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Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

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 you’d do

  • Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
  • Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
  • Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
  • Teach social skills to students.
  • Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
  • Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
  • Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
  • Clean classrooms.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Coordination
  • Service Orientation

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Instructional Assistant
  • Paraeducator
  • Paraprofessional
  • TA (Teacher Assistant)
  • Classroom Aide
  • Educational Assistant

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