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Strengthening the Teaching Team: Teachers and Paraprofessionals Learning Together
Author(s) -
Morgan Jill,
Ashbaker Betty,
Forbush Dave
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
support for learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1467-9604
pISSN - 0268-2141
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9604.00071
Subject(s) - professional development , medical education , psychology , training (meteorology) , resource (disambiguation) , faculty development , pedagogy , mathematics education , medicine , computer science , computer network , physics , meteorology
The traditional classroom staffed by a single teacher is rapidly being replaced by one in which a team of adults collaborate to meet pupil needs. Paraprofessionals are an invaluable resource to teachers, not only in representing extra time spent with individual pupils or an extra pair of hands, but in the experience they bring to the job. Many have few formal qualifications, but a number of states and school districts in the USA have begun to provide training, as have some local education authorities in the UK. The most appropriate and useful format for paraeducator training is on the job. However, few teachers have received training in supervising or providing training to other adults. This article describes an observation and self‐evaluation procedure which enables teachers and paraprofessionals to identify and begin to meet their own professional development needs.