The Educational Assistant
Classroom Partner
Revised July 2010
Four Pillars for the Educational Assistant Role in the
Classroom
1. Support for the Student
Support for all pupils with whom the EA comes
into contact
2. Support for the Teacher
EA performs a number of routine tasks
3. Support for the Curriculum
EA is engaged in important aspects student
performance
4. Support for the School
EA is not just part of the staff; they are part of a
team
2
Levels of Collaboration
Collaboration might take place at
any or all phases of the teachinglearning 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)
Joint-Implementation:
Team-teaching with shared
responsibility for delivering instruction
and assessing a group of students.
Formal Planning:
Set objectives, design instruction,
offer mutual help and advice,
routinely share materials and methods
Teacher Independence:
Informally share observations,
ideas, and materials
3
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
4
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
5
Good
Practice
Helps to
raise
standards
of
achievemen
t 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
6
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 highquality 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
7
Roles and Responsibilities
Instruction
Teacher Role
Plan all instruction, including small group
activities and guide the work of the EA
Provide instruction in whole-class, group and to
individual students in the class
Educational
Assistant Role
Work with small groups of students on specific tasks
including review, reinforcement and practise of
concepts and skills already taught by the teacher
Work with one student at a time to provide intensive
instruction or remediation
Free the teacher to work with individuals and small
groups
Ensure personal care and safety of students
Areas of
Communication
Teachers provide specific content and guidance
about curriculum, students, and instructional
materials
EAs note student progress and give feedback to
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teachers
Roles and Responsibilities
Curriculum and Lesson Plan Development
Teacher Role
Develop and introduce all lesson plans and
instructional materials.
Ensure alignment with standards, student
needs, and IEPs
Educational
Assistant Role
Provide assistance in development of
classroom activities, gathering and retrieval
of materials, and coordination of activities
Mutual review of lesson plan components
Areas of
Communication prior to class
Teachers provide guidance about specific
instructional methods
9
Roles and Responsibilities
Classroom Management
Teacher Role
Develop and guide class-wide management
plans for behaviour and classroom structures
Develop and monitor individual Behaviour
Management plans
Educational
Assistant Role
Assist with the implementation of class-wide and
individual Behaviour Management plans
Monitor hallways, playground, & other activities
outside normal class with attention for student(s)
with special needs
Areas of
Communication
Teachers provide guidance about specific
behaviour management strategies & student
characteristics
Educational Assistants note student progress &
activities and give feedback to teachers
10
Roles and Responsibilities
Accommodations and Modifications
Teacher Role
Determine IEP program for applicable students
Incorporate accommodations and differentiated
instruction into all lesson plans
Develop materials to suit student learning needs
Educational
Assistant Role
Guided by teacher and IEP, provide appropriate
accommodations to material (enlarged print,
taking notes, reading material aloud, …)
Teachers guide EAs in the use of specific
Areas of
Communication adaptations (from the IEP)
Educational Assistants provide feedback about
student progress and success of adaptations
11
Roles and Responsibilities
Assessment
Teacher Role
Determine, create, and administer appropriate
assessments
Determine modifications and accommodations
Use assessment results to inform future
planning and curriculum development
Assist in the administration of assessments
Educational
Assistant Role Implement accommodations
Collect anecdotal student information
Areas of
Teacher gives guidance about the content and
Communication implementation of all assessments
EA gives feedback about student progress
based upon learning expectations
Mutual conversations about anecdotal
information
12
Goal: Healthy Adult Working
Relationships
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
RelationshipWorkshop In A Bag
13
Team
Together
Everyone
Achieves
More
Henry Ford