The traditional Teaching Assistant (TA) class with a curriculum
Kevin Gary, Business and IT Teacher
Timberline High School – Lacey, Washington
North Thurston Public Schools
Goals For Today
• Engage your high school’s
typical TA position with a
curriculum you can build
yourself.
• Options available to make
the traditional TA role a CTE
class within business
education.
•Showcase the Canvas™
Learning Environment.
Lacey is adjacent to Washington State’s
capital Olympia; 50,000 population.
Between Seattle and Portland, Oregon
along Interstate 5.
Military community that is within
short driving distance to Joint
Base Lewis-McChord .
www.nthurston.k12.wa.us
Founded in 1953; enrollment of 14,700 total
students and growing.
Three comprehensive high schools, one
alternative high school, four middle schools,
and 13 elementary schools
Wide variety of CTE and CTE STEM
classes in High Schools/Middle Schools
along with partnership with local Skills
Center.
The New
CTE Business Teacher
(in classroom facilitating
online lessons/activities)
Student TA in
the Office
Office Staff
Member
Online Component
• Canvas Learning™ for online delivery; 16 weeks.
• Two semesters worth of lessons; graded class.
• Online component facilitated by a CTE Certified
Business Education Teacher.
• 60% of overall grade is based off assignments,
discussions, journals, short quizzes which are all
delivered online by a CTE certified Business Ed
Teacher.
• CTE Teachers issues final grade at end of
semester; 60% from online class, 40% from final
evaluation.
Classroom Component
• At the discretion of teacher or
host staff member.
• Students can complete online
assignments during class time or
at home.
• A “team-teaching” model
between the CTE Business
Education teacher and the host
teacher.
Concerns
• TAs in our four high schools were
‘roaming’ around the halls.
• Students ‘love’ being TAs because
there is “nothing else to take.”
• Students not taking CTE classes
but just “wanting to be a TA” to fill
the period void.
• Several current TAs lacking office
and professionalism skills or staff
doesn’t have time to train.
Brainstorm
• Similar program already
developed in variety of
formats.
• Another local school near
our community developed a
program for Office TAs.
• Decided to introduce this
into all four high schools.
• Not an “Alternative Learning
Experience” for Washington
State.
Development
• Five teachers and CTE
Instructional Coach met to
come up with lesson topics.
• 70% of the lessons
derived/developed by CTE
Coach; 30% from each
school.
• 2012 when introduced:
– Mandatory first two
semesters in one high
school
– Optional for students in
the other high schools
Course Activities
• Utilized school district’s Discovery
Learning subscription for educational
videos/content.
• Utilized free State resources from the
Washington State Department of Labor
and Industries.
• An “open source” of activities shared by
other business education teachers
across Washington.
• Utilized school district’s Google Apps for
Education services in conjunction with
some of the assignments.
• Developed our own/referenced news or
related info articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
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As a classroom teacher, do I have to assign the student the work? No, grading for the
assignment portion is performed by the Business Education Teacher who works 100%
online with the student.
What am I responsible for as a classroom teacher? Assigning normal TA duties, taking
attendance, filling out four evaluations per semester on your student which accounts for
40% of their overall grade in the class.
Who assigns the grades in Skyward? The online business education teacher.
As a classroom teacher, can I assign the student additional work? Yes.
Why would I want my TA to do this? For most TAs, the TA role can be their first ever
job experience working for someone. This class will help train students to be
professionals in the work place, work setting, and teach skills that can be transferred
over into other positions while serving in their role/job as a TA.
Do students earn occupational credit for this class? Yes, students will earn
occupational education credit.
Is this a graded class? Yes, this is a graded class; not pass/fail. Transcripts will report
“Business Procedures” versus “TA” . Having the TA position tied to the class makes the
student more marketable on a transcript for scholarships, college admissions, and
extended learning opportunities.
What if my student does zero online work through the semester and is a good TA and
needs to drop the class? If the student drops Business Procedures, they will also lose
out on being a TA. Counselors will need to do their best to reassign them to another
class.
Who is responsible for managing the online portion of the class? The online business
education teacher.
Semester 1 Lessons
•Week 1 Chain of Command, Positive Work Environments
•Week 2 Introductions and First Impression, Ethics
•Week 3 Taking phone messages, confidentiality, copy machine, scanner
•Week 4 Evaluation 1 due; Helping a guest teacher
•Week 5 Use of Student Gmail
•Week 6 Personal Hygiene, Office Ergonomics, Appropriate Attire
•Week 7 Saving computer files, creating attractive documents
•Week 8 Evaluation 2 due; Taking inventory, basic business math
•Week 9 Employee absences, procrastination, managing time
•Week 10 Google Docs – an overview
•Week 11 Business Etiquette – dining & communicating with others.
•Week 12 Evaluation 3; Composing a letter of request
•Week 13 Taking initiative, organization,
•Week 14 Research a career, salary, education requirements
•Week 15 Non verbal/verbal communication,
•Week 16 Evaluation 4; Parliamentary Procedures for business meetings
•Final: Final reflection paper or TBA project
Semester 2 Lessons
•Week 1 Syllabus & Teacher Expectations
•Week 2 Introductions and Hand Shakes
•Week 3 Confidentiality/F.E.R.P.A., TBA Activity
•Week 4 Evaluation 1; Taking meeting minutes
•Week 5 Google Spreadsheets – recordkeeping basics
•Week 6 Business Ethics 101 or Host Teacher Tasks
•Week 7 Google Presentations – business presentations
•Week 8 Evaluation 2;
•Week 9 Filing files, Making a website from Google Sites
•Week 10 Characteristics and Organization of a business
•Week 11 Teen and Washington State Work Laws
•Week 13 Career exploration, resume development, cover letters
•Week 14 Career exploration, resume development, cover letters #2
•Week 15 Positive Attitudes; Letter of Recommendation for self
•Week 16 Evaluation 4;
•Final: All Reflection Papers Due!
Challenges
• Web filters
• Replacing/updating
current content
• “Free” online videos
or news articles
removed
• Training with Canvas
• Student Procrastinate
• “Bias” evaluations
from staff
Administrative Success?
• Increased FTE Count for
North Thurston Public Schools CTE
– The program funded 1 full FTE staff; 180+
students added to CTE rosters.
– Washington State provides enhanced CTE
funding per student FTE; non-Perkins.
• Students
– Learning office, workplace and business ‘norms’
for a busy job environment (their TA role).
– Some students decided not to be TAs because of
this program and decided to take other CTE or
elective classes; a success!
Preview of Class & Questions
• http://www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/bp
• Questions?