Is it legal for us to take over for the teacher 1 hr every day?
Posted October 15, 2006 - 1:52pm by rrousse
Teacher has been ask for the para to take over and teach her class 1 period everyday so that she can have a planning period. Does anyone know if that is legal or a resourse where I can find it in black and white. Thank you
I'm a para working with mild/moderate learning disabilities children in 4th and 5th grades. Before working as a Para, I was a Substitute Teacher, and before that I taught
at the college level.
My "Supervising Teacher" calls for a sub 3-4 days per week, since she's working on her national certification. This creates incredible stress.
I've already been a Para for this teacher for only 3-4 weeks. She, the Supervising Teacher, has all kinds of grading and tracking, and developmental reports she does, and has
changed their schedule at least twice since I started. When I once asked her if I could develop my own lesson plans for when she's abset, she said that she felt uncomfortable iwith that and wanted to be able to go over and approve whatever I came up with first. This sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but she's absent 3-4 days per week and we have not yet had time to go over her lesson plans, scheduling, grading, or the nuts and bolts of how she teaches. Two of the Assistant Principals at the school told me in a meeting, that since I am the Para, I am expected to essentially take over the class when she is not present, and teach the class, and basically tell the Sub to take a supportive role for me. Every time a sub comes into the room, s/he states that the lesson plans are so complex as to make no sense at all-with the class being divided into multiple groups, and each group doing different activities on laptops, or in books, at different times. And with the kids being mild/moderate LD, they need alot of structure or they become extremely disruptive. Some children in class will cry, curl into fetal positions and sit by the door of the classroom, others will just storm out of the room when they see another sub.
In a meeting with two Assst. Principals, a few days ago, I was told that the last time a sub was there, the class became so disruptive and loud that I was expected to take charge of the classroom and teach--and that quality of subs could not be pre-determined. I explained that my supervising teacher had me working with other teachers most of my day and I was not in the room during these disruptions and I did not know that I was expected to take over teaching when the regular supervising teacher is absent.
Any advice or input? I'm thinking of asking to be placed with another teacher who may have a more stable schedule with students or just quit and go back to subbing - and then when I can finally teach full-time myself, do things my way.
They are wrong, and you need to report this
to your union ASAP!!!
I have a degree also, but I prefer to be an assistant, since
I can give the children individual attention.
It is not about the money, for I am most generous
to the students and staff. It is about caring
about the future of the next generation . God
bless you.
I was wondering if we Instructional Paras in Colorado can opt to have out salary spread over 12 months instead of the current August to May? Summers are impossible without any income and this year, I almost lost everything since my hubby was laid off - a 12 month salary would erradicate this issue!
It is NOT legal, but that does happen, and for the entire day. A certified teacher should be in the classroom at all times. Something could happen, and you would be held responsible, as well as the assigned teacher and the principal. One hour is nothing, as long as the teacher stays in the room, and she supplies the materials , or oks what you may want to use, that supports what is already being discussed in the classroom. Personally, I prefer the teacher to be in the room,or at least outside the door testing students, as long as she/he comes into the class room periodically. How do they think teachers can test and teach???? Teachers should be able to just teach and the clerical work and testing should be done by other certified staff. I am a para and I get to interact with the students more than some teachers. I am a happy para, and I do not like when people say that I am just a para. Paras can reach students also, and we have more one on one time with them. Intelligent teachers know how IMPORTANT our role is in the classroom. We have to be RESPECTFUL partners, or there will be PROBLEMS.
I have a problem: I'm a
I have a problem:
I'm a para working with mild/moderate learning disabilities children in 4th and 5th grades. Before working as a Para, I was a Substitute Teacher, and before that I taught
at the college level.
My "Supervising Teacher" calls for a sub 3-4 days per week, since she's working on her national certification. This creates incredible stress.
I've already been a Para for this teacher for only 3-4 weeks. She, the Supervising Teacher, has all kinds of grading and tracking, and developmental reports she does, and has
changed their schedule at least twice since I started. When I once asked her if I could develop my own lesson plans for when she's abset, she said that she felt uncomfortable iwith that and wanted to be able to go over and approve whatever I came up with first. This sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but she's absent 3-4 days per week and we have not yet had time to go over her lesson plans, scheduling, grading, or the nuts and bolts of how she teaches. Two of the Assistant Principals at the school told me in a meeting, that since I am the Para, I am expected to essentially take over the class when she is not present, and teach the class, and basically tell the Sub to take a supportive role for me. Every time a sub comes into the room, s/he states that the lesson plans are so complex as to make no sense at all-with the class being divided into multiple groups, and each group doing different activities on laptops, or in books, at different times. And with the kids being mild/moderate LD, they need alot of structure or they become extremely disruptive. Some children in class will cry, curl into fetal positions and sit by the door of the classroom, others will just storm out of the room when they see another sub.
In a meeting with two Assst. Principals, a few days ago, I was told that the last time a sub was there, the class became so disruptive and loud that I was expected to take charge of the classroom and teach--and that quality of subs could not be pre-determined. I explained that my supervising teacher had me working with other teachers most of my day and I was not in the room during these disruptions and I did not know that I was expected to take over teaching when the regular supervising teacher is absent.
Any advice or input? I'm thinking of asking to be placed with another teacher who may have a more stable schedule with students or just quit and go back to subbing - and then when I can finally teach full-time myself, do things my way.
They are wrong, and you need
I was wondering if we
I was wondering if we Instructional Paras in Colorado can opt to have out salary spread over 12 months instead of the current August to May? Summers are impossible without any income and this year, I almost lost everything since my hubby was laid off - a 12 month salary would erradicate this issue!
Divide your pay into 12
It is NOT legal, but that
It is NOT legal, but that does happen, and for the entire day. A certified teacher should be in the classroom at all times. Something could happen, and you would be held responsible, as well as the assigned teacher and the principal. One hour is nothing, as long as the teacher stays in the room, and she supplies the materials , or oks what you may want to use, that supports what is already being discussed in the classroom. Personally, I prefer the teacher to be in the room,or at least outside the door testing students, as long as she/he comes into the class room periodically. How do they think teachers can test and teach???? Teachers should be able to just teach and the clerical work and testing should be done by other certified staff. I am a para and I get to interact with the students more than some teachers. I am a happy para, and I do not like when people say that I am just a para. Paras can reach students also, and we have more one on one time with them. Intelligent teachers know how IMPORTANT our role is in the classroom. We have to be RESPECTFUL partners, or there will be PROBLEMS.
ADHD
If a child has ADHD and has trouble in class, can a parent ask for a para in CO?
It totally doesn't sound
It totally doesn't sound legal. And it doesn't sound legal for the teacher not to have a planning period as well.
I'm not teaching in CO though, so I don't know for sure. But where I'm teaching, that is not legal at all.
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