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Roles and Responsibilities
The paraprofessional's primary role is to assist the teacher and promote
more effective use of the teacher's abilities and professional knowledge.
It is the teacher's responsibility to assure that student's are meeting
challenging content and performance standards. Paraprofessionals assist
the teacher in helping to meet this goal for each student. In order
for paraprofessionals to provide direct instruction to students, teachers
plan the instruction for the student. Teachers can assist the paraprofessional
in the specifics of the instruction, evaluate student progress, and
monitor the effectiveness of the paraprofessional's implementation of
the instructional strategies.
Activities
In order for paraprofessionals to understand their roles well, they
need to understand how they interrelate with their supervisor. Typically,
across all settings, the teacher's role will involve the initiation
and planning of a students Individual Family Service Plan, The Individual
Education Plan, or the Transition plan. The paraprofessionals role is
to carry out those plans.
This section has three different activities. Use one, two, three, or
any combination that best fits your needs. The purpose of these activities
is to identify your role more clearly, clarify your duties, and encourage
conversation about these areas with your supervisor.
After reading through some examples of the various duties, write your
roles and duties in the last column. If you are unsure, spend some time
talking with your supervisor to clarify that area, using the questions
in the following section as a guide.
Get a worksheet
that you may print for this activity.
| |
Teacher / Adult Supervisor's Roles |
Paraprofessional's Role |
Paraprofessional's Role in Daily Practice |
Roles and Duties in Your Setting |
| Setting Organization |
- Plan weekly schedule.
- Plan lessons and activities for entire group and modify for
individual needs.
- Set and/or maintain records where all team members have access
and input.
- Communicate all decisions, plans, policies, and instructions.
- Communicate needs and situations of individuals that affect
their safety and welfare.
|
- Implement plans under direct supervision
of teacher or supervisor.
|
- Keep daily progress records.
- Talk through decisions, plans, and strategies with teacher/supervisor.
- Communicate daily and regular needs of individuals.
- Make daily accommodations and modifications for individuals,
getting approval from supervisor.
|
 |
| Assessments |
- Assess individuals.
- Administer tests.
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- Assist with monitoring or scoring.
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- Do daily monitoring and report results and
observations.
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| Objectives |
- Determine appropriate objectives.
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- Implement lessons to meet objectives.
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- Help determine objectives and update status
of the objectives based on daily contacts.
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|
| Instruction |
- Give instruction for the entire group, small
groups, and individuals.
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- Teach small group and individual sessions.
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- Provide direct instruction and report results.
|
|
| Behavioral Management |
- Plan behavior management strategies for
groups and individuals.
|
- Implement behavioral strategies using the
same emphasis and techniques as the teacher or supervisor.
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- Help determine appropriate strategies based
on daily contact with individuals.
- The team modifies students' environments, as needed based on
daily contact.
|
|
Working
with Parents |
- Meet with parents.
- Initiate conferences concerning planning and review.
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- Communicate with parents in coordination
with teacher/supervisor.
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- Communicate regularly with parent about
transportation (bus aide, etc.) and report information back to
teacher/supervisor.
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| Individualized Planning |
- Develop and implement individual plan.
- Communicate with all team members.
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- Carry out individualized plans.
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- Actively participate on students' teams,
communicating daily activities, changes, and needs of the individual.
|
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top of page
Here is a sample weekly schedule form. If you are not currently in
a paraprofessional position, develop a schedule you think would be realistic.
Record the time required for each activity, and then describe your role
and the teacher or supervisor's role in the appropriate space.
Get a worksheet
that you may print for this activity.
| |
Paraprofessional Activity |
Teacher Activity |
| Monday |
|
|
| 9:00 a.m. |
Take attendance |
Explain class activity |
| a.m. |
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|
| a.m. |
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| p.m. |
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|
| p.m. |
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|
| p.m. |
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| Tuesday |
|
|
| a.m. |
|
|
| a.m. |
|
|
| a.m. |
|
|
| p.m. |
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|
| p.m. |
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|
| p.m. |
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| Wednesday |
|
|
| a.m. |
|
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| a.m. |
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| a.m. |
|
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| p.m. |
|
|
| p.m. |
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|
| p.m. |
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| Thursday |
|
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| a.m. |
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| a.m. |
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| a.m. |
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| p.m. |
|
|
| p.m. |
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|
| p.m. |
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| Friday |
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| a.m. |
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|
| a.m. |
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| a.m. |
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| p.m. |
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| p.m. |
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| p.m. |
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To move to the next activity in this unit:
Click the next button or the next
arrow (at the top of the page).
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