Paraprofessionals: Understanding Your Role and Responsibilities

To teach students independently

To provide support to students who need individualized assistance

To manage the classroom

To plan lessons for teachers

By providing answers to assignments

By encouraging students' independence and helping them complete tasks

By taking over lessons from the teacher

By avoiding interaction with students

To grade all students' assignments

To provide one-on-one support with tasks and assignments

To prepare all lesson plans

To teach the class during the teacher’s absence

Do the students’ tasks for them

Help students stay on task and follow classroom rules

Disengage when students misbehave

Ignore social interactions among students

Stay on your phone during class to be accessible

Leave class early if needed

Stay with your student at all times during class

Eat snacks during class to stay energized

Provide answers to questions immediately

Ask questions that stimulate thinking and understanding

Discourage students from asking questions

Focus solely on the academic work

Teach the students independently without the teacher’s involvement

Provide answers and complete tasks for the students

Use the teacher’s materials to support students without doing the work for them

Avoid helping students understand the process

Disregard students’ privacy and confidentiality

Act as a role model by demonstrating respect, responsibility, and punctuality

Ignore communication with teachers and staff

Be easily distracted by personal devices and other non-school activities

Paraprofessionals should work independently without collaborating with others

Collaboration with teachers and staff ensures students’ needs are met

Team meetings are optional and not necessary for success

Sharing concerns is only necessary when problems arise

By being an authority figure and enforcing all the rules

By creating a safe and supportive environment, encouraging student growth

By doing students’ tasks to ensure they succeed

By working only with students who have behavior issues