All In a Day's Work

Well, I start at 8:50am and my first task of the day is handing out visitor passes to anyone who enters the school (security is a MUST). At 9am my actual work day begins by assisting a 5th/6th Grade math teacher in her classroom - generally assisting kids that are having difficulty following the lesson plan or have questions etc., At approx 10am I join my "homeroom" which is a class of alternating 5th/6th Graders (at some points there are approx 40 children in the room!!). I focus on small reading and spelling groups, trying to get these students up to par in their grammar etc., I correct homework, grade tests, take groups to the library for research education and Social Studies and complete all the little (and large) chores and projects that are time consuming for the teacher. I cover the lunch recess duties in both the cafeteria and playground for 40 minutes every day and then, at approx 1:30pm I take a short break (grab a coffee, ciggy etc.,) and return to my room where I hold one of my many small reading groups.
In between I make myself available to anyone who needs help in any subject or with any task at hand.
At the end of the day I help with bus duties and then I gather up my son and go home!!
It's a wonderfully fulfilling position and I must admit that I am blessed to be with the staff that I am surrounded by. Never a day goes by when I am not told how much I am appreciated and how far the children have advanced with my one-on-one time.
I took this job to afford me the luxury of working the same schedule as my son - and in his school - but now I realize that this is more than a convenient job, this is a wonderful career!!
The hugs from the kids and watching their progress (knowing that I am helping in it) makes all the hard work seem like a walk in the park!!

I work in elementary K-4 Special Ed as a one-on-one Para. I've been a Para for a long time but we moved and I took a few years to work in another field. I came back this year to get medical coverage and was hired on my experience even though I don't have 60 hours of college. I'm about to take the ParaPro test and am very worried about the math. I see that many of you say it's very easy but for someone who is math challenged and has worked for many years with very low functioning kiddos, the prospect of fractions and percentages is daunting. As a matter of fact, nothing that is on the test will have any application to what I do or have done for 20+ years.

Does anyone know how they score the test? I've been taking the practice tests, and wonder how many questions you can miss and still pass most states? My state is just under 460, but I can't find anywhere how they score. The ETS website talks about "equalizing" the scores but there must be an average number of questions to pass. If I knew that the few I'm missing on the practice tests were going to be ok, I'd be able to relax a little :)

Thanks, Grammy

My principal is EXTREMELY respectufl and appreciative. She is 52 yrs old and scrapes gum w/ her custodians!
She and her VP's lead by example and most staff have a professional mindset. My school is literally IN the projects, yet we maintain a top 1% national scores. Starting aide & teacher pay is 25% higher than nearby counties, because the admin office understands you get what you pay for.
Teachers and para's must follow the lead admin sets. I am a grad student w/ 15+ yrs experience working high-behavior in a residential setting. I go in 15 minutes early and expect to WORK a full 7.5 hrs EVERY day.
The last 2 years principals, supported by admin, have encouraged less professional minded teachers & para's to take the paycut and work in an adjacent county.

All In a Days work,

Unlike some of the comments I have read I am having a different experience as a Paraeducator in Bermuda. I work for one of our islands Senior schools. I am in a classroom with 10 children between the ages of 15-17. Like Grade 10. We teach a program from the UK called AQA. It is a good program that meets some of our students where they are at. I also have the priviledge to work with a wonderful teacher who allows me to plan and teach some lessons and work one on one with some of the weaker students. On any given day I can be found in Drama, Art or even Music assisting students with their academics or monitoring their behaviour. I am having a great experience as a Paraeducator, but I bet it is nothing like having your own classroom.

I am a one on one with a 7th grader this yr. I have been with him since 5th and all I do is follow him from class to class. If he is off task I am there to bring him back or if he gets upset I go with him to cool off. He is ADHD. That is all I do, follow him from class to class and be there when he needs extra help. I sometimes help other students when everything is going ok and help make copies for teachers, run errands. I also do the after school childcare from 3-6. That is very fun and exciting. 8)

There is no such thing as a typical day in my building! I am a general ed. Title 1 paraeducator, serving as a coordinator for a HOSTS program. I help supervise breakfast or the playground before school, work in my classroom for about 2 hours on the mountains of paperwork HOSTS generates, recruit volunteers to mentor students, meet with 5 teachers weekly regarding their students in HOSTS, monitor 4 sessions of students and mentors, (1/2 hour each), supervise lunch detention in my room, keep all records for detention, supervise during dismissal at the bus stop and according to my job description, "other duties may be assigned". There are 115 paras in my district and everybody's job is different. We are all general ed, ranging from pre-school to Adult Ed. ninab

My typical day includes a lot of duties aside from my regular job as a library paraprofessional. I have 2 hours of duty a day that includes crosswalk duty, watching students during breakfast, watching students during lunch, and bus duty after school.

My 'typical' day consists of working with students from the ages of 3 to 15 all with varying degrees of visual impairments. One day I might have to make enlarged copies, adapt toys and print out braille lessons, the next I get to do nothing but play with the students as we try out new toys. Then I also have to keep up with the daily paperwork that is generated by Sp. Ed. and Medicare. Since I work with an interant teacher, I also get to do most of her paperwork also.

Hi I run a computer lab with 30 computers in it. Children from k-4th grade come to the lab which is around 500 children in three days. They work on a program called CCC. It is a reading and math program that I monitor at all times. I also am the detention lady during recess time. I also am the one who is called on when anyone in the school has problems with their computers.

