What is an Itinerant Teacher?

Till not too long ago, I hadn’t heard the time period “itinerant trainer” earlier than. It wasn’t till I began wanting into side jobs as a particular schooling trainer that I stumbled upon itinerant instructing. I got here throughout a job posting from an area company, and it has been an amazing match! Learn on to seek out out extra about what this job entails.

Definition of a SEIT

I dwell in New York state. In keeping with the state, SEIS (particular schooling itinerant providers) are “providers supplied by licensed particular schooling lecturers of an accepted preschool program on an itinerant foundation to a preschool scholar with a incapacity”.

These providers are supplied by a Particular Training Itinerant Instructor (SEIT) “to satisfy the person wants of a preschool scholar with a incapacity who attends an early childhood program”.

Mainly, a SEIT travels round to the kid’s preschool, daycare, residence, or group setting to supply one on one providers. This picture from SC Partnerships for Inclusion explains what a SEIT does. In addition they have a free SEIT academy for anybody fascinated about studying extra.

My expertise as a SEIT

What drew me to this position was the pliability. SEITs get to decide on their caseload, what number of hours they work, and make their very own schedule.

I work my full-time instructing job from 8:00 am-3:00 pm. Then, I used to be in a position to hyperlink up with one scholar who’s in an afterschool program till 4:30. I used to be in a position to speak together with her dad and mom and set up my hours. My different scholar that I see receives his providers in his residence.

To learn extra concerning the particular job duties of a SEIT offering early intervention providers, you can read my other blog about this here.

Getting began

The very first thing you are able to do is a job search to see what alternatives can be found in your space.

While you get an interview, discuss your expertise working with youngsters with particular wants. You may discuss your expertise writing IEPs, progress stories, speaking with dad and mom, and so forth.

When you full the onboarding course of, you’ll begin seeing the brand new caseload alternatives come by. Since I work a full-time job, my time to do SEIT providers is restricted. Nonetheless, if somebody needs to make this their full-time job, or near full time, there are sufficient instances accessible for them to do this.

Issues to bear in mind

Identical to any job, there are professionals and cons. One thing to contemplate a few SEIT place is the pliability of it. In case you are somebody who wants a job with an 8-hour shift in a single place, then this job just isn’t for you.

This job additionally entails a number of journey. Personally, I plan to solely settle for instances which might be both near my faculty the place I work full-time, or near my residence.

Since this job requires journey, be ready to form of dwell out of your automobile on the subject of bringing provides, video games, toys, and so forth. to have your scholar play with. I preserve quite a lot of board video games, puzzles, books, and sensory actions behind my automobile in a automobile organizer. This lets me simply pull this stuff after I want them.

I even have a big trainer bag with a folder in it that incorporates paper actions, like coloring. I’m continually taking this stuff out and in of my automobile when I’m doing this job! You might spend money on a touring trainer bag like this one that will help you keep organized.

One other factor to contemplate is moreover the precise providers supplied within the residence or faculty, SEITs do want to finish some paperwork, and also you will not be paid for the entire paperwork. This paperwork can embody the IEP, a month-to-month report, quarterly stories, and so forth.

Take a look at this SSE blog on how to implement IEP’s in a preschool classroom. Though it’s geared towards a much bigger group of scholars, there’s nice assets on this weblog for retaining monitor of scholars’ IEP objectives, progress monitoring, and so forth.

Being an itinerant trainer generally is a nice expertise for any particular schooling lecturers in search of some additional revenue and a rewarding alternative.

Occupied with early intervention as a aspect job? Read about that here!