A closer look at the dynamics of school organisation, culture and ethos in respect to the support and management of teaching assistants (TAs) can help to develop more effective ways of using their energy, skills and talent. Focusing on the UK System, this author has found promising practices that can be built on. Where schools have begun to look…

The author describes the changes which classroom assistants have seen over the past 40 years in terms of their job title and role. He argues that the Plowden Report's recommendations for greater responsibilities, better training opportunities and an increase in the number of teaching assistants in schools are at last being implemented.

Cites benefits of using teacher aides in the classroom and discusses four important aspects of the aide-teacher relationship. Condensed from "North Carolina Education," January-February 1981, p2. (Editor/SJL)

Offers suggestions for involving older adults as volunteers in school reading programs. (FL)

In this article, an interview with paraeducator Joyce Hinckley is presented. Hinckley discusses her 15-year career as a paraeducator, how she became involved with the field, and gives advice to teachers working with paraeducators. She is the mother of five children and grandmother of eight. She has lived in farming communities for most of her life.

The increasing importance of the paraprofessional as part of an education team warrants carefully contructed certification programs. This article (1) recounts the history of paraprofessionals; (2) provides four arguments in favor of certification; (3) describes one existing program; (4) suggests characteristics of effective programs; and (5) warns…

Guidelines for using grandparents as school volunteers include the following: identify specific tasks and volunteer interests, provide inservice training, let volunteers choose assignments and schedules, and evaluate and give recognition. Grandparent education councils can provide leadership for their involvement in schools. (SK)

Benshoff and others explore misconceptions about the inservice training needs, continuing education, supervision, and evaluation of rehabilitation paraprofessionals. A response by Emener draws distinctions between professionals and paraprofessionals. (SK)

Communication between the teacher and paraprofessional who implement the handicapped child's individualized education program can be enhanced through preacademic year planning (of classroom arrangement and the assignment of responsibilities, the holding of regularly scheduled meetings, on the spot communication, and written communication (such as…

Explains how a student volunteer can improve teachers' productivity, efficiency, and teaching skills. Presents a description of job responsibilities.(EL)

Reading aloud can help students who have problems comprehending social studies subject matter. Teachers, parents, and volunteers can all serve as effective oral readers. Teachers and principals should list goals for volunteers to achieve when reading aloud. In addition, to vary the oral reading approach, students can take turns reading aloud.…

To clarify the New Jersey State Department of Education's compensatory education requirements, the Instruction Committee of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) submitted a list of 12 questions to the Department's Office of Compensatory Education. This article contains the Department's answers to 7 questions and the Instruction Committee's…

This commentary on EC 606 262 (a study on the effectiveness of peer-mediated intervention on the social behavior of eight socially withdrawn preschoolers) emphasizes the importance of assessing multiple measures of integration, the need to implement research in real world settings, and the need for research on enhancing generalization and…

Discusses how teachers can utilize the talents of teacher aides. Describes ways in which three first grade teachers in a Catholic school share their assistants/aides and maximize their presence in the classroom, such as including the teacher assistant in lesson planning and using them as co-teachers on a large project. (NB)

Professional development should be part of a teacher's job, and schools should make teacher development an integral part of the teacher's normal activities. Because schools are cooperative, collaborative enterprises, teachers should be involved in the establishment of development programs, should have professional responsibility for cooperating…