Teaching Assistants, Special Education
Paraprofessional (Para), SPED Aide (Special Education Aide), SPED Para (Special Education Paraprofessional), SPED TA (Special Education Teacher Assistant)
What they do:
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.
On the job, you would:
- Provide assistance to students with special needs.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
Knowledge
Arts and Humanities
- English language
Math and Science
- psychology
Skills
Basic Skills
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
- talking to others
Social
- understanding people's reactions
- looking for ways to help people
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Abilities
Verbal
- communicate by speaking
- listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
- notice when problems happen
- use rules to solve problems
Attention
- pay attention to something without being distracted
- do two or more things at the same time
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Integrity
- Concern for Others
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Electronic mail software
- Email software
- Microsoft Outlook
Computer based training software
- Padlet
- Schoology
Data base user interface and query software
- Blackboard software
- Student information systems SIS software
Education
Education: (rated 3 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
high school diploma/GED
usually needed
high school diploma/GED
usually needed
Get started on your career:
Find Training
Find Licenses
Apprenticeship.gov
Job Outlook
Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Explore More
- Instructional Coordinators
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, & Secondary School
You might like a career in one of these industries:
See more details at O*NET OnLine about Teaching Assistants, Special Education.