Paraeducators support students in the classroom and provide many other direct services to children and youth and their families, under the direction of a certified teacher or professional practitioner. Many also volunteer to spend time with families outside of these services, such as accompanying the family to a shopping trip or other outing, as an extension of the child's learning in different Life Situations & environments. The end goal is to support the student in becoming as independent as possible, in learning, socializing and self care.
The services and support that a paraeducator supplies are a vital part of academic, social & Life Education. Some of these services include: one-on-one tutoring; assisting with classroom management, instructional assistance in a computer lab, library or media center; facilitating parental involvement activities; acting as a translator & encouraging & facilitating inclusion among typical peers. Sometimes they are there to listen to a parent to brainstorm ideas, to provide encouragement or simply allow them to vent frustration.
Most of the Paraeducators I have had the pleasure of working with are dedicated and go over and above to ensure the safety, well being & highest potential of their student. We are a careful blend of protector, teacher, and disciplinarian. We are one of the first to get blamed when a child gets teased or hurt, yet usually will not take credit when the child learns a new skill. (We give that glory to the student themselves.) We employ "tough love" and "conflict resolution" on a daily basis, feel pain when the student does and we cry tears of happiness when that child progresses-and ultimately moves up and on.
However, there are so many others that feel an overwhelming sense of isolation, division & frustration when they want to help, but simply do not know what to do for a student, or they disagree with other staff members about what to do. Some lose sight of the reason we are there in the first place. I have been in the situation where there is complete dissent between staff members, making for a counter-productive environment for both the staff as well as the students that need our full attention in the interest of everyone's well being.
One of my goals this year is to provide a special workshop series for Paraeducators that will support them in their work, improve interpersonal relationships,spark ideas, help them manage their own health & stress and reduce the frustration that we have all felt to some degree at one time or another.
For now, I have put together these tips especially for Paraeducators everywhere. If you are an experienced Paraeducator, consider taking a newly hired assistant under your wing and show him or her what to do. Show support. If you are a newly hired assistant, focus on the students & know that there are people who will help you learn along the way. Seek them out & ask for guidance.
If you know someone who works hard to support the education & inclusion of children of all abilities, pass this information on, and please remember to thank all support staff for the very important work they are doing!
1- Risk/Mistakes: Let students be independent, take risks & make mistakes.Stay supportive, keep the child safe & let natural consequences be a part of their learning. Find what interests each child and be a motivating force &partner in their learning.
2-Voice/Volume: I have come to the conclusion that most of us talk too much so this is my new mantra: "Talk less-say more". Excess noise in the form of conversation is disruptive to the lesson & the overall learning environment. Save important discussions with staff for the hallway. Give as few prompts as possible and resist temptation to give verbal direction for every aspect of the task. Pair verbal directions with pictures or hand over hand prompting.
3-Discretion/Dignity: Be attentive to the student's physical needs & do not verbalize comments. Be aware of facial expressions and your own body language. Do not express anger, disgust or inconvenience in any way, shape or form, verbally, facially or bodily. Schedule bathroom breaks, tube feedings or splint changes between classes & activities.
4-Communicate/Consult: Keep families & other aides or caregivers informed. Many classrooms us a "Communication Book" that goes back and forth between home & school. Be there to listen to a family's concerns. Be willing to share strategies so that there is consistency between the school & home environments. Some strategies may work in both!
5-Positive Interaction w/ Peers : Encourage other students/staff to speak directly to the student rather than you. If the child is able, either through words, PECS or other communication device, encourage them to respond. Seat students & peers together during activities & lunch/snack time. Give students space (and maybe a little active prompting) to encourage students to socialize & develop friendships. Model positive interactions with staff members for the students to emulate.
6-Time Management: With a little practice, time management will come easily. Use class lecture time to make copies, get PECS or other materials together or program a communication device. A little time away from the student's side will also help to encourage independence.
7-Foster Independence: Use verbal & physical prompts to teach a child how to do a task but do not complete the task for the child. This ultimately dis-empowers the student and limits their abilities even more. Limit hand over hand assistance as soon as possible & give praise & encouragement for effort. A Good way to encourage independence and reduce pressure & fear of failing a task, is to simply say "Just do your best!" (More about positive communication at this link: "Saying It Better" )
8- Allow Choices: We all like to exercise our right to choice. Children are no different. Give the student opportunities for choices, no matter how small or insignificant they seem to be. Teaching all children how to make choices is a vital part of development of responsibility and emotional maturity. It allows a child to exercise control over their environment and ultimately their reactions to their environment.
9- Authentic Work: Students learn best when they actively participate in their assignments. Motivate your student to "do their best" rather than push and impose learning. This allows them to be actively involved in their own learning. Never complete assignments, take a test for or answer questions for students. Praise effort and show family & other caregivers the child's authentic work progress.
10- Ask For Help: We teach the kids all the time to "ask for help" and yet we never follow this advice ourselves. You are not alone! Request assistance when you need it and take a break if you feel overwhelmed. Sometimes we have to stop being the aide, teacher or therapist for a minute, put our own fears and insecurities aside and just observe and listen to what that student needs. Then we can find a way to give that student what they are asking for.
Above all, take care of yourself: eat, sleep, exercise and manage your stress. We want to help the students by setting the example for them to follow. We cannot to that effectively if we can't first help ourselves!
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