OVERVIEW
What is a Teaching Assistant?
If you’re considering a career in the classroom, a teaching assistant job is a great place to start. Many people become teacher assistants to gain valuable experience before pursuing a degree program to become a licensed teacher. Others use this role as a way to explore different classroom environments as they narrow down their teaching focus. Either way, it can be a valuable or even necessary step for someone looking to earn a bachelor of arts or master of arts in education.
A teacher assistant plays a supporting role in the classroom. They work under the lead teacher’s supervision to give students added educational support and instruction, which allows the teacher in charge to focus more time on classroom instruction. While most assistants help with everything from tutoring to creating lesson plans, their day-to-day can look different based on the school and age of the students they teach.
Now that we’ve covered what an assistant for a teacher is, let’s dive deeper into what they do and the skills and education you may need to become one.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Teaching Assistant Do?
An assistant to a teacher has two main jobs: supporting the teacher in charge and supporting students in the classroom. As the job title implies, teacher assistants assist the lead teacher to ease their workload and help out with everyday classroom tasks, such as grading homework or taking attendance. If a student needs extra support or instruction, a teacher assistant might be asked to work with that student one-on-one. Teacher assistants might also work with the supervising teacher to discuss the progress of students and provide insight.
The day-to-day of a teaching assistant might look different depending on the age group of their students, but for the most part, their responsibilities include:
Grading tests and homework
Record keeping
Monitoring student behavior
Taking attendance
Getting the classroom ready for lessons
Overseeing students during non-classroom times, such as lunch, recess, or field trips
Supervising group activities
Working with the lead teacher to monitor class schedules
Documenting student progress and communicating with parents to keep them informed
Teaching small groups who need additional help or guidance
Attending training classes, conferences, or faculty meetings
Listening to children read, reading to them, or telling them stories
Helping children who need extra support to complete tasks
Teacher Assistant vs. Teacher Aide
You’ve probably heard these terms used interchangeably, but there are key differences between a teacher assistant and teacher aide.
A teaching assistant is usually trained or certified to give teaching support to students under the supervision of a licensed teacher, while a teacher aide performs non-teaching duties like grading papers, setting up the classroom, or enforcing classroom rules.
The settings they work in vary, too. Teacher aides are found only in elementary or special education classrooms. Teacher assistants, on the other hand, can work in those settings as well as in middle schools and high schools.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
What Education Does a Teaching Assistant Need?
Educational requirements for teaching assistants vary from district to district and state to state. Some states might require only a high school diploma, while others might want two years of completed college coursework or an associate degree. And in some cases, districts may require teaching assistants to pass a state or local assessment.
If you want to prepare yourself for a career as a teaching assistant, there are associate degree and certificate programs designed specifically for teaching assistants, and some are even offered online. These programs can give you classroom experience and help you better understand the role of teachers and teaching assistants in the classroom.
Because most teacher assistants are not required to have a four-year degree, they get a lot of their training on the job. This training typically includes learning the procedures of the school, including everything from equipment to record keeping to classroom preparation.
Career Paths for Teaching Assistants
Becoming a teaching assistant is usually a first step in a career in education. Many people choose to become teaching assistants to ensure they enjoy working in a classroom or to try out the field. If you are a teaching assistant, the next step in your career path will be to earn a bachelor's degree so you can become a licensed teacher and get your own classroom. Once you've been a teaching assistant you'll have a great handle on how running a classroom works, and can move forward in a degree program with confidence, knowing that it's a good career choice for you. And when you choose WGU, you can continue working as a teaching assistant while pursuing your bachelor's degree. This means you will continue to earn money and gain experience while pursuing your educational goals—a win all around.
Best Degrees for Teacher Assistants
Education
Elementary Education – B.A.
An online teacher certification program for aspiring elementary teachers....
An online teacher certification program for aspiring elementary teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 68% of students finish this degree within 36 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 38 total courses in this program (39 for Washington residents)
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Elementary Reading Methods
- Language Arts Instruction
- Elementary Mathematics Methods
- Elementary Disciplinary Literacy
- Children’s Literature
This elementary education degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This online teaching degree program helps you to be eligible for teaching certification in any of the 50 states.
Education
Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) – B.A.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring K–12 special education teachers. Leads to dual licensure—elementary education teaching license and special education teaching license.
- Time: 60% of students finish this degree within 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 44 total courses in this program (45 for Washington residents).
(Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.) If your state offers a single K–12 special education teaching license and you are interested in focusing on teaching students with mild to moderate exceptionalities, consider the B.A. Special Education (Mild to Moderate) online teaching degree.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Elementary Reading Methods
- Elementary Mathematics Methods
- Elementary Social Studies Methods
- Elementary Science Methods
- Language Arts Instruction and Intervention
This special education teaching online degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
An online teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math...
