You Must Add this to Your Personal Experience to Excel as an Education Assistant

Education Assistants are an essential part of creating inclusivity within education environments. Public school systems, private schools, individual education programs, all are expanding to accommodate those with various disabilities. 

Those who have a dear friend or family member who has needed an education assistant often make great candidates to work in the role themselves, especially when they have been involved in the individual’s care. However, that personal experience isn’t enough. In order to be in-demand and skilled in the role, it’s important to take an education assistant course. 

Why You Need an Education Assistant Course to Succeed

Taking teaching assistant courses like the Ashton College Education Assistant diploma program will provide an understanding of and appreciation for the demand for specialized training in the field. So while you may have helped an individual with autism, you may not understand how their learning style and personal needs differ from someone with ADHD. Initially, your choice may be to work with individuals with one kind of educational need, but you may change your mind and choose to work explore the wide range of child, youth and adult needs in a classroom or educational context. Specialized teaching assistant courses deliver the information and skills needed to do so. 

Without an education assistant course, it is unlikely someone could fully appreciate the nuances of learning disabilities (auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, visual perceptual/visual motor deficit, etc.), communication disorders (those that affect speech and those that affect language), emotional and behavioural disorders (ADD, ADHD, etc.), developmental disabilities (autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.) and physical disabilities (muscular dystrophy, spinal bifida, etc.). When considering your teaching assistant course, look for one with instructors who have had experience in the field and understand how to deliver program information that expands upon your personal experience with a loved one and provides more context and a greater skillset.

Skills Needed to Excel as an Education Assistant

Education assistants do best in the field when they possess some specific characteristics. These individuals have an even-temperament and are good natured. They can be creative in their communication and teaching styles and accept people of all abilities as they are. They will also be confident, organized, positive and thick-skinned because the job (while incredibly rewarding) can come with its challenges. 

Those with special needs can have behaviours that, for some, are hard to cope with. Communication can be difficult and it may seem that a setback in education is a massive issue. This is where the characteristic of patience pays off. For those that can manage the challenges, seeing clients thrive is the greatest reward possible. A sense of humour is also important in order to communicate with levity in situations wherever possible and share that with students, their families and the other teachers. 

Personal Experience is a Great Asset and Preparation Tool

Having an education assistant course as your education combined with personal experience with someone with learning disabilities can give you the background and experience needed to be an excellent education assistant. Personally working with those with disabilities will provide the practical experience and compassion needed to apply the education in real-life settings. 

Being an informal care-giver allows you to build your empathy and understanding of the individual you are helping while also giving you knowledge around their disability and how they best learn. With a formal education, that applied knowledge will grow and enable you to more quickly identify how others with different disabilities learn, react and interact. 

The combination of personal experience and interaction combined with practical education will not only make you better in your role, but it will also likely ensure that you enjoy your career to its fullest. 

Education Assistants are Relationship Builders

Education assistants are an essential part of today’s classrooms. These dedicated individuals assist students who are in need of a little more (or a lot more) attention in the classroom environment. They work directly with students, teachers, parents and others in the education assistant field. This means communication is essential to everything they do because it allows them to build the relationships required to help students thrive.

Education Assistant Courses and In-class Relationships

The first set of relationships that need to be established are those with others in an education assistant course. These programs may also often be called teaching assistant courses. Within a structured program, future education assistants will be able to share ideas and synergies, establish friendships and create a network with others who – most likely – will continue on to careers in the same field. 

Peer relationships like these can’t be underestimated. Think about the last time you had a bad day. When you want to talk about it, generally it’s to someone who has a basic understanding of the challenges you experienced. While friends and family can be sympathetic, a friend in the same field can be empathetic because they will understand what you’re experiencing from a first-hand level. 

Another relationship you’ll want to encourage is that with the instructor of your teaching assistant courses. Not every instructor is going to be a great fit for a long-term mentoring relationship, nor will all be interested (imagine if every student in an education assistant course wanted ongoing contact! The instructor would have little time for anything else!) but, if there is a connection with a certain instructor, you’ll want to ensure you stay in touch. 

Like having peers in the field, a mentor in the field is valuable in that they can help guide you through your career options and challenges and give input because of their experience and knowledge of your general career environment.

Establishing Connections with Students

Once you begin your career, the relationship with the students you help will become a source of joy and challenge. Depending upon the type of education environment you’ll be working in, you’ll be using everything you learned in your teaching assistant courses to understand and connect with students. These individuals may have learning disabilities, behavioural challenges and/or physical disabilities that are very broad reaching. 

Building a solid relationship foundation of trust with students can be difficult depending on how they communicate their needs. You’ll need to be observant, attentive and consistent in your care and support of students in order to establish the positive working relationship that will allow them to grow and thrive. 

Forming Relationships with Teachers

While the student is the core of where your attention will go on a day-to-day basis, underneath this will be a solid relationship built on understanding of roles, support and respect. After all, it is the job of an education assistant to assist the teachers they work with. This means that you’ll want clearly defined roles and responsibilities from the outset of your time working together. 

Some teachers prefer a fluid working relationship where the education assistant may have involvement with all the students whereas other teachers may want the education assistant to stay focused on the learning requirements of the assigned students. Establishing this up front and knowing who will do what will make for a stronger working relationship and an optimal experience in the classroom for everyone. 

Parents and Communication

When a student has special needs, disabilities or challenges that require the help of an education assistant, there must be an open line of communication with the students’ parents, family and caregivers. This will ensure that if the student had a particularly difficult morning, the education assistant will be informed and able to form a plan rather than react to a situation that may arise. Alternatively, when accomplishments are reached, the education assistant will want to share those successes so that they are celebrated both at home and in the classroom setting. 

If you’re thinking about becoming an education assistant and taking an education assistant course, make time to work on your relationship skills to create the best experience for everyone.