Educational Assistants in your Classroom? 6 Ways to avoid issue in the coming year!

Educational assistants are an invaluable asset to your classroom but how do you avoid possible conflict over the coming year and many years to come? We are all human and conflict happens but overall, even with these tips to help guide you, our focus will forever be on the students and their learning environment.

GET TO KNOW YOUR EA!

If you’re lucky enough to know who the EA(s) placed in your classroom are going to be take some time to get to get to know them! Grab a coffee and chat. Did they do a degree outside of their EA training? What are their hobbies? You never know what little interesting tidbit of information may come out of a brief meeting that can not only help the relationship you’ll develop but also benefit your students and the classroom as a whole!

DEAL WITH ANY ISSUES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

Personalities can clash and at times, explosively so. If issues start to arise in the classroom they need to dealt with as immediately as possible. Don’t disrupt a class just to pull an EA out to air out concerns, wait until recess or at the end of the day to discuss. Always remember to document any incidents between yourself and an EA! If it must be taken to administration, documentation is a necessity!

DEAL WITH A “VELCROE” EDUCATION ASSISTANT

As teachers, we get attached to our students as we get a whole year to know and watch them grow! However, spending too much time with one student, which is of course one of the job requirements of an EA, can be detrimental to the student’s learning! Although well intentioned, this can create a learned helplessness in the student leading to further issues in their later years (Especially in high school). Be sure to keep an eye on this within your classroom and ensure its addressed as soon as you can!

NEVER DELEGATE PARENTAL CONTACT TO AN EA

As the teacher, the students are your sole responsibility. Any parental contact which needs to happen should come from you whether bad or good! EA’s do get to know the students and can help with assessing progress but that is the sole job of the instructor so the call should be yours. A great education is only heightened by a healthy relationship between parents and teachers. If one was to add a third party in the mix, especially If they’re not on the same page as the teacher or parents, there can cause friction which can lead to harm for the student!

 MAKE A PLAN!

Have a formal outline for the use of an EA in your classroom, what it’ll look like and what their role will be! Ensure you’ve thoroughly dissected it and ensured it’s what you want. Have that discussion with the EA. Let them know what you expect of them and what they should expect of you! As communication is key in any situation! Let them know the rules that are set in your classroom so they can not only help but also make sure the students are all keeping to the rules if you are unable to in the moment.

ENSURE YOU KNOW THEIR JOB REQUIREMENTS

Take a look at the EA’s handbook (There are lots available online) so you not only understand their role but also how it relates back to yours! You really can’t go wrong with always having a better understanding of the people who you interact with daily! Not only will this help you to create your expectations of each other but also will help to clarify any misunderstandings which may occur throughout the school year. Getting a good grasp on it early can only help make the whole year fly much smoother!

Not only are EA’s essential to the culture in your classroom but they’re ideal to success with your students! Key things to remember are to always keep ahead of the game and to keep communication at the heart of your relationship with the EA. Keep those in mind and you’ll have a fantastic school year!

So, You Must Deal with Parents? 6 Tips to Making Life Easier!

Whether you’re a brand-new teacher fresh out of school or a veteran of the trade, working with parents is a necessity of the job. Where there are kids, there are always parents! So now you must navigate the ever-changing world of parenting styles and a never-ending concern about their children. How does one even go about dealing with all the pressures of teaching students but also trying to work collectively with parents so everyone wins? This post is here to help! So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea and get ready to learn some helpful hints to keep you stress free and always connected to the ones who gave you the students in the first place! 

1.       Be willing to be connected!

Don’t be afraid to give parents your contact information. Most parents will only call if they have a major issue and those instances are rare. Its also extremely reassuring to parents that they can contact you, whether via email or telephone, if they ever have concerns regarding their child. Some students will have two homes where contact with both parents is necessary while others may have a helicopter parent who worries about their child constantly, being open and trying will send a great message and ensure better relationships and interactions which will keep you less stressed!

2.       Set up a weekly email chain!

Set up a weekly email where parents are updated on events in the classroom or upcoming homework and tests. We must remember that they just want their children to do as well as we do and this should not make them out to be scary! Ensure you’re able to set aside some time each week to write the email whether its in a prep slot or over lunch. Parents just want to feel included and what’s the harm in that!?

3.       Create a detailed student information sheet!

Have your students fill out a survey which lists questions like their parents’ names, emails, addresses, phone numbers and their likes and dislikes. Not only will parents feel at ease knowing YOU can contact them in case of emergencies but getting to know them a little better helps the way you teach! Ask them to give you a few insights about their parents such as what they like or dislike. Kids love to talk about their parents so why not get to know them too?

