Learning how to work with your teacher’s assistant/paraprofessional can be one of the best ways to help your students improve. They play a critical role in supporting the achievement of students. The teacher’s relationship with their paraprofessional can be a model for students on how to work well with others.
Here are a few tips to know when working with your paraprofessional:
1. Learn how to work with your teacher’s assistant by building a relationship with him or her.
Building a relationship with your paraprofessional will help the both of you to deal with difficult times and conflict when they come up in the classroom.
If a relationship is there, there is an understanding that both you and your paraprofessional are working in the best interest of students.
It makes the day smoother and more efficient when you can easily talk to your paraprofessional about things happening in and beyond the classroom.
2. Set expectations and review when necessary when working with your paraprofessional/teacher’s assistant.
When your paraprofessional knows the expectations, it is much easier for him or her to function.
If there are no expectations your paraprofessional may think that anything is acceptable.
Sometimes the expectations of you and your paraprofessional may not be aligned. For example, as the teacher you might expect your para to co-teach but your para may think otherwise. So be sure to set and review expectations when necessary.
3. Assign specific tasks and small/individual student groups to your paraprofessional.
Your para needs to feel empowered and feel that he or she is growing professionally.
Assigning specific tasks as your para’s responsibility will help your para to feel empowered. You may assign grading homework or a small group instruction to your paraprofessional.
4. Train your paraprofessional on how to do small group or individual instruction.
This is one of the best things to do because it will help to improve student learning. I’ve trained paraprofessionals on how to do small group instruction and it helps to relieve some of the pressure on teachers.
Once your paraprofessional is trained on how to do small group, he or she can use the skill to help other students.
For example, I trained a former paraprofessional on how to do small group reading instruction and it was just amazing to see how she grew and how the students grew with small group instruction.
5. Co-teach with your paraprofessional on a subject that he or she enjoys is another way to work well with your paraprofessional.
The paraprofessional in your classroom might enjoy a particular subject area. For example, if your paraprofessional loves Science, you can brainstorm ideas for a lesson and co-teach that lesson.
It will make the paraprofessional feel valued, empowered and want to take initiative on future projects in the classroom.
In conclusion, when you are able to build a relationship with your paraprofessional, set and review expectations, assign specific tasks to your paraprofessional, train your paraprofessional on small group instruction and co-teach a lesson with your paraprofessional it supports the learning and growth of students in the classroom. It also creates a culture of learning when students see that you and your paraprofessional work well together.
What are some of your tips when working with a paraprofessional?