Teachers and Teacher Aides Working Together
Teachers and Teacher Aides Working Together is a set of modules that teachers and teacher aides complete together.
About this resource
Teachers and Teacher Aides Working Together is a set of modules that teachers and teacher aides complete together.
The purpose of the program is to strengthen working relationships, improve role clarity, and build knowledge of inclusive practice that supports student learning.
Each module in this series is a "ready-to-use" pack with a presentation, workbook, and activities so learning can be put into practice. The module materials come in different formats to allow you to choose how you learn.
There is also a self-review tool for school leaders to use to understand where their school is at and what they should do next in supporting teacher aides to be effective in their roles.
Teachers and Teacher Aides working together
This professional development resource for schools has nine modules for teachers and teacher aides to complete together. The modules are designed to help strengthen the ways teachers and teacher aides work together, and help to build professional knowledge and a shared understanding of inclusive practice.
Each module is a "ready-to-use" pack, with a presentation, workbook, activities and a guide for putting new learning into practice.
The modules follows an inquiry cycle, where teachers and teacher aides engage with information about the topic, reflect on an aspect of their work and plan a new strategy or an approach to try.
After implementing the strategy, the teacher and teacher’s aide evaluate its effectiveness.
School leaders
Teachers and Teachers’ Aides Working Together will have the greatest impact if it is actively supported by school leaders. Information for school leaders outlines the purpose of Teachers and Teachers Aides’ Working Together and how to use it effectively in a school.
Facilitators
Facilitated modules are most effective. While a facilitator may have less than extensive knowledge of the module content, having some knowledge about supporting students with special education needs is an advantage.
Before facilitating a module, read:
- Facilitator quick guide
- Information for school leaders
Certificate
Recognise staff who have completed all 11 modules.
See Materials that comes with this resource to download:
- Facilitator Quick Guide (.pdf)
- Information for school leaders (.pdf)
- Certificate of Completion (.pdf)
- Providing effective assessment assistance (.doc)
Teacher and Teacher Aides working together: A Leader’s Tool for Self-review
(2017)
This document provides:
- a clear picture of where your school sits in providing support teacher aides need to be effective in their roles
- help for planning next steps to strengthen support for teacher aides and teacher aide practice in your school.
This tool is for school leaders in New Zealand, including principals, other senior leaders, learning support coordinators, and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs).
It is intended to grow leaders’ confidence and capability in applying the evidence about effective use of teacher aides.
The case study of Kaitorotoro College includes the school's experiences using the self-review tool.
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- A Leaders’ tool for self-review (.doc)
- A Leaders’ tool for self review - case study (.pdf)
Heading
Module 1 - Teachers and Teacher Aides - Who does what?
This module helps teachers and teacher aides develop a shared understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
1 of 11Module 2 - Professionalism, confidentiality, and safety
This module helps teachers and teacher aides develop a shared understanding of their professional roles and the importance of having clear guidelines about confidentiality, advocacy, and safety.
2 of 11Module 3 - Supporting students with complex needs
This module helps teachers and teacher aides explore how to support students with complex needs in ways that are safe, respectful, and inclusive.
3 of 11Module 4 - What do we think about disability and diversity?
This module helps teachers and teacher aides examine their attitudes and assumptions about disability and diversity and how they impact on students and their ability to learn.
4 of 11Module 5 - Identifying students' strengths
This module helps teachers and teacher aides to learn about their students and use this information to support their students’ learning.
5 of 11Module 6 - Students' Individual Education Plans
This module shows teachers and teacher aides how the IEP process can provide an opportunity for students and their whānau to express their wishes and preferences for learning.
6 of 11Module 7 - Understanding the 2007 New Zealand Curriculum
This module supports teachers and teacher aides to develop a shared understanding of The 2007 New Zealand Curriculum.
7 of 11Module 8 - Fostering peer relationships
This module helps teachers and teacher aides explore how they can help build connections between students and increase their sense of belonging at school.
8 of 11Module 9 - Creating inclusive classrooms
This module is about how teachers and teacher aides can work together to create learning environments that include all students.
9 of 11Module 10 - Supporting student learning in the whole class
This module helps teachers and teacher aides develop a shared understanding of how they can work together to support learning for the whole class.
10 of 11Module 11 - Interactions that support student learning
This module helps teachers and teacher aides understand how they can use purposeful classroom talk to support student learning.
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