Comments on: Paraprofessionals and teachers work together as a team for the benefit of students http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/ Elona Hartjes shares the insights, resources and practical classroom strategies that have earned her A Teacher of Distinction Award. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:34:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Acajudi http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-64862 Acajudi Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:37:25 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-64862 I am a Paraprofessional, and I do have a degree. I am 67 years young, and I retired at the age of 58, after 40 years of teaching adults computers. I live in Mexico and returned to America, where I was hired by our local school as a teacher assistant. I had three years of college, so I returned at the age of 61, and graduated. I am an assistant, because I want to help the students and be a support for respectful teachers. I have had some great teachers, and sadly, I have had a few with "major issues." I have still remained a professional, but deep down, I wish I had a doll of them, and a few well placed pins. lol Please treat everyone the same as you would want to be treated, or you will reap what you have sowed. I am a Paraprofessional, and I do have a degree. I am 67 years young, and I retired at the age of 58, after 40 years of teaching adults computers. I live in Mexico and returned to America, where I was hired by our local school as a teacher assistant. I had three years of college, so I returned at the age of 61, and graduated. I am an assistant, because I want to help the students and be a support for respectful teachers. I have had some great teachers, and sadly, I have had a few with “major issues.” I have still remained a professional, but deep down, I wish I had a doll of them, and a few well placed pins. lol
Please treat everyone the same as you would want to be treated, or you will reap what you have sowed.

]]> By: Susan Fitzell http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-46281 Susan Fitzell Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:03:30 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-46281 Gloria, The first question often asked is, "What would you like me to do?" That's also the one question that teachers often struggle with, whether seasoned or brand-new. One of the greatest challenges in the paraprofessional/teacher relationship is having the time to communicate. I found that having checklists with job/role options for paraprofessionals and teachers provide an effective launching pad to discussion about paraprofessional-teacher expectations. These lists can be 'checked' independently and discussed later, or used to maximize the small amount of time paraprofessionals and teachers might have to plan together. The paraprofessional checklists live here: http://tinyurl.com/a8b55p. Best of luck to you. And last but not least, thanks Elona for such an insightful article. Gloria,
The first question often asked is, “What would you like me to do?” That’s also the one question that teachers often struggle with, whether seasoned or brand-new.

One of the greatest challenges in the paraprofessional/teacher relationship is having the time to communicate. I found that having checklists with job/role options for paraprofessionals and teachers provide an effective launching pad to discussion about paraprofessional-teacher expectations.

These lists can be ‘checked’ independently and discussed later, or used to maximize the small amount of time paraprofessionals and teachers might have to plan together. The paraprofessional checklists live here: http://tinyurl.com/a8b55p. Best of luck to you. And last but not least, thanks Elona for such an insightful article.

]]> By: Elona Hartjes http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-19219 Elona Hartjes Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:27:57 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-19219 Janice, Thank you so much. I appreciate the support. There are so many people other than the teaching/paraprofessional staff at school who go above and beyond too. This includes people like the secretaries, the custodians, the lunch room attendants, bus drivers etc. I have seen the wonderful relationships that these people forge with our most challenging students. For some students, these relationships make a huge difference- the difference of staying in school or dropping out. Janice,
Thank you so much. I appreciate the support. There are so many people other than the teaching/paraprofessional staff at school who go above and beyond too. This includes people like the secretaries, the custodians, the lunch room attendants, bus drivers etc. I have seen the wonderful relationships that these people forge with our most challenging students. For some students, these relationships make a huge difference- the difference of staying in school or dropping out.

]]> By: invacare electric wheel chair http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-19217 invacare electric wheel chair Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:19:12 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-19217 Elona, God bless you and other teaching professionals. Your post aptly describes what would be a very challenging student to teach. Teaching is one of if not the most under rated professions in America. Thank you for your years of service and true willingness to go above and beyond. Kindly, Janice Smith http://arearugreviews.com/ Elona, God bless you and other teaching professionals.
Your post aptly describes what would be a very challenging student to teach.
Teaching is one of if not the most under rated professions in America.

Thank you for your years of service and true willingness to go above and beyond.

Kindly,
Janice Smith
http://arearugreviews.com/

]]> By: Elona http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-12424 Elona Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:29:47 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-12424 Tracy has written a post on her blog that answers your question Gloria. Hre's the link http://leadingfromtheheart.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/collaboration-for-student-success-teachers-and-para-educators-working-together/ Tracy has written a post on her blog that answers your question Gloria. Hre’s the link http://leadingfromtheheart.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/collaboration-for-student-success-teachers-and-para-educators-working-together/

]]> By: Elona http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-12382 Elona Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:52:19 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-12382 Gloria, Thanks for your question. To be honest, I'm not sure what questions to ask. When I work with a para-educator, I think of us as a team so we work together for the benefit of the kids. Tracy Rosen, who left a comment here would probably be more helpful since she ran workshops for para-educators and teachers. I'll ask her . Maybe she can comment. Gloria,
Thanks for your question. To be honest, I’m not sure what questions to ask. When I work with a para-educator, I think of us as a team so we work together for the benefit of the kids.

