The job of a paraprofessional is to work under a professional teacher, but they are more than just an assistance. They work as a part of a team to ensure that students are learning. To be successful, they need to be respected and included in the decision-making process. For the best outcomes, follow these five tips for working with a paraprofessional.
1. Respect Their Contribution
Too many people view a paraprofessional as just an assistant. In reality, they are responsible for a wide range of activities in the classroom. While one of their jobs is to implement teacher-planned instructions, they also serve as behavioral supports and supervise the students. During the school day, they may also help with personal care tasks like bathroom breaks, …show more content…
Some Supervision Is Needed
While the paraprofessional may be trained for their role, they still need some supervision from the teacher. This supervision helps them to grow and become better at their job. At the same time, teachers cannot take things too far. If they give the paraprofessional too much work, it can end up making the individual distressed, unhappy or resentful. The right balance of leadership and supervision ensures that instructional time is spent productively.
4. Communication Is Key
Communication is not just telling someone what to do. It involves actively listening, trusting the other person, creating clear expectations and respecting differences. When the classroom does not have effective communicators, it ruins the efficiency and quality of work in the classroom.
An estimate 90 percent of all communication is nonverbal. This means that good communicators know how to use hand gestures and nonverbal communication styles. There will always be difficult conversations, but good communicators are able to navigate these experiences with grace. In some classrooms, the teacher creates a notebook or communication log where everyone can write notes about what is going on in the classroom.
5. Plan
1. Respect Their Contribution
Too many people view a paraprofessional as just an assistant. In reality, they are responsible for a wide range of activities in the classroom. While one of their jobs is to implement teacher-planned instructions, they also serve as behavioral supports and supervise the students. During the school day, they may also help with personal care tasks like bathroom breaks, …show more content…
Some Supervision Is Needed
While the paraprofessional may be trained for their role, they still need some supervision from the teacher. This supervision helps them to grow and become better at their job. At the same time, teachers cannot take things too far. If they give the paraprofessional too much work, it can end up making the individual distressed, unhappy or resentful. The right balance of leadership and supervision ensures that instructional time is spent productively.
4. Communication Is Key
Communication is not just telling someone what to do. It involves actively listening, trusting the other person, creating clear expectations and respecting differences. When the classroom does not have effective communicators, it ruins the efficiency and quality of work in the classroom.
An estimate 90 percent of all communication is nonverbal. This means that good communicators know how to use hand gestures and nonverbal communication styles. There will always be difficult conversations, but good communicators are able to navigate these experiences with grace. In some classrooms, the teacher creates a notebook or communication log where everyone can write notes about what is going on in the classroom.
5. Plan