Teaching Assistants in K–12 Schools

Key Responsibilities

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