Teacher Assistants

Career Description: Perform duties that are instructional in nature or deliver direct services to students or parents. Serve in a position for which a teacher or another professional has ultimate responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

Industry: Education, Training, and Library

Other Job Titles for Teacher Assistants:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Provide extra assistance to students with special needs, such as non-English-speaking students or those with physical and mental disabilities.
• Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
• Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
• Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
• Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
• Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
• 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, or supervised role-playing methods.
• Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their eye levels and perceptual skills.
• Distribute tests and homework assignments and collect them when they are completed.
• Type, file, and duplicate materials.
• Distribute teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
• Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
• Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
• Carry out therapeutic regimens such as behavior modification and personal development programs, under the supervision of special education instructors, psychologists, or speech-language pathologists.
• Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities such as restrooms.
• Assist in bus loading and unloading.
• Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
• Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
• Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
• Prepare lesson outlines and plans in assigned subject areas and submit outlines to teachers for review.
• Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories and assist students with hardware and software use.
• Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
• Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs.
• Conduct demonstrations to teach such skills as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
• Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
• Collect money from students for school-related projects.
• Monitor classroom viewing of live or recorded courses transmitted by communication satellites.
• Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
• Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
• Assist librarians in school libraries.
• Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
• Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
• Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Perform administrative duties such as assisting in school libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
• Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities such as restrooms.
• Visit schools to tutor students with sensory impairments and to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs.
• Provide interpretation and transcription of regular classroom materials through Braille and sign language.
• Sponsor extracurricular activities such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.

Emerging Tasks

• Provide clinical services to clients, such as by assessing psychological problems and conducting psychotherapy.
• Review books and journal articles for potential publication.
• Supervise the clinical work of practicum students.
• Talk with students about academic and personal problems and refer them to the appropriate resources.
• Teach classes using current technology, such as by developing multimedia course materials and on-line courses.
• Help patrons find and use library resources, such as reference materials, audiovisual equipment, computers and other electronic resources, and provide technical assistance when needed.
• Maintain and troubleshoot problems with library equipment, including computers, photocopiers, and audiovisual equipment.
• Order all print and nonprint material for library, prepare order slips, check prices, figure costs, and make invoice payments.
• Plan and conduct children's programs, community outreach programs, and other specialized programs (e.g., library tours).
• Represent library or institution on internal and external committees.
• Review and evaluate materials using book reviews, catalogs, faculty recommendations, and current holdings to select and order print, audiovisual, and electronic resources.
• Supervise daily library operations, budgeting, planning, and personnel activities, such as hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations.
• Teach library patrons basic computer skills, such as how to search for information using computerized databases.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• collect payment
• communicate student progress
• complete time or attendance forms
• conduct parent conferences
• coordinate educational content
• demonstrate physical activities
• develop instructional materials
• develop teaching aids
• ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• establish and maintain relationships with students
• evaluate student performance
• maintain educational records, reports, or files
• maintain group discipline in an educational setting
• make education presentations
• monitor student progress
• operate audio-visual equipment
• order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
• organize educational material or ideas
• prepare audio-visual teaching aids
• provide technical support to computer users
• recognize student learning levels
• recognize student problems
• record student progress
• resolve behavioral or academic problems
• select teaching materials to meet student needs
• use classroom management techniques
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve educational data
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use inventory control procedures
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use special education techniques
• use teaching techniques
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve educational data
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use motivational techniques in education
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use special education techniques
• use teaching techniques
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• weld together metal parts, components, or structures

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

• Average annual wage (2007) - $21,580.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 10.41%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 136,541
• Employment (2006): 1,312,222

• Dietetic Technicians
• Graduate Teaching Assistants
• Health Educators
• Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
• Historians
• Instructional Coordinators
• Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
• Sociologists