The Para Place
Paraprofessional news and views...
100 Essential Blog Posts for the First-Year Teacher
We recently came across a post titled
100 Essential Blog Posts for the First-Year Teacher. While geared towards teachers, the list includes lots of great posts for anyone involved in education. Categories include Working with Student, Teaching, Classroom Management, Using Technology in the Classroom, Resources, Going Green in Schools, Education Reform and The Future of Education.
Going through the list we came across great posts such as Catch Them Doing the Right Thing and More Classroom Ideas for Old Fashioned Index Cards.
Do you have a blog where you talk about paraprofessional issues? If so, leave us a comment below!
100 Essential Blog Posts for the First-Year Teacher via Successful Teaching
(Also check out this list of 50 Amazing Videos Every Educator Should Watch)
Utah Paraeducator Honored
Spanish Fork Junior High (Utah) paraeducator Lesley Johnson was recently named the Nebo School District's Secondary Resource Paraeducator of the Year. From the article:
"I feel like I can't do my job without her," said Spanish Fork Junior High teacher Katrina Davenport. "She's so dedicated and devoted to helping people." Johnson said she's had students refer to her as "Mom." She said they've called out, "Hi Mom!" in the hallways.
Announcement on the 2010 Conference
First, the bad news...
During the past several months we have heard from many individuals who have attended previous conferences and found that many states, districts, and national organizations are experiencing travel freezes and budget restrictions. Based on this and the current economic downturn, we have opted not to hold a 2010 conference. We want to thank everyone for their interest and support.
Now, the good news...
We are currently in the process of finalizing the dates and location of the 2011 Conference! We anticipate the Call for Papers being posted early in 2010. Stay tuned for more information.
PS
Although we are not holding the National conference in 2010, a number of states are still holding their state conferences. We are working on creating a calendar that will list all of these. If you know of a paraprofessional conference or training opportunity in your state then please let us know!
The Paraeducator Dilemna- on Making a Living Wage
One of the most popular posts on our site is a discussion started by a para from Sioux City, Iowa asking what paraeducators make in different states. The 100 replies to that question show that there is a lot of interest in that area. If you enjoyed that discussion you will likely also appreciate a recent article titled The Paraeducator Dilemma about paraeducators in Yakima, Washington fighting for a living wage.
The entire article provides a great overview of the work that paraeducators do and some of the struggles that they face. Here are a few quotes to whet your appetite:
From Heidi Mann:
"At MLK, the teachers treat us like equals," Mann says. "We're not saying we are equal to them. But I'd say we're at least worth half of what they make."
One of the most popular posts on our site is a discussion started by a para from Sioux City, Iowa asking what paraeducators make in different states. The 100 replies to that question show that there is a lot of interest in that area. If you enjoyed that discussion you will likely also appreciate a recent article titled The Paraeducator Dilemma about paraeducators in Yakima, Washington fighting for a living wage.
The entire article provides a great overview of the work that paraeducators do and some of the struggles that they face. Here are a few quotes to whet your appetite:
From Heidi Mann:
"At MLK, the teachers treat us like equals," Mann says. "We're not saying we are equal to them. But I'd say we're at least worth half of what they make."
On working for a living wage:
While they're taking care of other people's children on the playground and in the school cafeteria, many paraeducators struggle to provide for their own children. Many of their children qualify to receive free or reduced lunch in the district for which they work.
"As far as we understand, we are the lowest-paid unit in the district, and we are the ones who are teaching in the classrooms," (Buffy) Phillips says. "We're not asking to be paid like the teachers are paid. We just need enough to live on."
On the work that paras do:
Paraeducators supervise children on the playground, in the lunchroom and classroom, and before and after school. They tutor students in math. They help children learn to read. They lead small groups. And while they don't craft lesson plans, paraeducators do help teach the lessons.
"I just really could not do my job without them," says Joan Kirk, a special education teacher at Gilbert Elementary School. "We're a team."
Does anything in the article sound familiar to you?
The Paraeducator Dilemma from the Yakima Herald
Caroline Hester- Mother, Paraprofessional and Breast Cancer Survivor
Channel WSAV in Savannah, Georgia highlights Caroline Hester:
The mother and paraprofessional who grew up on Isle of Hope is in the midst of a tough journey...
View the video of Caroline below:
Paraprofessional Pre-Service Program Improvement Grant Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Education is offering $1.5 million for up to 10 Paraprofessional Pre-Service Program Improvement Grants. The purpose of the grant is to improve services and results for children with disabilities.
These grants are designed to help improve the quality of existing paraprofessional certificate or associate degree programs at colleges and universities. Institutions receiving support must enhance or re-design the program curricula so that paraprofessionals are well prepared to work with children with disabilities and their families.
There are two focus areas under this criteria, including:
- Improvement of early intervention, early childhood special education, and early childhood education paraprofessional pre-service programs.
- Improvement of K-12 paraprofessional pre-service programs
Note: The two focus areas under this priority only support the improvement of existing EI, ECSE, and ECE or K through 12 paraprofessional preservice programs. This priority does not support the development of new paraprofessional preservice programs, nor does it provide for financial support of paraprofessional students during any year of the project. Projects training paraprofessionals in other related services, speech/language or adapted physical education are not eligible under these focus areas.
The deadline for submission is November 3, 2009.
For more information please contact Shedeh Hajghassemali at 202-245-7506.
