EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANT I

1.0 – Vision Assignment

Please note: school locations will be determined based on student need.

Job Summary :
To assist the classroom teacher in the education of students with exceptionalities. The deployment and assignment of duties within the school of a classroom assistant who is to work in a classroom setting are the responsibility of the teacher involved, in consultation with the principal.

Major Duties :
1. Assist Teacher in the Teaching and Learning Process

by using teacher planned drill devices, help students individually or in small groups to consolidate previously taught skills in reading (listening to oral reading), in spelling (drills), in math (drills), in writing (acting as a student scribe/recording on computer), in phonics and language exercises;

develop student’s self-esteem and positive self-concept throughout;

mark students’ completed work

observe and record student progress;

communicate to the teacher, student progress, and problems.

2. Prepare Classroom Material and Equipment as Directed

including teaching aids, display material, photocopied material, laminated material, arts and craft material, the setup and operation of the computer, the V.C.R., the projector and the cassette recorder, the language master, etc.

3. Maintain Class and Student Records, Charts and files as Directed

including general filing, updating and recording such matters as student attendance, achievement, marks, behavior and other general administrative work in class (ordering consumable supplies, obtaining trip consents, collecting monies, etc.)

4. Assist with General Pupil Supervision as Directed

when the teacher is engaged in teacher preparation and evaluation in class, when the class is working in small groups and when the teacher is unavailable;

assist in the supervision of students who have physical disabilities in a shop environment (industrial arts)

on field trips, at school assemblies, loading and unloading buses, recess, noon hour, lunch. Note: The E.A.’s role re bussing is to accompany/assist the student onto the bus and to buckle the student’s seatbelt, if the help is needed, or monitor the student buckling his/her own seatbelt where the student is able to do so. The bus driver is to check that all seatbelts are buckled before putting the bus in motion to leave the school.

supervision and/or instruction of individual or small groups of children during trips (such as swimming, grocery shopping, community outings, Variety Village)

5. Supervise, Observe and Correct Students’ Behaviour as Directed

including instructing and encouraging proper student behaviour and coping with extreme behaviour disorders

implementing behaviour management/modification programs

6. Instruct and Assist Students with Limited Capacity in Basic Life Skills as Directed

personal hygiene (such as toileting assistance including cleaning up accidents, lifting to and from wheelchairs, changing diapers, eating assistance, grooming assistance);

domestic skills (such as meal planning and preparation, shopping, cooking skills and use of cooking equipment such as stove, microwave);

community skills (such as recognizing common signs, banking)

7. Provide Physical Assistance to Students who are Physically Disabled or have Multiple Exceptionalities as Directed

in dressing and undressing, scribe, in getting on and off the bus/taxi, with toilet functions, with exercise program;

escort and provide physical assistance for an individual student outside class;

monitor medical procedures performed by the student and/or the nurse (eg.catheterization)

8. Assist in the Integration of Students into a Regular Program as Directed

work in cooperation with the homeroom teacher, the subject teacher, and the academic resource personnel to assess and plan the integration;

monitor student comprehension and student recording of instructions from their teacher, their work skills, their completed work and their progress;

assist students not coping with integration with their class notes, study guides, drills, quizzes, etc.;

assist children in age-appropriate classes for art, music and physical education.

9. Assist in the Physical Development of Students as Directed

fine motor skills (threading), gross motor skills (climbing, catching, running)

physical exercise programs for individual students prescribed by the Occupational Therapist and under the direction of the teacher to strengthen, stimulate and develop muscle tone (child over a ball or wedge)

10. Accompany and Assist Students in their Job Placements

assist in job training, monitor progress, help in the acquisition of job skills ( punctuality, etc.)

11. Provide Physical and Other Assistance to Students with Developmental Disability

position students who are very rigid or spastic;

push and pull students’ wheelchairs or carry students in a floor sitter;

lift students from wheelchairs to change mat on the floor or up to change table for toileting purposes;

hold students on the toilet;

utilize equipment in various exercise programs (tricycles, large balls, wedges, etc.);

administer and chart oral medication.

12. Assist with the Education of a Student who is Blind

prepare learning resources in braille, in audio form and/or in a tactile format and use these materials to assist the student’s learning

13. Assist with the Education of Students who are Deaf and/or Non-Verbal

using sign language, interpret oral classroom instructions and other oral communications for the student.

14. Perform such other Duties as may be Assigned by the Principal or the Teacher

Qualifications :
1. Secondary School Diploma (Grade 12)

2. Students that are physically handicapped or have orthopedic needs – swimming instructor’s qualifications

3. Students who are blind – knowledge of braille

4. Students who are deaf and/or non-verbal – fluency in sign language

Additional Skills and Qualifications Required for this Particular Placement:

UEB (Unified English Braille) Training Level 1 Preferred

Experience with Kurzweil, JAWS, Duxbury, Braille note, Lightbox as well as braille transcription.

Experience supporting students with blind and low vision needs through accommodations and modifications within regular/mainstream class and small class placements.

Please note: This is a 35 hour per week, 10 month, permanent position.