{"id":18234,"date":"2018-03-26T13:10:41","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T12:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stonebridge-blog.positive-dedicated.net\/?p=18234"},"modified":"2020-11-26T17:40:42","modified_gmt":"2020-11-26T17:40:42","slug":"the-role-of-a-teaching-assistant-comprehensive-guide-e-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stonebridge.uk.com\/blog\/teaching-assistant\/the-role-of-a-teaching-assistant-comprehensive-guide-e-book\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of a Teaching Assistant (Comprehensive Guide + E-book)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Qualifications, Responsibilities and Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What Do Teaching Assistants Do?<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

A teaching assistant works alongside a teacher in a primary or a secondary school. They have two main roles: one is to support the main teachers and the other is to support children\u2019s learning. Teaching assistants play an essential part in reducing the teacher\u2019s stress and workload and keeping classroom disruption to a minimum. TAs offer the teachers extra time to focus on the less able students, and also push the more skilled students ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

From monitoring children\u2019s emotions and dealing with playground accidents to building up confidence or helping with classroom displays, teaching assistants are the school\u2019s coaches, cheerleaders and artists. The day to day responsibilities of a TA include, but are not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Delivering tailored teaching activities to children on a one-to-one basis, or in small groups.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Monitoring students\u2019 progress.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Finding engaging ways to develop the children\u2019s study abilities.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Helping with various administrative duties.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Creating engaging and eye-catching displays using the children\u2019s work.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Coordinating specific parts of the school day, such as guided reading.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Supporting students with special education needs.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Getting involved in lesson planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Teaching assistants who have qualified as higher level teaching assistants (HLTAs) will be able to hold a class without supervision. This means that they can cover for the lead teacher if they are absent and offer teachers the time to plan and mark work.<\/p>\n

    What skills do you need to be a teaching assistant?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    When it comes to getting a job as a teaching assistant, the certification is important. However if you have real-life skills as well as some experience of working with children, this may set you apart from other candidates. If you have no relevant experience you can volunteer at a local school, help out on school trips or assist with other extra-curricular activities. The skills and characteristics that make a great teaching assistant include:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • A love of working with children.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • The ability to motivate, inspire and support children.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Excellent organisational skills, time management and the ability to plan ahead.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Patience and the ability to cope with challenging behaviour.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Emotional intelligence.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Critical judgement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n