Renay is on Spring Break and currently looking at timelines for ParaEducate’s next round of publications. But it is not lost on us National Paraeducator’s Day was April 3 this year. We know your daily ins and outs are unexpected and yet you rise to the occasion and for that ‘Thank you’ seems inadequate, but it is just the begining of recognizing the work that is necessary to support a range of learners in a classroom and in a school.
On the Way Down
We were talking about how briefly we heard paraeducators mentioned in Renay’s Master Courses. Certainly, there were several people who mentioned paraeducators, and their role, but the direct role in relationship to student teachers, new teachers is not really discussed. At times, we are profoundly reminded that some paraeducators end up gate keeping a student’s progress in independence or interdependence.
We spoke years ago about the role of paraeducator and student teachers, but we have not really looked at that gap that Renay bridged as a paraeducator to student teacher and then teacher. Statistically: there are not really any profound differences in outcomes making that leap professionally, however, Renay tinkered around and looked at the data and it appears that the relationship has not really looked at specific outcomes relating to special education teachers. But Renay also managed to identify that paraeducators might not be successful in that leap if they had not had work with a teacher who identified data collection as a priority or understanding students. All the “easy” parts—following curriculum, finding ways to have a student identify information they understand, developing relationships with students, managing an IEP meeting, understanding Assistive technology, and using it with the students, providing systems for social skills, does not happen unless the individual can navigate all those skills. While teacher credential programs try to infuse all these worlds to every student at every level, there are a million things that stand right in front of a special education teacher and few know those demands better than the paraeducators.
But Renay also managed to identify that paraeducators might not be successful in that leap if they had not had work with a teacher who identified data collection as a priority or understanding students.
ParaEducate
Renay was quick to point out though, knowing how to implement all the different answers for each student and professional in each room is not the same for each individual potential student teacher. It simply ‘looks’ different because what you have in front of you is a teacher, or teaching candidate, who has a set of experiences that cause a different response. Even when a person is well versed in responding to high pressure situations, biases exist. The only constant is that no matter where one is on that journey, if a paraeducator makes that professional change, is that simply one has a human adult taking those steps along side students who are also humans.
The only constant is that no matter where one is on that journey, if a paraeducator makes that professional change, is that simply one has a human adult taking those steps along side students who are also humans.
ParaEducate
The teacher shortage is not going anywhere any time soon unfortunately. And many states are making it easier for paraeducators to become teachers. And we support this amazingly, not only because of Renay’s pathway, but because Renay also knows what it will take to mentor paraeducators who need different professional coaching to being entirely credentialed.
Putting Your Feet on the Ground
For those who are not interested in that change in professional life, the rest of us need to continue the work that is necessary to keep a classroom environment, a student, a group of students going. And how that works in the Spring looks very different. Hopefully by now, there has been a Spring Break, but for now until late May, the world feels very focused. And most districts across the country are starting their testing blocks. Testing will vary to all districts. For students with disabilities, this means knowing what the student will need to best test. Unfortunately, the way standardized testing goes through it just does not account for the fact that Harry just started babbling with having shown no signs of talking a few months ago, it does not account for the fact that Eduardo is a great observer of all things in the classroom, and it does not account for the fact that the may not have had a regular teacher in their classroom for the last three years. But that does not mean to ignore the accomplishments. It just gets documented differently than a standardized test.
April will continue to have odd weather conditions across the whole country. And yet educators will continue to press on with all the things that will take all the time. And our job is to work along side the teachers and support our shared students and hopefully get them to the space of understanding the world a little better than they had understood the world before.
One more thing…
We are working on getting up our past blogs that were removed when we changed hosting services. We thank you for your patience.
Do you have any comments about this month’s blog? Do you have a question for us? Would you like to have an opportunity to pilot some materials at your campus? Find ParaEducate online here, here, and on our website. ParaEducate is a company providing materials, information, and strategies for people working in special education inclusion settings for grades K-12. ParaEducate, the blog, is published once a month during the academic school year. ParaEducate shares their findings at conferences, through their books, and their academic adaptations.
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