Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, & Secondary School

Summary of What they do:

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

What Teacher Assistants Do

Teacher assistants work with a licensed teacher to give students additional attention and instruction.

Duties

Some teacher assistants work exclusively with special education students who attend traditional classes.

Teacher assistants typically do the following:

• Reinforce lessons by reviewing material with students one-on-one or in small groups
• Follow school and class rules to teach students proper behavior
• Help teachers with recordkeeping, such as taking attendance and calculating grades
• Get equipment or materials ready to help teachers prepare for lessons
• Supervise students outside of the classroom, such as between classes, during lunch and recess, and on field trips

Teacher assistants also are called teacher aides, instructional aides, paraprofessionals, education assistants, and paraeducators.

Teacher assistants work with or under the guidance of a licensed teacher. Reviewing with students individually or in small groups, teacher assistants help reinforce the lessons that teachers introduce.

Teacher assistants may provide feedback to teachers for monitoring student progress. Some teacher assistants meet regularly with teachers to discuss lesson plans and students’ development.

Some teacher assistants work only with special education students.  When special education students attend regular classes, these teacher assistants help them understand the material and adapt the information to their learning style. Teacher assistants may also work with students who have severe disabilities in separate classrooms. They help these students with basic needs, such as eating or personal hygiene. Teacher assistants may help young adults with disabilities to learn skills necessary for finding a job or living independently after graduation.

Some teacher assistants help in specific areas. For example, they may work in a computer laboratory, helping students use programs or software. Others may work as cafeteria attendants, supervising students during lunchtime.

Teacher assistants in childcare centers work with a lead teacher to provide individualized attention that young children need. They help with educational activities, supervise the children at play, and help with feeding and other basic care.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Teacher assistants need to be clear and concise in discussing student progress with teachers and parents.

Interpersonal skills. Teacher assistants must be able to develop relationships with a variety of people, including teachers, students, parents, and administrators.

Patience. Working with students of different abilities and backgrounds may be difficult. Teacher assistants must be understanding with students.

Resourcefulness. Teacher assistants must find ways to explain information to students who have different learning styles.

Tasks On The Job

1. Assist in bus loading and unloading.
2. Assist librarians in school libraries.
3. Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
4. Clean classrooms.
5. Collect money from students for school-related projects.
6. Conduct demonstrations to teach skills, such as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
7. Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
8. Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
9. Distribute tests and homework assignments and collect them when they are completed.
10. Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
11. Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
12. Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
13. Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
14. Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories, and assist students with hardware and software use.
15. Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
16. Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
17. Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their eye levels and perceptual skills.
18. Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
19. Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
20. Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids, such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs.
21. Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
22. Prepare lesson outlines and plans in assigned subject areas and submit outlines to teachers for review.
23. Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
24. Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
25. Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
26. Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
27. Teach social skills to students.
28. Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
29. Type, file, and duplicate materials.
30. Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.