NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
PDF on ERIC Download full text
ERIC Number: EJ1328078
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2475-6032
EISSN: N/A
Special Educator at the Helm: Tips for Training and Supervising a Team of Assistants
Guard, Meghan; Baker, Diana
Journal for Leadership and Instruction, v20 n2 p47-50 Fall 2021
Teaching assistants (TAs) play a large role in the delivery of special education services for students with disabilities in the United States (Brock & Carter, 2015; Stockall, 2014) and "there is undoubtedly a place for well-conceived paraprofessional supports in special education" (Suter & Giangreco, 2009). The sheer number of TAs in U.S. classrooms has increased dramatically in recent years (Reddy et al., 2020): their ranks now outnumber special educators (Suter & Giangreco, 2009). Alongside the boost in numbers, TAs have also experienced a shift in terms of their responsibilities largely moving away from non-instructional and clerical tasks to teaching, implementing behavior plans, recording data, and other complex assignments that require specialized training and knowledge (Sauberan, 2015 and Wallace, Shin, Bartholomay, & Stahl, 2001). Moreover, although TAs are often tasked with educating the students with the most complex learning needs, the majority are not trained in "evidence-based" strategies (Brock & Carter, 2013). Researchers like McGrath and colleagues (2010), thus conclude that TAs do not receive adequate guidance and that the nature of the tasks they are asked to do often is not appropriate given their level of preparation. Research also suggests that paraprofessionals, themselves, feel ill-equipped to carry out their duties (Brown & Stanton-Chapman, 2017). As for the special educators who are charged with supervising TAs, the majority (88%) report relying on real life experiences rather than pre-service training or district-level support to make decisions about how to work with paraprofessionals and many wish more formal training was available (Biggs, Gilson, Carter, 2018). The problem is two-fold: TAs themselves tend to be insufficiently trained and the special educators who would theoretically be positioned to provide supervision and training don't have the knowledge or resources to do so. This article addresses the second part of the equation, providing practical suggestions for special educators who have TAs in their classrooms.
SCOPE Education Services. 100 Lawrence Avenue, Smithtown, NY 11787. Tel: 631-360-0834; Fax: 631-360-8489; e-mail: contact@scopeonline.us; Web site: http://scopeonline.us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A