Improving school climate takes time and commitment from a variety of people in a variety of roles. This document outlines key action steps that instructional staff--including teachers, paraprofessionals, and others in the classroom who provide instruction or assistance--can take to support school climate improvements. Key action steps are provided…

"Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and Key Stage 1" reviews the best available evidence to offer five recommendations for developing the maths skills of 3-7-year olds. Recommendations include integrating maths into different activities throughout the day -- for example, at registration and snack time -- to familiarise children…

Six areas need consideration in establishing a program of paid aides: selecting a coordinator, planning with the professional staff, recruiting and selecting, matching aide strengths to program needs, orientation and training, and program monitoring. (SJL)

A special education teacher discusses ways to use aides effectively. Suggestions include discussing the daily schedule with the aide, providing time to review the day's activities, following a lesson with instruction in two smaller groups (one led by the aide), and using the aide to help with paperwork and discipline. (CL)

This article offers specific methods that could be used for recruiting, training, and evaluating classroom volunteers in school volunteer programs. (MB)

The author offers guidelines for teaching volunteers and aides as classroom tutors. It is suggested that the tutor be instructed in administering pretests to students. Materials needed for tutoring are outlined, a simple teaching sequence is offered, and tutor supervision is mentioned. (SBH)

Training methods for the preparation of teacher aides are described. (LH)

The article offers suggestions for recruiting, training, utilizing, scheduling, and retaining senior citizen volunteers in the special education classroom. (DB)

This three-part guide explains to elementary teachers how to recruit, train, and effectively use aides and volunteers in the classroom. (SJL)

Special education paraprofessionals play an important role in providing services to severely/profoundly retarded children, making their interaction with parents also important. Paraprofessionals need to be trained to communicate with parents and to serve as a team member in such functions as collecting information and consulting on home behavior…

For more than a decade, a principal of a large innercity elementary school in New Haven, Connecticut, convened a committee of parents and school personnel to interview candidates for positions as teachers and aides. About 50 persons were hired using this process, and all the teachers were successful. The interviewing process has since become…

An experienced kindergarten teacher implemented a 10-week practicum intervention designed to improve the classroom management skills of 9 kindergarten teacher aides. In-service training for participants included planned workshops, observations, team activities, coaching, and evaluation. Each participant concentrated on a specific skill or area of…

To provide assistance to teachers attempting to implement a thematic, discovery-oriented preschool curriculum under funding conditions preventing a desirable teacher-pupil ratio, a practicum was designed to recruit and train retired senior citizens and involve them as volunteer aides in the preschool program of a church school located in the…

This handbook is designed to acquaint instructional aides in Indiana's elementary schools with the various aspects of their job. Included are helpful hints and a variety of resource materials considered likely to be useful. Contents focus on the following: (1) qualifications; (2) instructional, clerical, and auxiliary duties; (3) working…

The effectiveness of using 75 aides in special education classrooms in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was evaluated in terms of impact on students, classrooms, and staff. Interviews, record reviews, and survey research were used to collect data. Findings revealed that aides were perceived as having a positive impact on the children through more…