Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, & Secondary School

Summary of What they do:

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

Tasks On The Job

1. Assist in bus loading and unloading.
2. Assist librarians in school libraries.
3. Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
4. Clean classrooms.
5. Collect money from students for school-related projects.
6. Conduct demonstrations to teach skills, such as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
7. Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
8. Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
9. Distribute tests and homework assignments and collect them when they are completed.
10. Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
11. Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
12. Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
13. Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
14. Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories, and assist students with hardware and software use.
15. Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
16. Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
17. Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their eye levels and perceptual skills.
18. Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
19. Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
20. Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids, such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs.
21. Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
22. Prepare lesson outlines and plans in assigned subject areas and submit outlines to teachers for review.
23. Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
24. Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
25. Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
26. Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
27. Teach social skills to students.
28. Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
29. Type, file, and duplicate materials.
30. Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.