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Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Up to and including 1 month

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Detailed Work Activities

Supervise school or student activities.
Serve on institutional or departmental committees.
Clean facilities or work areas.
Maintain clean work areas.
Collect deposits, payments or fees.
Teach physical education.
Collaborate with other teaching professionals to develop educational programs.
Distribute instructional or library materials.
Enforce rules or policies governing student behavior.
Evaluate student work.
Maintain student records.
Monitor student performance.
Teach others to use technology or equipment.
Set up classroom materials or equipment.
Maintain computer equipment or software.
Operate audiovisual equipment.
Display student work.
Plan educational activities.
Discuss student progress with parents or guardians.
Develop instructional materials.
Lead classes or community events.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Teach daily living skills or behaviors.
Teach life skills.
Tutor students who need extra assistance.
Create technology-based learning materials.

Tasks

Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
Teach social skills to students.
Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
Clean classrooms.
Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their eye levels and perceptual skills.
Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
Conduct demonstrations to teach skills, such as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
Type, file, and duplicate materials.
Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
Assist in bus loading and unloading.
Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories, and assist students with hardware and software use.
Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids, such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs.
Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
Distribute tests and homework assignments and collect them when they are completed.
Collect money from students for school-related projects.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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