Job description Special Education Assistant in the Annapolis Valley Region

Find out what work is like for a special education assistant in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100).

Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants

Description

Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants support students, and assist teachers and counsellors with teaching and non-instructional tasks. They assist in areas of personal care, teaching and behaviour management under the supervision of teachers or other child care professionals. They are employed in public and private elementary, secondary and special needs schools and treatment centres.

Work week duration

Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Assist students with integration into the classroom and school setting
  • Help students individually or in small groups with assignments and reinforce learning and retention concepts under the supervision of the classroom teacher
  • Assist students with special needs using techniques such as sign language, braille and remedial programs
  • Monitor and report student progress to classroom teacher
  • Accompany and supervise students during activities in school gymnasiums, laboratories, libraries, resource centres and on field trips
  • May assist teacher in the operation of projectors, tape recorders and other audio-visual or electronic equipment
  • May assist in school library or office and perform other duties assigned by the school principal
  • May monitor students during recess, at noon hour or during the day.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Private and public elementary schools
  • Special schools
  • Treatment centres
  • Private and public secondary schools

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Close (at arm’s length)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 43100), and a list of similar occupations:

  • educational assistant
  • educational resources assistant
  • homework assistant
  • remedial education aide
  • special education assistant

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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