I think the lack of professional support set the tone for the ill treatment of paraeducators. We got to stand together and up for ourselves. I'm an adult 1st then I'm and para. There a lot of that going on this site i a beginning I'm going to spread the word and all of us should encourage our collages. The No child left behind will change our profession forever

I work in a classroom with 10 students with behavior problems. I help them stay on task and get through their daily lessons. Each student is working at their own level, so much of the work is one on one. My room is also used as an in school suspension room or time out from a regular ed. room. Even if we have students who are having a rough day we have to deal with students that the principal sends us. I am not sure what my role is with these kids. I really only like dealing with the ones assigned to our room. My students are ADHD,ADD, OCD, and ODD. Some days are wonderful, other days are so stressful I go home and cry, but I'm always back the next day to do it all again. I enjoy the kids a lot, I just wish the teachers at the school I work at would treat me with the same respect they give each other. As an Instructional Aide I feel like a non-entity. People talk around you like you don't know what is going on. I think it stems from the principal at our school. If she would give us respect ,the others would follow suit.When Jan.2006 rolls around, and our numbers have dwindled because of the No Child Left Behind Act then maybe we will be appreciated. Doing it without us will be no picnic.

I'm a brand new PE para with over 16 years experience as a youth sports coach. but was recently told by a classroom teacher that since I wasn't a"official"teacher I wasn't considered a coach..no two days are alike. I've got K-5 with all abilties, very limited outside Sports programs in the community I'm involved with.....glad to have such forums as this... :) :) :)

As a adult you set the tone for the respect you recieve. Number 1# I'm an adult you will not treat me like a child. Number 2 # NEVER refer to a teacher as "my teacher" you completed your grammer education plus! Number 3# No I'm not a certified teacher but.. a child in need well never ask for a degree. If I help a child their parents won't mind. :wink: No I'm a paraprofessional you have chores I do not want. No but I turned 7x3 a long time ago

I am a paraprofessional regular ed titleI in camden tennessee, i do everything from coping things,watching the children, extra help with the children who need it , I fix records and portfolios, pick up trash off floors to dusting the rooms do boards. I also have to do 2 hours of "lunch duty", thats where I have to watch the kids while the teachers get there lunch and I make sure the behave and give them napkins and sweep the floors and mop up spills. Then in the afternoon I have to do "Parent pick up" this is where me and another girl have to load 140 kids in the parents cars. Pretty much I do what i'm told to do. mickeytn

:?: What exactly does "Title 1 " mean ? :?:

Title I is where your fedrally funded mickeytn

Well, where do we begin. I work mainly in regular education industrial classes. I get to get my hands dirty and I get to ge sawdust in my eyes and I get to print and take photos. Occassionaly I get to help out in a history class. All of the above I love. I assist students on their projects. I am placed into my classes because of the number of Special Education Students in that particular class. I start at 7:00 am and leave at 2:00 pm. For the most part I enjoy my students and the culture in the High School. The one thing I am struggling with is the changes that are coming. More of a personal health care assistant. I do not know if I am all that excited about changing some dudes diaper in the mainstreem high school setting. Well we will see what happens. you all have a great day :D

I work with Deaf/Hard of hearing children, some with LD and some BD , everyday is very interesting and the teacher is wonderful, i don't feel like Im treated indifferently. I usually Interpret in many classes (specials) such as P.E. music and art also I help interpret in the main class itself, along with that, I help the kids stay on task, all at different levels and working at their own pace, In the morning i have initiated being a 1:1 with a boy im determined to help because he is in such need of 1:1 instruction, I do bus duty, make copies, grade papers , help with group work, I should say these are 1st and 2nd graders. Im always laughing, these kids are great!. smfrye

So many of us from all across the country, yet we all have the same diversity in our jobs! I'm a fourth grade para in Fla.covering 7 teachers, doing the field trip money, the lunch duty, the after-school pick up duty, the attendance and discipline duty just like most of you. I have been to school welcome back events or all staff meetings where the teachers look thru me like I'm nobody. But I also fought to be able to work with small group instruction time with students, have been able to chart student's improvement by grades after being with me for awhile (I keep my own records for my proof) and take every class and workshop that's made available to me so I can bring knowledge back to my classrooms. I'm no longer a Mommy who wanted to work a little at my son's school; I want to be a Professional at what I do...assist the teacher in classroom instruction. NCLB will help teachers be more aware that we meet a standard, just as they do in their job. But it is up to us to dress, speak, and approach one another in a professional manner. We earn respect, NCLB doesn't magically bestow it on us. Just as secretaries once were invisible workhorses of the 40's and 50's but banded together in professional associations and gained respect, so too can we thru NRC and similar agencies. Sisters, unite and stand tall! :wink:

awesome posting...I have similar views on what I do and why I do it. I'm in NJ...can you tell me about Florida's current para situation? do you use career ladders, mentors, or any such incentive programs for paras? cee1654

I have been working as a Para for almost two years. I love my job. I work one on one with a multi-disability student in the 7th grade. I am getting tired of new things. I have been told that the only reason we have paraprofessionals is for "personal needs". I worked in the medical field before this and the job in medical has fewer requirements. I have taken more certification classes with the school district than ever before. Most of these classes are to work with this one student. If we must take special certification classes, we should be compensated for it.

This is my third year as a paraprofessional and I have been in several different types of situations. Currently I am working with resource so I go into the regular ed classroom and give extra help to those that are arded into resource or content mastery. Last year I worked one on one with a child in a wheelchair. I do have to agree that the major argument that the paraprofessionals in the school have is the lack of respect that we are given by some of the teachers. They don't want to do lunch duty so we have to do it all. On the other hand there are teachers who treat us as equals and expect the students to do so also. I am afraid that with the NCLB rules and the low pay that they will have a hard time finding people to do the job.