You can find a synopsis of this grant opportunity available here.
For the full Federal Register notice on the funding opportunity, please visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-21436.htm
The Role of Para-educator
Introduction to a great article by Richard Finegan:
I have a degree in journalism, a law degree, and am only a few hours short of being certified as a mild-moderate special education teacher. So why am I working as a para-educator/classroom aide?
His answer?
Because I like being able to focus on the students. Only on the students. Not grading 150 of yesterday’s five-paragraph essays, or preparing tomorrow’s lessons, and especially not tolerating all that frustrating, annoying administrative stuff that teachers are expected to deal with.
Paraprofessional Thank you
I missed this when it was posted back in May, but it is good enough that it is still worth sharing. Below is a blog post where a kind teacher takes the time to publicly thank her two paraprofessionals at the end of the school year:
I am dedicating this blog post to my two Para-Professionals that I work with, Mrs. Rogers and Mr. Nelson. Both have made my year spectacular and I truly mean that I could not have made it without them.
Paraprofessional Interview Questions
While gathering some information for the Are you a Paraprofessional Expert? post a few days ago, I came across a couple of questions where paraprofessionals were asking for advice on upcoming interviews:
- How should I answer these questions in a paraprofessional interview?
- What strengths would you bring to our classroom?
After reading those, I was interested in finding out what other resources were available on paraprofessional interviews. This is what I found:
- Paraprofessional Interview Questions A 7-page form used when interview paraprofessionals.
- Sample Interview Questions for Para-Educators See page 8 of this Word document.
- What should we ask and NOT ask during the interview?
- How do I do a Getting Acquainted Interview?
Other Resources
- Questions to ask for Special Education Paraeducator / Paraprofessional interview?
- I am interviewing for a full time paraprofessional position. Any suggestions as to what they might ask? And what should I bring? I'm going to bring my portfolio and a mini-portfolio (resume, references, brochure). HELP!
- Teachers Aide Interview Questions??
- Paraeducator Qualifications?
Do you have any other ideas for good questions?
Paraprofessional Educator Entry on Wikipedia
Wikipedia now has an entry titled Paraprofessional Educator that begins:
A paraprofessional educator, alternatively known as para-pros, instructional assistants, teacher's aides or classroom assistants, is a teaching-related position within a school generally responsible for specialized or concentrated assistance for students in elementary and secondary schools.
Not all states have a fixed definition of 'paraprofessional' and may use all of the terms listed above interchangeably.
After that, the article could use some help- the good news is, you can change it! If you have an addition or idea to make the article better, just click on "edit this page" at the top of the page and start editing. If you need help, check out How to Edit Wikipedia pages. Once you have edited the document, press "Save page" and your changes will be live! (use responsibly)
Para News Roundup
It's been awhile since we've done a roundup of para news...
About.com Answers a Very Important Question
Under ideal circumstances, having a certified, enthusiastic, well-prepared paraprofessional can make an enormous difference in the efficiency of your child's classroom and the implementation of your child's IEP.
Connecticut Layoffs
When New Haven’s schools open in a couple weeks, there will be 19 fewer assistant teachers in the classroom.
The layoffs were necessary to ensure that federal funding is not taken away, said Will Clark, chief operations officer for New Haven schools. Since the certification test is a requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act, feds could pull funding if uncertified teachers are working in the schools.
19 Assistant Teachers Laid Off
Advice to Teachers on Working with Paraprofessionals
Above all, treat your paraprofessional with dignity and respect. If an issue arises, talk about it, discuss it like two professionals. You both should be on same page from the beginning, and continue to communicate your needs and frustrations throughout the school year. Remember, you are a team.
How to get along and effectively utilize your paraprofessional
Georgia Car Accident
Victoria "Tori" Thompson, 30, died in a single-car accident around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday while driving home from Chicopee Woods Elementary School... She worked for the school system since 2005 and was a special education pre-K paraprofessional at Chicopee Woods.
Do you have any news that we missed? Please Let us know!
Are you a Paraprofessional Expert?
Think you know a few things about paraeducators? Why not take a few minutes to help some people with questions. Of course you can always find a few unanswered questions on our message board, but that is not the only place people are looking for answers:
Yahoo Answers is the largest question and answer site out there with lots great questions and answers:
- What's the dfference of a teacher aide and a teacher assistant?
- Where is the best place to find paraeducator/paraprofessional resources online?
- What can I do at 14 to become a special education teacher?
- What does a Title 1 paraprofessional do in a classroom?
- Paraprofessional work in an elementary school setting: What's it like?
- Lots more special education questions...
Welcome Back to School!
Last year, we posted a popular inspirational video of Dalton Sherman, a young man who reminded educators, "We need you now more than ever."
I don't know if that video can be matched, but here are a few more to help you get excited about a new school year:
Taylor Mali answers the question, "What do I Make?"
So You Want to Be a Teacher Song
Star Fish Story - Making a Difference Every Day
And Lastly, 40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes
Enjoy! Let us know if you have any favorites in the comments.
Video Description of the Job of Teacher Assistant
Does this sound right?
Sensitivity and patience are key assets.
Watch the video below for more:
Another great video available on our site is, "What do Paraeducators Do?"
Interview with a Para
There isn't very much information about this video and the music is a little loud, but this paraeducator gives answers to some questions about her job that you may relate to:
