If you were a relatively new SPED teacher.....

[greenfiremajick]

OK, I have 1 year exp as a resource room teacher for grades K-3rd. I have now been hired as a SPED resource teacher for grades K-6. There will be aprox 17 students with varying needs, disabilities, etc...

My post is about this: What sort of questions, or things to know, would you ask before you arrive, in order to get ready for the new school year? I would like to prepare ahead of time and be able to get the things I need before arriving as well. Here are the few I have come up with:

What reading program do you use?

What math program do you use?

Will there be an aide available?

What sort of "outs" are there?

[hazelwood]

You may want to ask if you are going to be a "pull-out" or "push-in" program where you go into the classroom. Are you going to be co-teaching with other teachers, etc.

[sped75]

Action Reading is a program that I use for those in an intervention program around 1st or 2nd grade. It is a very good program. I purchased the home version which was much cheaper and good for small groups. However, they do have a classroom version that is better for larger groups.

[Bananas]

How is the documentation done for the goals from the IEPs? Is there a schedule to follow throughout the year for progress reports for the goals? Is there a hierarchy who you answer to? Coop? Sped supervisor? Principal? How does RtI come into the equation? What will your caseload be and the expectations that go along with it?

[Boxcar]

I'd ask:

What other professionals will I work with?
What sort of equipment do i need to be familiar with?
Will I be teamming?
What sort of needs will I be addressing - mild, mederate, severe? - physical, developmental, emotional, learning?

[Brit]

misposted. sorry.