10 reasons why teaching assistants are essential
Teaching Assistants play a critical role in helping educate pupils. Managing a class of 30 is a huge task for any Teacher and the responsibility covers a wide scope of activities. This is where the Teaching Assistant (TA) comes in.
Teaching Assistants helps to set up the classroom, mark papers, answer student questions, support students in accomplishing tasks and can even supplement course materials and lessons from time to time. A TA will help to manage student behaviour in a discreet manner without disrupting the whole class and allowing the focus remain on the Teacher to deliver effective teaching. TA’s also go one step further and build happy and valuable relationships with students, parents and other staff members at the school. They play an essential role and often are the unsung heroes!
Here are our ten reasons why we believe teaching assistants are essential and should always have a place in the classroom.
1. They offer one on one support
Many children are overwhelmed by packed classrooms and are unable to take things in, especially for those beginning primary school it can be quite daunting. Teaching assistants play a pivotal role in important one on one sessions and helping children overcome their anxieties.
2. They provide access for children
Previously many children with disabilities would not have been able to access education so easily as they can today without the help from specialists. Teaching assistants today are highly trained in supporting with mental and physical disabilities, speech and language issues, behavioural difficulties and a range of other conditions. It’s a tough job however very highly rewarding.
3. Extra set of eyes
An extra set of eyes is always handy and teachers don’t have eyes in the back of their heads!
4. They help your child find a Eureka breakthrough
Reading a tough word for the first time, reaching the end of a book or finally cracking a Maths problem, that excitement on a child’s face when they explode back into the house with a gold star could be thanks to the TA.
5. Reduces the pressure off of the teacher
A class full of thirty students all needing help during a difficult lesson is impossible ground to cover for one person. A teaching assistant will help ease the load off of the teacher allowing them to focus on what they do best – teaching. TAs can be utilised in situations for all students to reap the benefit.
6. Class control
Teaching assistants help to control the classroom by identifying on those difficult students or helping the teacher implement rules and taking the appropriate action where required.
7. Teaching assistants work together with the teacher to implement strategies
A teacher and their assistant can work together and identify a group of people that need some intervention. Whether it’s a group finding the work difficult and need a helping hand or a group needing a good push because they’re excelling, having someone to take them aside means that there’s less chance of a child being left behind or held back.
8. They’re friendly and approachable
Teachers have a position of power and authority and even though they can come across assertive they are in fact lovely, down to earth wonderful people. However due to their power they can be harder to approach, and many students find it easier to talks to the teaching assistant instead.
9. They do a lot behind the scenes
There’s for a teaching assistant. Many arrive very early and / or stay behind after school finishes to help plan lessons, prepare the classroom, monitor and report on progress as well diving into the daily tasks of school life.
10. They can also team teach
Interactive lessons are always a big hit especially when they are a bit different and are not just the same face lecturing them from the front of the room. Having seen teaching assistants and teachers join forces to deliver fun and exciting presentations, pieces of drama and even singing a song together, makes a difference in .
For many students the teaching assistant is more than just a face in the class. They are a big part of their life who can have a serious impact on their future.
3 cheers for Teaching Assistants!
Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!
We are recruiting for some fantastic Teaching Assistant roles n Primary, Secondary and SEN schools. Browse through our current vacancies and apply today.
Managing teachers' stress levels
There is no doubt about it, teaching jobs are stressful jobs.
The constant threat of inspection, the continued governmental fixation with exam results, the changes to remuneration and the increasingly prominent levels of ill discipline among pupils all add up to make cortisone levels spike before the end of the school day. TLTP Education's own research has shown uncertainty around resource levels and increased workload is creating unhelpful anxiety adding to levels of stress in the profession, while 40 per cent of teachers have been the victims of verbal abused in school.
It is clear there will not be much help from Ofsted or the government in the near future. While teachers' unions threaten industrial action based in large part on the difficult working conditions that many members face, governmental and regulatory advice has been limited.
Education secretary Michael Gove offered a simple reiteration of the existing sanctions teachers can use to curb poor student behavior, while Ofsted has declared it will be focusing on teachers' classroom attire come June.
While the merits of both actions are up for debate, all teachers could agree that more needs to be done to help combat growing levels of stress within the industry that are playing a huge part in scaring many suitable educators away from the classroom.
To stop the detrimental shift of talent away from teaching jobs, perhaps the more experienced in the profession will need to take matters into their own hands.
Bill Rogers is an international guru on educational behaviour, although he is based in Australia he spends three months of the year working in UK schools, education workshops and seminars and has written books on how teachers can improve their stress levels. He explains there will always be the potential for stress in a role such as teaching, but teachers can learn to deal with it in a more efficient manner.