4.       Remember to share success!

Calling home is usually seen as a negative form of communication because historically the only times parents were contacted was to report negative behaviour or bad grades which let parents know they were needed for intervention. Remembering to also send notes home about successes will allow a more open and happy communication with the parents but also remind them that successes are important too! By sharing the little things students will also become more confident and happy making your won classroom culture more vibrant and joyful for your teaching! Its is a win-win situation!

5.       Ensure parents know your style by sending home a letter in the beginning of the year!

All teachers have their own style of marking and their own classroom expectations. Ensure there wont be any confusion by making sure you send out a letter at the start of the year outlining your expectations and goals. Allow parents the chance to ask questions about your own teaching and marking style. That way, when parents begin to help with homework or keep an eye out on their children’s studies they know exactly what you expect and it’ll make it easier at home! This will also come in handy and you can reference it during parent teacher conferences regarding marking decisions or outcomes.

6.       Don’t forget to thank them!

Parental support is a huge help to a teacher whether they are new or a veteran of the trade! Let them know you’re grateful for their support with just a simple email, a note home, or ensuring its said at parent teacher interviews. Their support can mean a world of difference in the ease of your teaching year. You can thank individual parents for extra support or remind parents of your thanks in the weekly email. This is the one thing I would stress in your communication with parents!

Bettering your communication with the parents of your students is an ever-changing struggle all teachers face. What is too much or too little information to give out? How do I tell a parent bad news without backlash? It will get easier with practice and it will get easier if you take even a couple of these tips with you into the real world! Well, now that you've finished your tea, and this article, its back to marking assignments! 

6 Tips to De-Stress on your Sick Day!

Every teacher does their own spin on their substitute binder or folder. But there are a few must-haves for every binder that are sometimes left out! Don’t you fret, I’m here to show you the way to a sub binder that will not only have your substitute leaving you chocolate in thanks, but also leave YOU at peace as you are away from your own carefully crafted unit plans and classroom.

1.       Take some time at the beginning of the year and write a general template so you don’t have to write a brand-new plan and stress yourself.

Write out a general template for yourself so that all you will need to do is insert what the substitute will have your students doing. Make sure the general classroom culture points are listed at the top so the sub knows which students need extra help or which have any extra issues which might need to be addressed. Not only does this help with your own stress levels but it also lets the substitute know exactly who and what the issues may be in a new classroom; it’s a win-win for everyone!

2.       If possible, create a photo list of all your students with YOUR OWN comments about them and any behavior issues listed on the sheet.

Your substitute should be able to read through this and know exactly which students they can call on if they need a hand. Ensuring a list like this is present will also help with that pesky notion that students like to switch names while a substitute calls attendance. It can also eliminate the need to vocally call attendance. If the students can be recognized by their photos, then there is no more sneakiness from your class!

3.       ENSURE ANOTHER TEACHER WHO KNOWS YOUR CLASS CAN HELP IF ANY ISSUES ARISE!

This is a must to help you! Make sure another teacher, or EA, in the school knows your classroom dynamic and how to help if any and all issues arise. Principals and Vice Principals don’t need to be called in if there is another teacher (another teacher in the same grade level for example) is available for any questions or for help. Not only will this ease you but your sub will not feel in the dark if they have any questions regarding policies or specific students!

4.       Policies must be present in your binder.

Ensuring all the school policies are in your binder are essential! You can either copy them, print them off or even re write them as a simplified document for your substitute so they can quickly read them over in case of an emergency! Your binder should have copies of the emergency policies, any classroom policies (Like classroom rules that are not posted) and contact information for the principal, vice principal and Guidance Councillor.

5.       Pick two students to be substitute helpers! 
Every teacher knows within the first couple days who their “helper students” are. Pick two or three and make their specific job to be a helper for the Substitute. Make a game or fun activity out of being picked so you know your sub is well taken after! Not only will it ease you but your students will love to be given a task! If you’re lucky, it might inspire great behavior while you’re away too!

6.       Have a ‘Sub Tub’

Have an area where you can leave a tub of supplies just for sub days! Leave things like general supplies that you may use in several lessons such as extra pens/pencils, glue sticks, scrap paper, etc. There many things you could keep in a sub tub depending on your grade level and what units you’re teaching! Be creative with it! But also, make sure either your sub plan lists where it is or your sub helpers know its whereabouts so they are not stuck in a rut!

Sick days are never easy, especially when they’re a surprise! Keep these tips in mind if you want a (hopefully) seamless and stress free day to just help yourself get better!