There are approximately 700,000 paraeducators working in the nation’s public schools and additional thousands working in private schools today. These individuals represent a major resource in improving student achievement and building stronger and more effective schools. Yet, there is a consensus across many educators that this resource has never been adequately trained and prepared for the important roles they play. Similarly, most teachers are not prepared to supervise, train, and monitor their paraeducator partners.
Course Objectives
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Describe the roles of the paraeducator and distinguish between the roles of a teacher and a paraeducator
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Discuss the importance of the paraeducator as a member of the instructional team in today's classrooms
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Use a shared-versus-separate ecision process to gain role clarity for both teachers and paraeducators
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Understand a process for determining paraeducator roles and responsibilities when providing student-specific, small group, or whole class support
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Use a simple format to guide scheduling and documenting a paraeducator's schedule
