Itinerant Teacher/

Teacher Consultant

Rachael Abler & Paula Wade

April 13, 2009

What is a teacher
consultant/Itinerant teacher?

A teacher who works with students that

are hard of hearing or deaf.
They travel to several different schools.
A teacher who works with students in a
variety of settings.

One School
Multiple Schools
Multiple Districts
Push in
Pull out
Small Group
One to one

Hiring
They are hired by ISDs or Public
School Districts.

What they do?

An itinerant teacher of the deaf/hard of
hearing generally travels around, visiting
multiple deaf and hard of hearing students in
local neighborhood school programs. The
itinerant acts as a link between the school and
family of the deaf or hard of hearing child.

Berke, Jamie. 2009. Education - Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and Hard ofHearing.

Work to connect general education curricula by

working with general education staff
Link D/HH to general education curricula, may
adapt curricula, modify, or provide additional
resources

Qualifications to become a
TC
State
of
Michigan
Masters degree with valid Michigan teaching
certificate and HI special education
endorsement

Three years of successful teaching experience

Experience in supporting students with
moderate and severe impairments
Ability to obtain teacher consultant approval
from the State of Michigan

Michigan Association of School Boards. 2009. Teacher Consultant- Hearing Impaired. Retrieved on April 7,
2009 from http://masb.mistaff.com/teacher_consultant_hearing_impaired .

Daily Routine
Changes daily
Can change due to
emergencies
Depends on the day
Some days start in the
office with paper work
Prepare for meetings
Prepare for lessons

Start at the school

Talk with teacher
Work with student

Travel to office or
another school

Weekly Routine
Day in the office
Service Days
Work with the students
Check equipment

Meeting Day
Meeting with children
Based on IEP

All days include working with students

Meetings and planning can be put off

Philosophy
An itinerant teacher fulfills many roles,
a few key ones which are listed below:
Make sure student has
appropriate/adequate support services.
Monitor language development.
Monitor auditory training and use of
auditory equipment.
Tutoring as needed.

Berke, Jamie. 2009. Education - Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and Hard ofHearing.

Curriculum
There is no set curriculum.
Work is based upon goals and
schools curriculum

Ideal

Reality

Pros

Assist student
Work on certain assignments
Support
Teach Self Advocacy Skills
Teachers
Technology background
Individual Attention

Cons
Pull student out-varies but not all the
time
Times to see them

IEPs
1. ENT
2. Audiological
3. Academic Need

Lessons

Self created
Based on IEP goals
Can relate to struggles or successes
Goals and Objectives
GLCEs

Screening/Assessments

Only a few assessments and screenings: There are hundreds of them.

S.I.F.T.E.R.
Screening Instrument for Targeting
Educational Risk

Ling Sounds
Audiological Examination
Tympanometry
OAE Otoacoustic Emission Screening
Air Conduction
Bone conduction

Other assignments
Struggling aspects
Pre-work
Post-work

Technology

FM Systems
Hearing Aids
Cochlear Implants
Desktop amplifiers
Tower speakers
Soundfield

Travel
Drive Own Car
Responsible for
upkeep
Make your office
Use your own mileage
but get reimbursed
Use own gas

District Owned Car

School district does
upkeep
Have to remove
supplies each night
Use districts mileage
and gas

Paperwork
Initial
Assessment
IEP
1. ENT
2. Audiological
3. Academic NeedReport

Teacher information

Resources
BOOKS FOR ITINERANT TEACHERS
Smith, Mary Deane (1997). The Art of Itinerant
Teaching for Teachers of the Deaf & Hard of
Hearing .
Bullard, Carolyn. The Itinerant Teacher's Handbook.

Published articles:
American Annals of the Deaf has published at least
two articles:
Luckner, J. & Miller, K., 2: (March), Itinerant Teachers:
Responsibilities, Perceptions, Preparation, and
Students Served, volume 139, 111-118.
Yarger, C.C., & Luckner, J.L. (1999). Itinerant
Teaching: The Inside Story. volume 144(4), 309-314.

Resources

Web Resources:
Role of the Itinerant Teacher for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Page with details on the tasks and responsibilities of an itinerant teacher.
Chotiner-Solano, Barbara. (2009). The Itinerant Connection. Retrieved
on April 7, 2009 from

http://deafness.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=deafness&cdn=health&tm=2&f=00&su=p284.9.
336.ip_p736.8.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.theitinerantconnection.com/

This website defines itinerant teaching, and has downloadable forms for itinerant
teachers.

Durkin, Lauren, Jill Jablonski,Krystyne Kendrick, Kara Yang.

Strategies for the Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from

http://deafness.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=deafness&cdn=health&tm=2&f=00&su=p284.9.3
36.ip_p736.8.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.deafed.net/PublishedDocs/TCNJ%2520itinerant%2520s
trategies.ppt

This is a PowerPoint presentation of advice and guidance for itinerant teachers.

The Florida Deaf Education Professional Development Online Community .

2002. Itinerant Tools and Treasures . Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from

http://deafness.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=deafness&cdn=health&tm=2&f=00&su=p284.9.336
.ip_p736.8.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/training/itinerant/index.html

The Resource Materials and Technology Center at the Florida School for the Deaf
and Blind in St. Augustine suggests resources for itinerant teachers.

Mainstream Teachers
Resources
They don't have to do it alone, we
(Itinerant TODs) are they to support
the student AND support the
teachers.

Durkin, Lauren, Jill Jablonski,Krystyne Kendrick, Kara Yang.

Strategies for the Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Retrieved
on April 7, 2009 from
http://deafness.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=deafness&cdn=health&tm=2&f=00&su=p284.9.336.ip_
p736.8.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.deafed.net/PublishedDocs/TCNJ%2520itinerant%2520strategies.pp
t

References
All Educational Articles or
Informative Information

Berke, Jamie. 2009. Education - Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and Hard ofHearing.
Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from http://deafness.about.com/cs/schooling/a/itinerant.htm.

Durkin, Lauren, Jill Jablonski,Krystyne Kendrick, Kara Yang. Strategies for the Itinerant Teacher of the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from
http://deafness.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?
zi=1/XJ&sdn=deafness&cdn=health&tm=2&f=00&su=p284.9.336.ip_p736.8.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&b
ts=1&zu=http%3A//www.deafed.net/PublishedDocs/TCNJ%2520itinerant%2520strategies.ppt

Moores, Donald. 2008. Inclusion, Itinerant Teachers, and the Pull-out Model. Retrieved from April 7,
2009 from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_annals_of_the_deaf/v153/153.3.moores.html
(Electronic Version)

Nett, Kathy. What is an Itinerant Teacher?. Retrieved from April 7, 2009 from
lms.spasd.k12.wi.us/gems/khnett/WHATISANITINERANTTEACHEROFTH.doc (Electronic Version)

Reed, Suzanne. 2002. Beliefs and Practices of Itinerant Teachers of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Children Concerning Literacy Development . Retrieved on April 7, 2009 from
http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_annals_of_the_deaf/v148/148.4reed.html (Election Version)