What I Do And Why I Do It – Shubhra Misra

Author:  Shubhra Misra | May 2nd, 2022

Hi! I am Shubhra and I am a Special Educator (SE) in the Inclusive Education Department at Sethu.

What is a special educator?
A special educator is a person who uses different teaching aids, and teaching strategies to help any child having difficulties in understanding concepts in maths or reading, spelling, recalling,and writing or generally not able to follow the curriculum at school. A SE teaches in a way the child can learn.

What do you need to study to become one?
There are various courses one can do to become a Special Educator. There are diploma courses that one can do after 12th Std or high school. My recommendation, however, is the B.Ed Special Education from SNDT University in Mumbai or Pune. Another option is a correspondence course from IGNOU or any RCI (Rehabilitation Council Of India) recognised course. In Goa, Special Education courses are available in The Sanjay Centre for Special Education, Porvorim,and Dyanvardhini Divyang College of B.Ed Special Education,Vasco.
I did my P.G Diploma in The education of Physically Handicapped from The Spastics Society Of India, Mumbai University.

How long have I been a special educator?
I have been in this field for about 6-7 years. During this time I have mostly worked in a ‘special school’ setup and for a very brief period in a regular school as a resource room teacher.

What qualities make an excellent special educator?
Patience and an eagerness to learn new concepts, new strategies,and the various ways in which a SE can make a difference in the child’s academic life. Being able to tie in the teaching of life skills development and communicating and empowering the family of the child. The ability to coordinate with all the stakeholders working with the child is also an essential quality.

My work at Sethu –
Some children visit Sethu with concerns like inattention, inability to focus on tasks, and difficulty in reading or writing. They may have challenges when completing their school work, sequencing,or have confusion with letter sounds and understanding maths skills – basically anything that is hindering their learning. This is where The Inclusive Education Department is needed and I come into the picture at Sethu. I carry out a thorough assessment of academic skills and ask lots of questions to understand where exactly the child is having difficulty. Based on this I prepare and execute an intervention plan for 3 months, taking into consideration the school and parent’s concerns.

Do visit Sethu if you think your child has any of the above concerns and we can help chalk out a plan together. Reach out to our People Team at +91-7720013749 or email us at [email protected] between 9 am to 5 pm on Tuesday to Saturday.