The Role of Classroom Assistants
Teaching aides help teachers perform various tasks, allowing the teacher to free up time to engage in lesson planning and instruction. Many of these aides help teachers with the hopes of accumulating experience needed to eventually enter the classroom as teachers once completing a degree. For higher level education, aides need some background knowledge and possibly a degree in a related field.
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Teaching
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Teaching aids perform some instruction, helping students understand class material and giving students more individual attention. Teacher's assistants help students understand lessons they are struggling with. They listen to students read to make sure they are grasping the material. They remind students of key points in the lesson when they forget. Teaching assistants at the secondary level are usually specialized in a specific subject, allowing them to understand the principles the teachers reinforce, such as writing and science. They sometimes check homework to make sure students understand concepts
Monitoring
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Teachers assistants give additional supervision when students go to the cafeteria, playground and on field trips. They also monitor the hallways. Some assistants are not in the classroom at all, but instead attend to playgrounds and the lunchroom exclusively.
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Clerical Work
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Teaching assistants perform clerical work to help take the load off the teacher. They get equipment needed to carry out a classroom activity, such as a DVD player for watching a movie. They record grades, and some grade tests and papers. Some teaching assistants specialize in helping students understand equipment, especially computers. These assistants acquire proficiency in standard programs, such as word processors, and educational software used in the computer lab. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that some teachers find administrative duties tedious.
Special Education
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Some teaching assistants specialize in special education students. Schools are increasingly integrating special education students into the general classroom, so classrooms need teaching assistants to give students with additional attention and help. These assistants also help these students with tasks, such as grooming, feeding and helping students prepare to ride the bus. Some assistants may find working with special education students physically exhausting and emotionally draining.
University Assistants
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Universities sometimes hire classroom assistants, often students who work for the university. This opportunity allows assistants to obtain teaching experience and earn a wage while going to school. These assistants grade papers, maintain records, assist instructors in course lectures, administer exams and work with instructors to develop homework problems. Some assistants have office hours where students can meet with them and receive additional instruction. Some teaching assistants help set up equipment, especially in technology and science-related classrooms. Those working in laboratories must be aware of safety concerns and must make sure students take safety precautions.
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References
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