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I’ve been in a similar spot. What helped me was setting up a quick check‑in with the lead teacher to go over expectations and boundaries. I framed it as wanting to do my job better, not as a complaint, it made the conversation smoother and clarified my role fast.
I’m sorry to hear this. Your help in the classroom is appreciated by most of us. Remember, a great teacher knows you help us “look good” and make our classrooms run smoothly.
Go to the teachers you work with and ask them what role they want you to play in their classroom. Direct conversations can be hard, but this is necessary to actually do your job. With that said…you are not there to run errands, get coffee, administer discipline, or grade. Your role should be strictly working with IEP and 504 students and usually help students sitting around those students. Your primary job should include: making sure students have the correct materials, breaking down instructions given by the teacher, helping students getting started, keeping them on task, assisting them to write homework down in their planners, read tests/quizzes if called for, sitting with them in another space if they test separately, clarifying questions, helping with transitions in the classroom,and keeping behavior charts if directed…just to name some.
My other suggestion would be to set up a meeting with the case manager. You should have all of the IEP’s and 504’s of the students you will be working with. In addition, the case manager should give you all of the student’s SDI’s in a condensed form, pronto.
I wish you the best. Thank you for helping us maintain a productive classroom. ♥️♥️
I am a teacher, and in MY class the support facilitators (TA) is my teaching PARTNER. He or she is NOT my “girl-or-guy Friday”. Facilitators assist ALL students though they are there specifically for the IEP/504 students, and the facilitator has the week’s lesson plan, worksheets, AND answer keys as well as lecture notes. THIS way, if he or she wants to contribute to the learning and lesson, he or she is prepared! The facilitator is NOT here to “run errands” for ME or to be cast in the role of The Evil Disciplinarian. I am saying your situation does not happen everywhere; it’s the teacher who should be communicating and interacting with you. You could perhaps ask him or her for a few minutes and ask what expectations he or she has of you. You don’t give your grade level, but for middle school, facilitators are there to help teachers meet the IEP/504 accommodations, so familiarize yourself with those documents for EACH student who has one; your teacher SHOULD have a copy of the accommodations sheet at the very least. If not, go to the students’ case managers and request them being SURE to let THEM know you are trying to be absolutely within compliance for your students. The other sad truth is SOME teachers and administrators DO look down on the persons whose objective is to help THEM do a better job of teaching. I cannot explain it, but it is true. Don’t let THEIR ignorance infect you. Become the GOAT by ensuring your students shine and are glad for your presence, but I will advise you IF your teacher is one of those insecure types, he or she WILL resent that as well. Start with The “expectations” Talk.
Sorry to hear it. I would hazard a guess that the lack of a formal contract is playing the biggest part here. You don’t have clear expectations, and that doesn’t help. Start with what is expected of you. Hopefully, your coworkers will have that conversation, and you can get off to a better start.
Schedule a meeting to see what your duties will or should be. You need to know from now, not later
Is the position you are referring to a classified or certificated position. In CA we have classroom aides that are classified roles. Is that what teacher's assistant is?
Sort of the same for me except I had a good well structured teacher until he retired. From there bounced around not having a clear job assignment for the last four years despite asking over and over. After my final request an new principal unsure of my job I was assigned to the library as an assistant. Previous TA had a rocky relationship with the librarian. Work much better for me. I asked for more work/responsibility and got it. Persistence was the key. Poor attitude and threats to go HR won't help.
I would talk to whoever your boss is. Sit down with them and ask them to clarify your role and responsibilities. Until you do that, there will always be the anxiety of not being sure.