| What is exactly an assistant teacher? What do | | | | such as in eating, toileting, and keeping up with the |
| she do and what are her responsibilities? Read on | | | | activities that are part of the lessons. Assistant |
| and find out. | | | | teachers should also be ready to entertain and |
| An assistant teacher’s primary job is to | | | | play with the children, especially when some of |
| assist the primary teacher. It may sound | | | | the kids are uncomfortable and are upset. The |
| one-sided, but the truth is, an assistant | | | | age of the children in the class affects the mix of |
| teacher’s job is pretty multi-faceted. Since | | | | responsibilities of an assistant teacher. |
| they stay in the same classroom as the primary | | | | |
| teacher and all the kids, they are easily susceptible | | | | Aside from the responsibilities already mentioned |
| to any form of task or duty. Because of this, an | | | | above, an assistant teacher is also responsible for |
| assistant teacher should be energetic and | | | | the preparation of any materials needed for the |
| enthusiastic | | | | class activities. In special classes such as art |
| | | | | subjects, the assistant teacher is, of course, |
| An assistant teacher is expected to nurture | | | | expected to help the students in the use of |
| relationships both with the primary teacher and | | | | scissors, glue, and the like. It is also their |
| the kids. The primary teacher and the assistant | | | | responsibility to prepare the classroom or set it |
| teacher will be working together. Although the | | | | up for the activities, and to clean up afterwards. |
| assistant teacher takes directions from the | | | | |
| supervising teacher, the assistant teacher’s | | | | Assistant teachers can be fully qualified and |
| role is quite important because the primary | | | | registered teachers. However, they can also be |
| teacher will find it difficult to work without | | | | simply teaching assistants, with no academic |
| assistance. | | | | teaching background and prior experience. |
| | | | | Teaching assistants are not qualified teachers. |
| Since the primary teacher will have to pay | | | | Teaching assistants are naturally guided by the |
| attention to the lesson, the assistant teacher will | | | | primary teacher. The qualifications for teaching |
| be freer to pay attention to the students. This is | | | | assistants are lesser. They just have to have |
| one of the most important roles of an assistant | | | | around two years of formal education after high |
| teacher. He or she will have to supervise the | | | | school. |
| students and monitor them at all times. This also | | | | |
| entails taking care of the children, despite the | | | | The good thing about being an assistant teacher is |
| different developmental stages, especially in | | | | that they also have opportunities to advance in |
| preschool or kindergarten. Some students may | | | | their teaching career. They have plenty of |
| already be independent and can move around on | | | | opportunities to attend seminars and workshops |
| their own without the need for round-the-clock | | | | especially for assistant teachers. These can help |
| supervision, while some students still need | | | | them improve their knowledge and skills that they |
| constant supervision and guidance. It falls upon | | | | use relating to their job. As they improve as |
| them to support children, especially those with | | | | assistant teachers, they can move up and |
| special needs, since the primary teacher cannot | | | | become fully qualified teachers after gaining |
| possibly focus on one student alone. It is also their | | | | experience in the field, given that they meet the |
| responsibility to help children in various activities, | | | | qualifications. |