Special Education Teachers and Pool Noodles.
No punchline here... just an epiphany.
Over the past 18 years, many people have asked me, “What exactly does a special education teacher do?” I usually give a pretty long answer (yes I can be wordy… shocking!) involving leveling the playing field, teaching differently for kids who learn differently, and using different techniques to allow students to access a rigorous curriculum.
Sometimes it seems like kids with learning disabilities need to navigate a complicated maze in order to master what other kids can do following one straight line…. but they can still master it!
But thanks to observing my daughter at swim lessons today, I have a new and much simpler answer.
My daughter has taken swim lessons every summer for the past 6 years. She has become an excellent swimmer. This year, she reached the final stage of the lessons… diving!
Looks like Bob could use a pool noodle.
Although she was struggling to master the technique, she was determined to succeed and never gave up. She made a little bit of progress each day. Then today, she got it. She improved more in one 30 minute session than she had in the other 8 combined.
Why?
What was different?
The instructors are all high school kids on the swim team. They are all excellent swimmers and very nice kids. Because they rotate stations each day, my daughter MJ had a different instructor every day. Each instructor did a great job explaining and demonstrating what MJ should do. But it just wasn’t “clicking.”
That technique doesn’t look quite right.
Today, her newest instructor watched MJ dive off the blocks a couple of times. Then this 16 year old expert quietly walked over to the supply room and emerged with a pool noodle. She held the noodle parallel to the water a few feet in front of the block on which my daughter was standing. Then she said, “OK MJ. Dive over this noodle without touching it.”
MJ dove and barely nicked the noodle. On her second try, she cleared it completely. After about 10 more tries with the noodle, the young lady tossed it to the side and told MJ to give it a shot without it.
Did any of these women need a pool noodle while learning to dive? Who knows? More importantly, who cares?
splash (I was going to make that huge for emphasis… but in diving a big splash is bad).
She dove nearly flawlessly into the pool. After a few more attempts and some minor adjustments, she had it. She could dive off the blocks like a pro!
That is what a special education teacher does.
We provide the right pool noodle for each kid.
MJ could dive. She just needed to look at the challenge a little differently. Does that make her a worse diver than someone else? Should she be penalized for learning how to dive differently than others had learned? Did she fail because it took her more time and attempts? Of course not. She dove incredibly well. Who cares how she got there?
MJ may never be a Katie Ledecky… but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t be proud of the obstacle she overcame today. I know I am.
That is what special educators are experts in… finding the right “pool noodle” and helping kids to help themselves overcome their obstacles. Even though the right “pool noodle” might be different for each kid I teach, I know it is out there. I just have to rely on my experience, training, and instincts to find the right match.
So the next time someone asks me, “What do special education teachers do?”, I will proudly tell them...
Hi. I forgot to add that if anyone is interested in education, please check out or submit educational posts under the steemiteducation tag!
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I taught special-ed for a decade. You hit the nail on the head. Excellent description of what I used to do!
Thanks! That means a lot coming from someone who gets it!
Thank you. I have two children who need pool noodles! I am hoping that, eventually, their individualized education plan will allow them to depart the special-ed system, which has given them a boost when they needed it the most. Eventually, I hope they can become fully functioning adults. Thank you for what you do. You are indespensable.
That is a great attitude to have! That is the exact goal of special education... help kids build the skills needed to be successful without us. You'd be surprised how many people don't get that. It sounds like your kids have a great support system in you and you have high expectations for them. That is a powerful combination!
Wish I could upvote you more for this. Big thank you to all special ed teachers out there.
Thanks! I'm lucky to be able to work with awesome kids!
The world needs more teachers like you.
That's nice to say but I am not even close to the best ones I know. But I will keep trying!
Special educators are special teachers themselves. Their patience and understanding for their students or pupils is immeasurable to some degree that they give all their heart to their job and they make sure that the sstudents learn with a care and guidance.
Congratulations to your daughter. I also missed that part of my life which is to learn how to swim.
Thanks for the kind words! Sorry you missed on the swimming but there will be many fun challenges for you to overcome. Right now I know you are on a very big challenge. Stay strong!
This is a very great way of explaining what a special-ed teacher can do. Fantastic post! We have had a few special-ed teachers over the years and all of them were so compassion and patience that we will always remember them. What kind of special education do you teach? Occupational therapy? Speech?
I am so happy that you have had such good experiences with special educators! I work with kids who have learning disabilites, intellectual disabilites, emotional disorders and kids with autism spectrum disorder. Basically I teach awesome kids who just need a pool noodle or two.
That is so awesome! We wish more kids could have 'noodle support'. It must be a very fulfilling experience to see these kids grow up and move beyond their current circumstances. You have an amazing job. :-)
That's a lovely story you sound very passionate. So if a first you don't succeed try, try and try again. Thanks for sharing.
Exactly! There is always a way!
Excellent story. I think the biggest issue is whether or not someone is suited to their job as a teacher. Too many people became teachers for a steady paycheck and summers off. The ones like you who actually love the kids and their job, who care enough to find the right pool noodles, well hats off to that ;)
You'd be surprised how many good teachers I know. I think it's one of those situations where a few of bad ones are so bad that it's easy to make a leap that they represesnt the majority of teachers. I have seen studies where they polled individuals and asked their general opinions of teachers. The answer where negative but when they asked a follow up question about the specific teachers they have had experience with, they same people's answers were very positive. For example my kids have had aproximately 15 teachers. One was not very good. Another was ok. But 13 out of 15 were great. And a few of those were so awesome that they drastically improved my children's lives. But it is far more likely to talk at length about the one negative experience. I have to catch my self and make sure if I do, I also talk about the great ones.
Then you are definitely in an amazing district. I know what you're saying about the tendency to focus on the negative, but that's not my nature. I just had a lot of mediocre to crappy teachers, haha! I did have a few awesome ones though, and they are the ones that stand out for me. I made sure to return and tell them that ;)
I'd say one teacher who becomes one because of the summers is too many lol. They simply don't get it. Luckily the vast majority of them can't take what teacching really is and quit in the first few years. Some manage to hang on but in my experience it isn't many.
great for your daughter @hanshorfirst
that awesome education for kids
Thanks! I'm very proud of her.
you are welcome @hansotfirst
give a medal of honor :D