Being a teaching assistant can be fun and less tasking, probably because you’re assisting a teacher. The best part of being a teaching assistant is the students. Being part of a student’s life on a day-to-day basis is a position of privilege with many rewards.
A teaching assistant provides essential support to teachers in preschool and school settings, with duties ranging from class preparation to overseeing a child’s personal and social development.
A teaching assistant will also support the teacher by undertaking duties that will free up their time for teaching, such as preparing the classroom for lessons, making resources, and creating displays of children’s work.
In this article, we will explore the responsibilities of teaching assistants, what they earn, and also their job outlook for them.
Here is a review of what you should expect in this post.
What Is A Teaching Assistant?
A teaching assistant (TA) is an individual who assists a teacher with instructional responsibilities.
Teaching assistants, commonly known as TAs, provide the extra ears, eyes, and expertise a teacher needs in school in order to do their job. They are the backbone of support needed in the classroom.
Why Should I Become A Teaching Assistant?
A teaching assistant is a glue that holds a class together. They provide valuable support to the teacher and offer encouragement and help for children experiencing learning difficulties.
Despite the fact that the work environment might not be convenient and pressure from parents and colleagues, a teaching assistant role can be one of the most rewarding careers available. You can become part of a student’s life and watch them learn and grow as the school year progresses.
Here are some other good reasons to think about becoming a teaching assistant:
1. Everyday is Different
Variety is the spice of life, and no two days are ever the same when you’re a teaching assistant. Flexibility is a must-have personal attribute, and this aspect of the job means that your day will always throw up a few surprises.
This is part of the job that makes assistant teaching so unique, and boredom is rarely an issue when working in this industry.
2. Ability to Use Your Good Skills
For example, you have a gift for arts & crafts or can play a musical instrument. These kinds of skills are invaluable in the teaching assistant world.
3. The Students
At the end of the day, the best part of being a teaching assistant is the students. Being part of a student’s life on a day-to-day basis is a position of privilege, with many rewards.
Regardless of your student’s age, the feeling of satisfaction when they achieve their goals is wonderful. The work you do in the classroom can have long-lasting effects that can influence the student’s life in positive ways into their future.
See also: How You Can Become an Executive Assistant?
4. The Satisfaction of Helping Students Overcome Difficulties
A teaching assistant is often tasked with helping students overcome learning difficulties, and the feeling of satisfaction when you do this is compared to none.
5. Flexible Hours
One great thing about being a teaching assistant is that your work is during school hours. This means if you’ve got a family of your own you can fit your job in around your caring responsibilities.
You’ll also enjoy the usual school holidays so that you won’t need to pay for extra childcare or have to make complicated arrangements. Instead, you’ll enjoy spending more time with your loved ones.
There are many good reasons to become a teaching assistant. The ones above are just a few. So, if you would like to enter this profession get yourself enrolled in a training course, and in no time you will be a fully qualified teaching assistant.
What Does A Teaching Assistant Do?
While teachers look after the educational needs of school pupils, assistant teachers are able to take some pressure off them and are uniquely placed to reach out to children to make sure they are accessing their lessons.
A teacher assistant will typically do the following:
- Supervise students in the class, between classes, during lunch and recess, and on field trips.
- Setting up equipment and helping to prepare the classroom for lessons, tidying up afterward, and helping with displays.
- Help teachers with record-keeping, such as tracking attendance and calculating grades.
- Helping with meal times in classrooms.
- Reinforce lessons presented by teachers by reviewing material with students one-on-one or in small groups.
- Listening to children read.
- Helping pupils develop independent learning skills, manage their own learning, and prioritize their time.
What Are The Skills Needed To Be A Teaching Assistant?
The skills that successful candidates will need at whatever level of the job include:
- A positive approach to working with children and the ability to motivate, inspire, and build trust.
- Communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with pupils, parents, teachers, and governors.
- Resilience and being able to take direction.
- Great organizational skills.
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills.
- The ability to cope with challenging and sometimes complex behaviors.
- A willingness to keep up to date with educational policy and training related to your role.
- Patience
- Creative ability
- A flexible and proactive approach
- Respect for diversity, as you’ll be working with pupils from a range of backgrounds.
- Strong regard for pupil safety and well-being.
What Qualifications Do I Need To Be A Teaching Assistant?
Individual schools set their own entry requirements and decide which qualifications and experience they need. You can get an idea of what you’re likely to need by looking at jobs advertised locally. Many will require you to have qualifications in literacy and numeracy.
