Positions For Teacher Aides?
Teacher aides are responsible for working closely with classroom teachers so they have more time to teach and design lesson plans. Teacher aides are also responsible for assisting children in learning study material using the teacher's detailed lesson plans. They may also be given additional duties such as recording student's grades, prepare instructional material and supervising students in the cafeteria and during recess.Special education teacher aides are responsible for working closely with students that have special educational needs or disabilities. These teacher aides often attend to the particular physical requirements of students with disabilities or monitor students riding the school bus. Other duties of special education teacher aides include assisting students who speak English as a second language and providing tutoring to students who need additional learning assistance.Teacher Aides Educational RequirementsThe educational requirements for teacher aides vary from state to state, but many of them enter the field with only a high school diploma and additional training by their employer. Teacher aides who want to expand their opportunities or want to work for Title One schools often complete a two year or higher college degree.All teacher aides must also complete on the job training in order to familiarize them with the rules and procedures of the institution they are employed. Teacher aides may also be required to pass a thorough background check and have a valid drivers license.Earning Potential For Teacher AidesIn 2010, the median annual wages for teacher aides were about $22,000 per year. The lowest ten percent earned less than $16,000 per year, while the top ten percent earned more than $34,000 per year. Teacher aides who are employed full time are usually offered health insurance and other forms of benefits. Those employed part-time are usually not offered benefits.Expected Job Growth For Teacher AidesAccording to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 1.4 million teacher aides currently working in the United States. Job growth for teacher aides is expected to rise at a rate of about ten percent over the next ten years, which is about as fast as the average for all other occupations. This growth is directly attributed to the increased needs of educational institutions to meet the needs of students with special needs.