An online teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math teachers. Leads to teaching license in states that have a middle-grades math teaching license.
Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching licensure in your state.
- Time: 62% of grads earned this degree within 29 months.
- Tuition and fees: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
Candidates for this science teaching degree program often include:
- Aspiring junior high math teachers who currently lack a teaching license
- Substitute teachers
- Career-changers with a passion for math
- School paraprofessionals
- Others who feel the call to teach
This science teaching degree program includes requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This science teaching degree prepares you to be eligible for a teaching license in any of the 50 states.
Education
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school math teachers and high school math teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 60% of students finish this degree within 40 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 42 total courses in this program (43 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Trigonometry and Precalculus
- Probability and Statistics I and II
- Calculus I, II, and III
- Abstract Algebra
- College Geometry
This online math teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This online math teaching degree program helps students become eligible for math teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle school science teachers. Leads to teaching license in all states that have a middle-grades general science teaching license.
Specific grade levels you are qualified to teach will vary depending on teaching certification in your state.
- Time: 62% of students finish this science teaching degree within 34 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 38 total courses in this program (39 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Heredity and Genetics
- Astronomy
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Chemistry
- General Physics
This science teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school biology teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 61% of students earned this online biology degree within 38 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program (38 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Zoology
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- Health Sciences
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Heredity and Genetics
This biology teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school chemistry teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.
- Time: 65% of students finish this online chemistry degree within 37 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program (40 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Biochemistry
This chemistry teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Earn a chemistry degree online and be eligible for a teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school physics teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 62% of students earn this online physics degree within 49 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program (40 for Washington residents).
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Educational Psychology
- Physics: Waves and Optics
- Space, Time and Motion
- Conceptual Physics
- Physics: Mechanics
This physics teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Graduates of this online teaching degree program will be eligible for teaching certification.
Education
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – B.S.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring middle or high school earth science teachers.
Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching license options in your state.
- Time: 63% of students earn this middle school teaching and high school teaching degree within 33 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 37 total courses in this program (38 for Washington residents)
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Ecology and Environmental Science
- General Physics
- Physical Geology
- Earth Systems
- Astronomy
This geosciences teaching degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. This high school teaching degree program prepares you for teaching licensure in any of the 50 states.
Education
Special Education (Mild to Moderate) – B.A.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring special education teachers. Leads to your teaching license in states that offer a single teaching license in K–12 special education.
- Time: 61% of students finish this program within 34 months.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 39 total courses in this program.
If your state requires—or if you're interested in—dual licensure in both elementary education and K–12 special education, consider the B.A. Special Education (K–12) program.
Skills for your résumé included in this program:
- Lesson Planning
- Ethics
- Behavioral Support Strategies
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Classroom Management
This online degree program includes a preclinical experience with face-to-face observation hours and a Student Teaching component hosted by an experienced teacher and directed by a clinical supervisor.
Education
Educational Studies – B.A.
These online, non-licensure educational studies degrees prepare you to...
These online, non-licensure educational studies degrees prepare you to make a difference in a field that interests you.
Based on your career goals and interests, you can choose an educational studies program in one of 10 content areas that meets your needs while working toward employment in school settings, corporate training, or instructional design. These programs do not lead to a teaching license.
- Time: Completion time varies depending on the specialty track you choose.
- Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.
- This bachelor's degree allows students to learn about education but does not include student teaching and it does not lead to a teaching license.
Focus areas of this educational studies degree program include:
- Elementary Education
- Elementary and Special Education
- Mild to Moderate Special Education
- Secondary Biology Science Education
- Secondary Chemistry Science Education
- Secondary Earth Science Education
- Secondary Physics Education
- Middle Grades Science Education
- Secondary Mathematics Education
- Middle Grade Mathematics Education
How Much Do Teacher Assistants Make?
$27,920
How much you’re paid as a teaching assistant can vary based on the school’s budget, as well as your specific qualifications and experience. However, the average salary for teaching assistants is $27,920, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
4%
Because student enrollment is rising, the need for teaching assistants is, too. In fact, employment of teacher assistants is projected to grow 4% over the next ten years, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
SKILLS
What Skills Does A Teaching Assistant Need?
Because they support a range of classroom activities, teacher assistants need to have a wide variety of hard and soft skills, including:
- An ability to build good working relationships with both students and adults
- Good organizational skills
- Flexibility and creativity
- Good literacy and numeracy skills
- Ability to manage groups of pupils and deal with challenging behavior
- A knowledge of first aid
- Willingness to follow directions
- A teamwork mentality
In some jobs, it could be useful if you have IT skills or are fluent in other languages.
If you’re considering a career in education, becoming a teacher assistant will help you gain hands-on, real world experience that you can get only by working in the classroom. Or, it might help you discover what specialization you want to pursue and what age group you want to work with.
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