Hi everyone. I was just wondering how many of you have positions in which you make out your own lesson plans and report cards. I had an interview this morning and that was a part of the TA job they were interviewing for. I would have my own group of kids and be responsible for creating my own lesson plans for them and also the grading/report card end of it as well. I am just curious if this is something that normally falls under the TA category because if it is I am going to have to get some more experience with that area. Thanks in advance
I have worked with assistants for 15 years and they have never had to grade any of our students, but I do value their input when I write my report cards and IPPS. A few of my assistants made their own lesson plans after we discussed what the students needed to learn but if they were not comfortable making the lessons, I did it for them. I also had some assistants that I would not let make their own plans (due to their skill level).
Only as a Co-Teacher would I do all that. Not as a Teaching Assistant, which I currently am. In Kindergarten I did reading/writing centers, math centers, art/craft projects, bulletin boards---all which I love!!!! I do other things as well..lesson plans is not one of them.
I don't think this is very typical. Are you being given a plan time in which to complete this? Are you being paid hourly? I assume that, if they're paying you hourly, they're not expecting you to bring work home, are they? Personally, I would not and cannot allow the paras that work in my classroom or with my students to fill out progress reports. My name goes on them. They're my responsibility. That's school policy. As Proud2BATeacher said, it really depends on the skill level of the para in question as to whether or not I trust them to make their own instructional plans. I've had some I trust tremendously and others that I don't even trust to implement the plans that I write.
I would be getting paid Teacher's Assistant salary to do this job. Is it a possibility that they are trying to get out of having to pay a full teacher's pay and are putting this job under my category?
I feel like they might be trying to take advantage of you by paying you a lot less than a regular teacher would make for doing the same job. What exactly would you be teaching?
I agree with Caesar - the paras at my school do NOT write lesson plans or grade assignments. It definitely sounds like they're trying to get a teacher for TA pay.
I agree that they are trying to take advantage of you and save themselves money. The only way I can see this being a good thing for you is if you are hoping to someday have a teaching position. This will give you experience you can share in interviews. If you have no goal of becoming a teacher, I might look for a different position.
I interviewed for a position that was a parapro for parapro pay but it was a technology special. Lesson plans and grading required for K-2. They want a teacher but only want to pay para pay.
This job is a Reading TA position. I was thinking this very same thing after I left the interview. It sounded like they wanted to get alot for a little.
I took a para training last month that explained what is the teacher's responsibility and what is the para's responsibility. The two things you named, they emphasized that paras are NOT to do. I agree with everyone else, they are trying to pay you less for a job that deserves higher pay. That is sad. :-(
