What Is a Teacher's Aide?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, becoming a teacher's aide is a good career choice because employment is expected to increase by 10 percent in the next decade. Teacher aides assist the lead teacher in the classroom with a variety of tasks and students. They may assist students in the classroom by helping them individually, as well as assisting teachers outside during breaks. They can choose to work with various populations, including special education children or preschool children.

Types

Most teacher aides work in general education classrooms, in the elementary or middle school grades, assisting the head teacher with her curriculum. However, several teacher aides prefer using their skills and attributes by helping in a special education classroom. These teacher aides not only perform regular duties but assist children with feeding, toileting and other physical issues. They may also have to use some specialized learning techniques with those children, whom are learning-delayed. Other people like working with younger children in a preschool classroom and help head teachers lead activities and see to their basic needs.

Duties

While each type of teacher aide varies, they do have some similar duties that most partake in each day. Teacher aides help the head teacher follow her daily lesson plans by helping students who are struggling in certain subjects. They may do this by reviewing phonics and helping a child read or tutoring a child in math skills. They also may help develop lessons plans with the teacher and grade test papers. Teacher aides attend field trips and help out on the playground to assist with supervision.

Attributes

Most importantly, teacher aides should enjoy working with children since they will be with them the majority of each day. They need to be patient and flexible because children will make mistakes and try educators' patience regularly. Teacher aides should to be able to communicate effectively with teachers, parents and students, and they should be well versed in reading, phonics, language and math to tutor students in those subjects. Teacher aides need to be creative to think of new ways to teach students material if they are not grasping it.

Education and Training

Teacher aides can become employed with only a high school diploma, but if they wish to work in a specialized classroom, extra classes will help them. After the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2001, any teacher aides who wish to work in a Title 1 school for low-income families have to complete a two-year degree or pass their state's paraprofessional exam. They must also pass a criminal background check to work with children and stay current on their CPR and first-aid training.

Education Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that teacher aides accounted for 1.3 million jobs in 2006, and that number is estimated to increase over the next several years. About 75 percent of those teacher aides worked in public and private schools, while the rest chose to work at child care centers.