A Classroom Assistant helps teachers in arranging their lectures, assists in clerical work and helps in conveying the content of the lectures to the students in a better way, allowing the teachers to concentrate on their lectures. Classroom assistants can also help deliver lectures to students under the supervision of the teachers. Classroom assistants also perform the function of organizing and directing the students apart from the class, such as on trips. Classroom assistants could be specially assigned for special and foreign students.
Pursuing a Career as a Classroom Assistant
A lot of classroom assistants work part time, so it could be a good start for you if you are an aspiring teacher or researcher. If you have a definite aim to become a classroom assistant, then you should direct your education in this direction and should consider acquiring a Teacher Assistant Certification offered by taking the State administered certification examination.
Classroom Assistant Career: Qualification, Courses, Training
Mostly, no higher education degrees are required for the position of classroom assistants and only a high school diploma with on the job training would be enough. However, candidates with at least a couple of years of postgraduate education, or at least graduates are preferred over others, depending on the nature of assignment. Some educational institutes would require a Teacher Assistant Certificate. Experience in special education and the ability to speak a foreign language can count a lot in selection.
Classroom Assistant Career: Schools, Colleges, Universities
Some of the best US teaching colleges are as follows, which could help the candidates for classroom assistants.
- Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, Nashville, TN
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
- Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, NY
- The University of Texas, Austin, TX
Classroom Assistant Career: Job Opportunities, Salaries and Recruitment
There are fairly good prospects for the employment growth of Classroom Assistant, with no less than 10% of increase expected in the period from 2008 to 2018. The annual median earning of classroom assistants is $22,200.