Teaching Assistants, Special Education
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Provide assistance to students with special needs.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
- Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
- Carry out therapeutic regimens, such as behavior modification and personal development programs, under the supervision of special education instructors, psychologists, or speech-language pathologists.
- Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
- Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
- Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
- Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, or food preparation.
- Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
- Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
- Assist in bus loading and unloading.
- Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
- Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
- Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories, and assist students with hardware and software use.
- Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
- Prepare lesson outlines and plans in assigned subject areas and submit outlines to teachers for review.
- Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
- Clean classrooms.
- Assist librarians in school libraries.
- Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their eye levels and perceptual skills.
- Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
- Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
- Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
- Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
97%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
97%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
87%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
84%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
83%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
72%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
67%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
67%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
65%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
65%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
62%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
62%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
58%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
57%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
53%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
53%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
53%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
52%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
52%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
49%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
46%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
41%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
40%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
39%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
32%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
31%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
31%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
30%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
30%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
28%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
26%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
24%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
24%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
23%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
23%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
22%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
22%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
20%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
19%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
18%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
15%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
13%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
9%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
8%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
7%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
7%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
5%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
3%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
2%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
2%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
1%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
1%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
0%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
0%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
0%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
0%
Education
Bachelor's degree
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Interests
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Work Styles
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