Paraeducation positions - no experience working with students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure why would special needs kids deserve anyone with training or experience?

F-off.You are a terrible human being,make no mistake. OP is willing to learn. Have fun being awful.

NP. Actually, it is you, immediate PP, who is a terrible human being. Special needs kids in the system have a legal right to a free and appropriate education. It is what they need to grow and become contributing members of society. Teaching special needs kids requires an understanding of the best methods of instruction and an understanding of the broad ways that disabilities present. IME, untrained staff often blame and are punitive to special needs students because the educator misperceives behavior due to disabilities. Also our SN students don't learn without appropriate instruction and just fall further and further behind, negatively impacting their mental health, their future prospects and the family system.

You wouldn’t be too happy if your student was assigned a math teacher with no teaching experience and no math experience. Why should special needs parents feel differently?

It is not enough to throw whatever warm body can be found for $ 18.79 (or less) an hour

That's why the requirements for a paraeducator are different than those for a teacher.

But, MCPS uses paraeducators as teachers. My DS has had IEP services since grade school and has never received appropriate instruction mostly because he is working with the paraeducator 99% of the time, who is simply giving him more prompts and telling him what to write instead of teaching him. We finally gave up with the school.

OP here. I have a son in PEP program and I would hope that the special ed teacher is the one teaching. My understanding of a para position is that the para is like a classroom assistant to the teacher. In my son's case, I imagine (and I could be totally wrong) the para to be helping him with potty training, taking off his bag, assisting him with different tasks. I feel like I can do these tasks but I don't know anything about the pedagogy of teaching SN kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I hope you’re still reading. My daughter is a special ed teacher. She has two paras in her class. One of them was hired last week. No experience outside of her own child. My daughter says she is fantastic! The kids love her and respond really well to her. Paras are desperately needed in most districts. You’ll learn by being in the classroom. Definitely apply!

I could have written this post myself. My daughter also a SN teacher in desperate need of a second para. As are all her fellow teachers. All you need is willingness to learn. Reliably part time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure why would special needs kids deserve anyone with training or experience?

F-off.You are a terrible human being,make no mistake. OP is willing to learn. Have fun being awful.

NP. Actually, it is you, immediate PP, who is a terrible human being. Special needs kids in the system have a legal right to a free and appropriate education. It is what they need to grow and become contributing members of society. Teaching special needs kids requires an understanding of the best methods of instruction and an understanding of the broad ways that disabilities present. IME, untrained staff often blame and are punitive to special needs students because the educator misperceives behavior due to disabilities. Also our SN students don't learn without appropriate instruction and just fall further and further behind, negatively impacting their mental health, their future prospects and the family system.

You wouldn’t be too happy if your student was assigned a math teacher with no teaching experience and no math experience. Why should special needs parents feel differently?

It is not enough to throw whatever warm body can be found for $ 18.79 (or less) an hour

Every teacher and para has to start out with no experience. That’s just how it is. I was a brand new teacher one year for kids. Did not have an education degree even. I worked super hard but obviously I’m a better teacher in year 3.