Tracy Rosen, who left a comment here would probably be more helpful since she ran workshops for para-educators and teachers. I’ll ask her . Maybe she can comment.

]]> By: Gloria Fracasse http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-12353 Gloria Fracasse Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:23:17 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-12353 Hi, I am going toschool to become a parapro in education. I am interested in teaching elementry school. What do you think a para should ask a new teacher upon entering her class room to work with her for the very first time. Thank you, Gloria Hi,
I am going toschool to become a parapro in education. I am interested in teaching elementry school. What do you think a para should ask a new teacher upon entering her class room to work with her for the very first time.
Thank you,
Gloria

]]> By: Elona http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-11965 Elona Mon, 24 Sep 2007 23:23:59 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-11965 Tracy, Thanks for sharing your resources. I think a workshop on the topic is a wonderful idea. Both the teacher and the para-educator could get guidance on how they could work together as a team. You've got quite an interesting year ahead of you.I've taught teenagers that age who were at the K to 2 level. I really liked them. I discovered that they had all kinds of strengths that I could appreciate It's good you are working with a para-educator. One memorable semester, I had 11 students but no para-educator and had to teach the kids cooking all semester long. I remember one day after I did the knife safety lesson, one of the kids promptly cut himself. I didn't know that his parents were still cutting his food for him even though he was 15. Every day was an adventure. I can laugh now, but ... I'm pleased to say, the following semester another teacher taught the cooking class and had the support of a para-educator. Tracy,
Thanks for sharing your resources. I think a workshop on the topic is a wonderful idea. Both the teacher and the para-educator could get guidance on how they could work together as a team.

You’ve got quite an interesting year ahead of you.I’ve taught teenagers that age who were at the K to 2 level. I really liked them. I discovered that they had all kinds of strengths that I could appreciate

It’s good you are working with a para-educator. One memorable semester, I had 11 students but no para-educator and had to teach the kids cooking all semester long. I remember one day after I did the knife safety lesson, one of the kids promptly cut himself. I didn’t know that his parents were still cutting his food for him even though he was 15. Every day was an adventure. I can laugh now, but …

I’m pleased to say, the following semester another teacher taught the cooking class and had the support of a para-educator.

]]> By: Tracy Rosen http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/comment-page-1/#comment-11952 Tracy Rosen Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:35:50 +0000 http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/09/23/paraprofessionals-and-teachers-work-together-as-a-team-for-the-benefit-of-students/#comment-11952 Great post Elona. Last year I ran a workshop series on collaboration for student success where the main focus was how teachers and para-educators could successfully collaborate. There is a copy of the presentation I used for the first session on my blog <a href="http://leadingfromtheheart.edublogs.org/portfolio/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, though it is in French. Many of the teachers in the schools I worked with last year are French. It is called '<b>Travaillons ensemble pour un meilleur rendement scolaire</b>'. One of the English resources I used to prepare for the sessions is, <b>A Teacher’s Guide to Working with Paraeducators and Other Classroom Aides</b> By Jill Morgan and Betty Y. Ashbakar (ASCD, 2001). It's a great little book with concrete activities to help the collaboration process. This year I am working with a para-educator with a group of 11 students, ranging in age from 12-19 and in academic ability from K to 5. (though some of them are more mature in many other ways!) In many ways I can see her becoming somewhat of a lifeline for me as we plan programming for this group together! How much easier and meaningful than planning alone! Thanks for the link to the NRCP. I plan on exploring it with her. Cheers, Tracy Great post Elona. Last year I ran a workshop series on collaboration for student success where the main focus was how teachers and para-educators could successfully collaborate.

There is a copy of the presentation I used for the first session on my blog here, though it is in French. Many of the teachers in the schools I worked with last year are French. It is called ‘Travaillons ensemble pour un meilleur rendement scolaire‘.

One of the English resources I used to prepare for the sessions is, A Teacher’s Guide to Working with Paraeducators and Other Classroom Aides
By Jill Morgan and Betty Y. Ashbakar (ASCD, 2001). It’s a great little book with concrete activities to help the collaboration process.

This year I am working with a para-educator with a group of 11 students, ranging in age from 12-19 and in academic ability from K to 5. (though some of them are more mature in many other ways!) In many ways I can see her becoming somewhat of a lifeline for me as we plan programming for this group together! How much easier and meaningful than planning alone!

Thanks for the link to the NRCP. I plan on exploring it with her.

Cheers,
Tracy

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