Also, general schools would prefer you to have practical experience of having worked with children.
Here are some other qualifications that might be needed:
- High school diploma or equivalent qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Education or a relevant field is preferred
- A minimum of 2 years experience as a teaching assistant or similar role
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Outstanding interpersonal and presentation abilities.
How Do I Get Teaching Assistant Work Experience?
A great place to start if you are looking for teaching assistant work experience is to volunteer at either your local school or your child’s school if you are a parent yourself.
Schools are often looking for reading helpers, lunchtime supervisors, and parent volunteers – for example, to help with school trips.
Any form of practical experience of working with children is highly valued for a teaching assistant role, and this doesn’t have to be in schools.
You could gain such experience from extracurricular clubs and activities, in a preschool or nursery setting. Having worked as a childminder would also provide you with a great experience.
Volunteering with children can help you in different ways, they include:
- To develop your understanding of whether you are motivated to work with children.
- Gives you transferable skills – such as interpersonal and communication skills
- Helps your CV skills to stand out in a competitive jobs market.
- Helps give you general work skills and ethics.
How Do I Become An Assistant Teacher?
Some districts require applicants to have a high school diploma; others require at least two years of college or an associate’s degree. Associate’s degree or diploma programs for teacher assistants prepare the participants to develop educational materials, observe students, and understand the role of teachers in the classroom.
Schools may provide training for teacher assistants to acquaint them with the school district and school policies. Unions or professional associations may offer additional training.
Teacher assistants must familiarize themselves with the material their students are covering in class. Doing so may require reviewing the topics with teachers to ensure that the assistants understand and can properly explain the information to students.
Where Do Teaching Assistants Work?
Assistant teachers typically work in preschool, nursery, and school settings, usually within term time and during school hours.
How Much Does A Teaching Assistant Earn?
Your salary will vary depending on your role, responsibilities, and educational setting.
The median annual wage for teacher assistants was $27,920 in May 2021.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for teacher assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Elementary and secondary schools; local –$28,520
- Elementary and secondary schools; private– $27,700
- Child daycare services- $24,680
Employers Of Teaching Assistants Jobs
Teaching assistant jobs are found in:
- Academies
- Colleges and sixth forms
- Independent schools
- Nurseries
- Primary schools
- Secondary schools
- Special schools.
The educational provider, local authorities, and educational recruitment agencies usually advertise vacancies. It’s best to check specific schools, councils, or recruitment websites for opportunities.
Job Outlook
The employment of teacher assistants is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Rising student enrollment along with state and federal funding for education programs should affect growth.
Teacher assistants are more of a supplementary position, as opposed to teachers, who hold a primary position.
Therefore, teacher assistants’ employment opportunities may depend on school districts’ budgets.
Schools are more likely to eliminate teacher assistant positions rather than teaching positions when there is a budget shortfall and more likely to hire teacher assistants when there is a budget surplus.
Career Prospects
As a teaching assistant, you can progress through the grades, ranging from entry-level through to Higher level teaching assistants (HLTA). You’ll advance by gaining experience and taking appropriate qualifications and training.
As you progress, you’ll take on more responsibility – at the HLTA level you will get involved in planning lessons, developing support materials, and delivering lessons unsupervised. You may also be responsible for supporting other teaching assistants.
Working as a teaching assistant can also act as an excellent stepping stone toward becoming a teacher.
The role will provide you with a realistic and practical insight into the role of a teacher, without the responsibility of being one. Some schools actively support this transition.
Conclusion
Becoming a teaching assistant is a big commitment along with patience, dedication to the student’s well-being, and a basic understanding of childhood development, further training is often required to stay up-to-date with new teaching methods and qualifications.
FAQs
daycare services- $24,680
Teaching assistants typically work in preschool, nursery, and school settings, usually within term time and during school hours.
A great place to start if you are looking for teaching assistant work experience is to volunteer at either your local school or your child’s school if you are a parent yourself.
Schools are often looking for reading helpers, lunchtime supervisors, and parent volunteers – for example, to help with school trips.
Individual schools set their own entry requirements and decide which qualifications and experience they need.
You can get an idea of what you’re likely to need by looking at jobs advertised locally. Many will require you to have qualifications in literacy and numeracy.
A teaching assistant (TA) is an individual who assists a teacher with instructional responsibilities.
Sources
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