Duties of a Teacher Aide

An integral part of a smoothly functioning classroom, many people are confused as to exactly what an educational assistant’s responsibilities and duties are.

Essentially, a Teacher Aide assists the class teacher with all non-teaching duties inside and outside the classroom.

Providing care and supervision for children of all ages, classroom assistants can be involved with a host of tasks, from in-class activities – demonstrating and participating in recreational exercises, for example, or helping guide individual children with their studies, to preparing lessons and lesson material and generally assisting in organising all the elements of a lesson, including collecting and distributing necessary paperwork and other tools detailed in the lesson plan.

An additional component of the job that appeals to many with a particularly strong nurturing side is the ability to give that extra bit of help to students or children with additional learning needs, which can encompass intellectual and learning disabilities, physical and communication disabilities, challenging behaviours or those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Specialisation in assisting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori students can also be a preference, with Teacher Aides able to specialise to become Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Workers.

Other roles that fall under the teaching aide banner are Integration Aides (which tend to focus on the specialist needs mentioned above) and Preschool Aides, the roles of which combine the general duties listed above but can also include extras such as assisting with personal care.

Undoubtedly a rewarding career path, those who choose to study to become a Teacher Aid can look forward to significant involvement within a classroom environment and the chance to really help mould a child’s experience of its schooling and early years. If it’s job satisfaction you’re after, a career in education and childcare could be just the one for you.

Now you know what a Teacher Aide does, here’s how to get started...

You can become a teaching assistant by studying for your Certificate III in Education Support CHC30213.

To find out more about the range of courses in education and childcare offered at Foundation Education, go to our range of courses page or call 1300 61 61 97.