Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education
Significant human skills needed
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
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.
Core 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.
Supplemental Tasks (9)
- 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.
Education & Training
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (30)
Tools & Equipment (28)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Teaching, Training, & Facilitation Education
Early Childhood Development Education
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