some type of developmental disability. Not all children requiring special education have a cognitive or physical delay or other challenge, as an increasing number of students are considered gifted or talented and need special education to meet their needs.

Earning a degree in special education opens the doors to a range of career opportunities, all of which are growing swiftly. As you think about your career in education, consider some of these paths to helping all students access the education they deserve.

Special Education Teacher

The most obvious path with a special education degree is to become a classroom teacher. Opportunities abound, as there are significant shortages of special education teachers in nearly every state. The expected growth in the field varies according to location and age group, with special education preschool and early childhood educators expected to see the most growth (9 percent) over the next six years. However, even elementary and secondary educators will see demand increase, with the expected growth rate at 6 percent.

Special education teachers may work with a full class of students, with individual students or with small groups. Some specialize in a specific subject area, such as reading, while others are generalists. Regardless, working as a special education teacher requires a higher-than-average degree of flexibility and patience, as well as a willingness to manage the paperwork that comes along with special education and to work as part of a team of parents, counselors, administrators and other teachers.

Special Education Specialist

Some schools or districts hire specialists to work with a specific population of students. For example, you might work with hearing-impaired students as an ASL interpreter or earn an autism certification online to work specifically with students with autism. In fact, autism is on the rise, with the CDC reporting rates of 1 in 68 children, and many of these children are being mainstreamed into traditional classrooms. Often, they need one-on-one assistance, and a special education specialist fills that role. In some cases, the specialist will work with the same student throughout their time in the school, allowing them to build a special bond and relationship with the student and his or her family. Specialists often face many of the same challenges as classroom teachers, though, in terms of needing patience and flexibility and managing the intricacies of special education.

Student Advocate

When a student requires special education services, they generally have an Individual Education Plan, or IEP. IEPs are developed with the input of teachers, counselors, healthcare providers, social workers school administrators and parents. The process isn’t always easy, and many parents find that they aren’t fully prepared to advocate for their child. That’s where a student or family advocate comes in. They serve as an objective third party for the family, putting their knowledge of the ins and outs of special education to work to ensure that the student receives all necessary services and that the IEP is thorough and effective. Most student advocates work on a freelance or contract basis and have at least a few years of experience working in a school or program before they become an advocate.

Early Intervention Specialist

Some children present signs of cognitive or physical delays or disabilities early in life – sometimes as early as infancy. Early intervention specialists work with infants, toddlers and preschoolers to deliver interventions that will have a positive effect on their growth and development. Early intervention specialists often work with social workers and medical providers to provide services in the home, medical setting or a center or classroom. This role also requires a great deal of patience, as well as a thorough understanding of child development and developmental milestones.

Special Education Diagnostician

For many children, [Read more…] about 5 Things You Can Do with a Degree in Special Education

Ways to Further Your Education While Teaching

January 3, 2014 by Tim McMahon

As a teacher it is essential that you continue to keep your education current. Most school systems require that you take a certain number of credits or in other ways maintain your education. But like a muscle it is also important that you continue to “exercise” your brain and stay in the habit of learning new things. In addition to taking classes for credit there are many other ways for you to continue to expand your education. And with modern technology the avenues for education are expanding on an almost daily basis.

Here are just a few ways you can broaden your educational horizons while working in the field.

Free Online MOOCs

As many people discover the advantages of taking classes online, more top-tier universities, such as Harvard, Yale and MIT are providing “MOOC’s” or massive open online courses . These online lectures are often available free of charge. Stanford has the most popular free course: Introduction to “AI” with 160,000 students from 190 countries.

Subjects range from economics to psychology and offer wonderful ways to hear cutting-edge professors explain their areas of expertise.

In addition to MOOCS some universities are offering classes, lectures and books via mp3. So, many people interested in expanding their educations can now learn on the go anytime they want. Whether on the bus or out for a jog, listening to podcasts from institutions such as Oxford University can provide hours of enjoyment and deeply meaningful learning experiences. For many teachers, the ability to learn from Oxford professors while keeping their day job is a dream come true.
[Read more…] about Ways to Further Your Education While Teaching