Teacher Assistant Training And Jobs

About Teacher Assistants

Teacher assistants (TAs), sometimes known as teacher aides or instructional aides, provide instructional and/or clerical support for teachers, thereby freeing the teacher to devote more time to lesson planning and teaching. TA work assignments are often discretionary based on the needs of the teacher being assisted. Some teacher assistants perform exclusively clerical tasks which do not involve student instruction, such as monitoring playgrounds or acting as lunchroom attendants. Most TAs, however, include some instructional work along with their clerical duties. They often provide instructional reinforcement to students or assist students in learning class material using the teacher's lesson plans.

The need for teacher assistants is especially acute in the instruction of special education students, and as a result there are many TAs who work extensively with them. As schools begin to integrate more special education students into general education classrooms, the need for teacher assistants increases. TAs often attend to the physical needs of students with disabilities in these settings, which includes things like feeding them, teaching them good grooming habits, or assisting them when riding the school bus. TAs also provide personal attention to students with other special needs, such as those who speak English as a second language.

Teacher Assistant Responsibilities

Teacher assistants are utilized at nearly all levels of academic instruction. They exist at the postsecondary level, where the teaching assistants are usually students at the same level employed on a temporary basis by a college or university in teaching-related responsibilities. For example, Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are typically graduate students themselves and Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs) are usually undergraduate students. At the postsecondary level, duties often include tutoring, grading homework or exams, administering tests, and assisting a professor. The majority of teacher assistants, however, are adults who work in primary and secondary educational settings. At the secondary school level, teacher assistants often specialize in a certain subject, such as math or history. There are also some TAs who work in preschools and other child care centers. In this type of setting, the assistant will often work with infants and toddlers, assisting in feeding and other basic care activities.

Simply put, a teacher assistant serves in a teaching capacity for which a teacher or another professional has ultimate responsibility. Actual duties can be varied and widespread. A partial list of the daily responsibilities a teacher assistant might be faced with could include the following:

• Enforce administration policies and rules
• Help prepare materials for instruction
• Set up equipment
• Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities
• Grade tests and papers and record grades
• Display students' work
• Observe students' performance
• Record relevant data to assess progress
• Instruct students in the use and care of equipment
• Supervise students in the cafeteria, schoolyard, and hallways, or on field trips
• Listen while students read
• Help students find information for reports
• Check homework
• Keep health and attendance records
• Make multiple copies of materials
• Maintain inventory of supplies
• Operate audiovisual equipment
• Keep classroom equipment in order
• Laminate teaching materials

Teacher assistants can work in a variety of settings but most of them do the bulk of their work in school classrooms. Many also spend some time outdoors when supervising recess when weather permits. Much of the TA's workday is spent standing, walking, or kneeling. Many TAs work part-time but even full-time workers sometimes do not average 40 hours of work per week. Most assistants work the traditional 9- to 10-month school year.

The job has both favorable and unfavorable aspects. The personal satisfaction that comes with seeing students develop and learn can be very rewarding. On the other hand, working closely with students can be both physically and emotionally tiring. In particular, TAs who work with special education students are often required to perform somewhat strenuous tasks (such as lifting) as part of helping students with their daily routine. There can also be some boredom associated with the clerical aspects of the job, such as data entry or making large amounts of copies of material.

In order to succeed as a teacher assistant, an individual needs a great deal of patience. Other very important attributes for the job are strong communication skills and good writing skills. Teacher assistants also must demonstrate initiative and a willingness to follow a teacher's directions. An ability to speak a second language, especially Spanish, is a highly sought-after trait for this profession.

Employment Outlook

The job outlook for teacher assistants is expected to be favorable. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDL BLS) expects solid growth in this field over the next decade. Although school enrollments in the aggregate are projected to increase slowly over the next decade, faster growth is expected among special education students and students for whom English is a second language. These students are the ones who most need teacher assistants. An increase in the number of after-school programs and summer programs will also open up new opportunities for teacher assistants.

Another factor which bodes well for TA job growth is an increasingly large focus on school quality and accountability. Metrics such as standardized testing are being closely scrutinized and as a result, growing numbers of teacher assistants will likely be needed to help teachers prepare students for these tests and to provide extra assistance to students who perform poorly on them.

The best opportunities for jobs will go to TAs with at least two years of formal postsecondary education. Those who can speak a foreign language or who have experience in helping special education students will also be in high demand. Employment opportunities will vary by region of the country. In general, regions with high population and school enrollment growth should also experience rapid growth in the demand for teacher assistants. Many communities in the South and West are projected to fit into this category.

Teacher Assistant Education, Certification, and Licensing

Educational requirements for teacher assistants vary by state and school district. About one-third of all states presently have guidelines or minimum educational standards in-place for the hiring and training of teacher assistants, and a number of other states are in the process of implementing them. Requirements range from a high school diploma to some college training, although to an increasing extent employers are showing a preference for applicants who have at least some related college coursework. Many schools require TAs to have prior experience in working with children and some require the applicant to pass a background check. In general, TAs with instructional responsibilities require more training than those who perform strictly clerical tasks. Recently-enacted Federal guidelines mandate that teacher assistants who work in Title 1 schools (i.e., public schools having a large proportion of students from low-income households) have a minimum of two years of college or be able to successfully pass a rigorous state or local assessment.

A number of colleges offer two-year associate degree or certificate programs that prepare graduates to work as teacher assistants. Much of the training a TA receives, however, is acquired on-the-job. Assistants who tutor students and/or review lessons with them must have a thorough understanding of class material and how the school operates. They must also be thoroughly familiar with the specific instructional methods used by the teacher. TAs also need to know how to operate audiovisual equipment, keep records, and prepare instructional materials.

Resources for Teacher Assistants

• American Federation of Teachers
• National Education Association
• National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals
• TA chat forum
• International Teaching Assistant Handbook

Major Employers of Teacher Assistants

The large majority of teacher assistants work for public and private schools. Other employers include child care centers and religious and community centers. Approximately 40% of teacher assistants work part time.

Schools for Teacher Assistants are listed in the column to the left.

The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Teacher Assistants by major metro area.

The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Teacher Assistants, along with salary data by industry.

The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.