He writes on the Guardian Teacher Network: "Managing what is naturally stressful in our profession does not mean the absence of tension but our ability to collegially cope with, and support one another in that naturally stressful environment."
To do this, people in teaching jobs must learn to creatively live with natural tension and stress, and mentoring is a great way of doing this.
The primary thing mentoring will bring is support. A teacher who is struggling with high stress levels may often feel as though they are alone. A very challenging class of pupils can bring with it concern and anxiety that sucks the life out of a whole day and stops teachers from enjoying the profession they feel they were born to be in.
If possible, the mentor would be one with a free period in which they can link-up with the stressed teacher and work together to control the class and the stress levels.
"It is this existential sharing; this teaching with them (in their most challenging classes) that enables the sort of collegial trust that can utilise non-judgemental professional self-reflection," explained Mr Rogers.
Mentoring also fosters a different and more productive method of evaluation than simple appraisal - which in itself can be a source of stress. A method that is built out of a collegial culture in which all members of staff share common needs and senior staff can work on tailoring the working environment to these overt needs rather than guessing and tackling assumed needs. If teachers work together they can create a connected and engaged workforce, which will help stressed individuals cope more effectively with their concerns.
It can be more than a simple stop-gap until those responsible at policy level can do anything to lower stress levels in the teaching profession. As things stand, many teachers are bullied in the classroom. Without a supportive network, the stressed teacher may automatically think that is the result of 'poor teaching' and this can exacerbate their concerns with their career choice.
If a collegially supportive school structure exists, teachers can explain problems to other staff, realise it may not be their fault without fear of implied or open censure and find extra confidence to deal with the issues and keep their stress levels from getting out of hand.
We all want to be the very best we can be each and every time we step into the classroom, but from time to time, it can feel like we're on an uphill struggle to do so, and everyone can use some help when it comes to being the best teacher possible.
So here we take a look at just a few of the very best tips around that teachers can use to make sure they are the very best they can be every day in the classroom.
Set out clear goals
It can be easier to plan your day to day classroom work if you have a bigger goal in place. What do you hope to achieve from your job in the next year, two years or five years? Set out some goals and write them down for yourself. No one else even needs to see them. The important thing is that you have something to work towards and you know what you're aiming for, helping you work harder every day.
Realise your true purpose
As teachers, everyone has a purpose in their career, to pass knowledge on to pupils and prepare them for their later life. Once you realise this and truly come to terms with what you are tasked with, you realise how important what you do is. This realisation can give you the sort of pleasure you should have from going into the classroom each morning.
Expect success
If you don't expect your pupils to succeed, they won't either. Kids need someone to show some belief in them, and you are their first point of contact. Show kids that you believe in them every day, and push them towards success, and chances are they'll be able to keep pace in no time at all.
Have a laugh
Don't forget that you're working with kids in this career, and they enjoy laughing more than most of us. If someone has a little joke and a laugh in the classroom, try not to stamp it out. Sure, draw the line if it goes on too long, but being seen as that monster who hates laughter will do you no good when it comes to building a relationship with your class.
Don't praise too often
We all want our classes to do well, so when someone does, it's only natural to praise them. However, as teachers, we need to make sure this is always 100 per cent authentic and deserved. Praising every little thing dilutes the impact of your praise, and while it may do a world of good at first, pupils will start to lose respect for your praise if it appears too readily given out.
Be consistent
Pupils work best in a classroom where consistency is treasured, and that starts with you. No one is saying you need to be the exact same person every day, but it's important you don't let private things affect your mood at work. If the kids don't know what you to expect, they will be a bit uneasy and not learn as well.
Communicate
Communicate with pupils and parents alike. If someone isn't doing as well, don't be afraid to tell them where they're going wrong. It'll only help them learn how to improve in the future. Similarly with parents, never be afraid to tell them their kid is struggling - the likelihood is they'll want to help you improve their work wherever they can.
Be adaptable
Sure, your lesson plans are probably spot on and well researched, but you should always be aware of chances and needs to adapt. If pupils are not engaging or not understanding, never be afraid to change what you're doing. It'll help in the long run.
Explore new ideas
You might have been working the job for years, but things change. New technologies, new ways of teaching and anything else new can help. Don't be afraid to embrace anything that can help your job!
Make it fun
And finally, make it fun! Pupils need that authority in their educational life, but they also need fun from time to time. Set aside some time each week to just let the pupils be themselves and open up. They'll have fun, and they'll learn better for it before and after.
