| How to make the most of teaching assistants | | | | plans for both of you. |
| role | | | | Take the opportunity of organizing group work or |
| I have a TA who seems to get in the way | | | | withdrawing individuals for short periods of special |
| instead of helping - yet everyone else says she's | | | | attention. |
| great! | | | | Ask if there are specialized resources you may |
| Description | | | | not know about. |
| A teaching assistant (TA) should be an invaluable | | | | Priorities |
| aide, not a hindrance. They deserve to be kept | | | | Talk to each other beforehand and afterwards. |
| informed about what you are teaching, why you | | | | Preparation and evaluation are both important. |
| are teaching it and how together you might best | | | | Value and respect your teaching assistant and |
| help pupils benefit from this. It's up to you to talk | | | | show that publicly in front of your pupils. |
| with the teaching assistant. | | | | Emphasize that the pupils must respect the |
| Cause | | | | teaching assistant as much as you and expect no |
| Teaching assistants want to help, but few want | | | | lower standard of behavior. |
| to take over. That's the job of the teacher. An | | | | Alternatives |
| assistant should not be left in charge of a whole | | | | When you are teaching without a teaching |
| class and the ultimate responsibility for all the | | | | assistant reflect on how you might have deployed |
| pupils is yours. Discussing beforehand how you | | | | him/her and how some in the class would have |
| might help each other is very important and either | | | | benefited. |
| ignoring or rushing this helps no one. | | | | Avoid |
| Action | | | | Last minute time-filling activities for your teaching |
| Compare timetables and book a suitable slot for | | | | assistant. |
| talking about your plans for the class. Find out | | | | Loading too much responsibility on your teaching |
| how you intend to work together, mutual | | | | assistant. |
| strengths and weaknesses, issues with individual | | | | Treating the withdrawal of a small group with |
| pupils or small groups. | | | | your teaching assistant as an embarrassment or |
| Prepare your lessons at least as well or better | | | | a punishment. |
| than you would on your own so you can build in | | | | |