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

What the job really is

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.

At a glance

• Sector: Education & Library
• O*NET-SOC code: 25-9042
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Alternative computer keyboards, Appletree, Audio tape recorders or players, Automate the Schools ATS, Blackboard software, Children's educational software, ClassDojo

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Teaching Assistants, Special Education
• Tutors
• Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
• Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
• Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
• Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
• Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.