The Educational Assistant Classroom Partner

1. The Educational Assistant Classroom Partner Revised July 2010

2. Four Pillars for the Educational Assistant Role in the Classroom • Support for the Student • Support for all pupils with whom the EA comes into contact • Support for the Teacher • EA performs a number of routine tasks • Support for the Curriculum • EA is engaged in important aspects student performance • Support for the School • EA is not just part of the staff; they are part of a team

3. Levels of Collaboration • Collaboration might take place at any or all phases of the teaching-learning process and in varying forms of formality. A continuum could be applied to help categorize depth of collaboration. • Collaboration does not always neatly fall into these categories. “The propensity for teachers’ collaborative work to defy categorization is testimony to the complexity and fluidity of life in schools.” (Cousins, 1994)

4. Good Practice • Foster the participation of students in the social and academic processes of a school The Educational Assistant: • Helps with the inclusion of all students • Has awareness of and assists with planning for class curriculum expectations • Assists the teacher with follow-up for students through reinforcement and practise of the learning • Assists with student development of social skills • Assists by facilitating behaviour policies • Spots early signs of bullying and disruptive behaviour • Assists students to remain on task

5. Good Practice • Enable students to become more independent learners The Educational Assistant: • Helps raise the self-esteem of children • Assists individual students in educational tasks • Frees the teacher to work with groups and individuals • Assists students with physical needs/medical needs • Displays a friendly, healthy relationship with the teacher, each valuing the other’s role • Models respect and kindness • Is intuitive to opportunities to allow student growth toward independence

6. Good Practice • Helps to raise standards of achievement of all students The Educational Assistant: • Is involved with the whole class • Makes more ambitious learning activities possible • Reinforces and practises concepts/skills introduced by the teacher • Provides feedback to the teacher • Prepares classroom materials • Helps with gathering lesson/unit plan resources • Assists by being vigilant and intuitive to student and teacher needs • Ensures open, professional communication with the teacher • Shares information with the teacher • Shares personal care and safety information with the parent where applicable

7. Good Practice • Create and maintain the Classroom Team The Classroom Teacher: • Differentiates the roles of teacher and Educational Assistant • Models and nurtures a mutually respectful relationship with EA(s) • Ensures EA participation in planning • Creates a climate that encourages high-quality EA input • Develops feedback mechanisms • Shares behaviour management structures • Ensures EA(s) is informed of the learning and behavioural needs of students • Includes EAs in IEP reviews • Is the communicator with the home regarding student program

8. Roles and Responsibilities

9. Roles and Responsibilities

10. Roles and Responsibilities

11. Roles and Responsibilities

12. Roles and Responsibilities

13. HOW: Building your own relationships within Classroom Teams Assisting with the setting of personal goals for each adult to move toward implementation of the Vision HOW: One way the LDCSB has to assist principals with continuous improvement and effectiveness of the classroom team is the use of the Teacher/Educational Assistant Work Relationship-Workshop In A Bag Goal: Healthy Adult Working Relationships

14. Together Everyone Achieves More Team Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success! Henry Ford