The Special Education Teacher Identity Crisis: Prescriptive or Pragmatic? Part I
Over the course of my many classroom visits and teacher observations, I am truly in awe of the master teacher. These teachers excel at all aspects of teaching and learning, from expert planning to delivering engaging, differentiated lessons. They effortlessly apply instructional strategies and pedagogy to meet the needs of their most challenged students, using data to guide decisions and employing intensive, systematic instruction to accelerate learning.
However, mastery does not come easily. It requires complete dedication and a constant appetite for improvement. So where does a new special education teacher begin? One critical step is resolving the “identity crisis” of whether to adopt a prescriptive or pragmatic approach. Should teachers prescribe methods and materials tailored to student needs or focus on teaching the curriculum in lock-step?
Prescriptive vs. Pragmatic: A Classroom Comparison
I recently observed two classrooms that exemplified these approaches. In one English 9 class for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, the teacher strictly followed the textbook. Students were on vastly different reading levels, yet the instruction lacked differentiation, pre-teaching, or guided strategies. The pragmatic, curriculum-focused approach left one struggling student completely shut down by the end of the lesson.
In contrast, I observed an English 11 class taught by a master teacher. She used diagnostic assessments to determine students’ reading levels, planned lessons based on state standards, and selectively chose key content to focus on. Her instruction included pre-teaching background knowledge, interactive vocabulary work, and scaffolded reading strategies. The students, despite their challenges, were engaged, confident, and successful due to her tailored instructional methods.
Key Observations and Questions
From these observations, several questions arose:
- Has the teacher conducted diagnostic assessments to understand students’ strengths and weaknesses?
- Are students appropriately grouped based on their needs?
- How can young teachers be mentored to adopt a more diagnostic/prescriptive approach?
Creating Effective Special Education Instruction
A true special education interventionist adopts a prescriptive approach, tailoring lessons to meet the unique needs of students. This requires diagnostic assessments, differentiated instruction, and a deep understanding of students’ abilities. By focusing on what works for individual students, teachers can foster success and growth.
In Part II of this blog, I will delve deeper into research-based strategies for supporting our most struggling students. Stay tuned!
