what are the advantages & disadvantages of using paraprofessionals in a classroom?

Answer 1

A good paraprofessional is priceless.

Advantages -- extra pair of hands and eyes; maintains routine instruction so the special educator can use his/her expertise to provide individualized remediation, helps with routine paperwork, helps with classroom discipline (two sets of eyes catch a lot more than one set of eyes), coverage when you REALLY have to run to the bathroom (hah, hah, hah), everything you need to get done gets done twice as fast with two sets of hands doing it (classroom decor, setting up centers, etc.)

Most importantly...takes your lead and helps the kids in the way you've demonstrated... providing a second "you" to boost the amount of individualized and productive instruction each child receives

Disadvantages ... a "bad" para can be a disaster... hurting kids self-esteem, undoing instructional scaffolding, undermining teacher authority....

With a good para.... the administration often pulls the para for substitute teacher duties when "short" on subs, may not provide you a sub because there's either you or the para there anyway, etc. People may also see you as having it "too easy" because you have the extra pair of hands there (although you'd never catch those particular people observing your classroom to make a true informed decision), and some regular ed teachers may resent that you have that extra help.

Answer 2

As a young student, I have had a lot of experience with paraprofessionals. I am in the gifted program and have never needed a para for academic purposes, but more to facilitate the daily going ons of the classroom, and to be an extra teacher.

However, I had a para once that would interrupt while the teacher was talking and go on a 5 minute long speech to make himself look intelligent, but just disrupted the flow of the classroom. Some paras can be more of a hindrance than a help.

Answer 3

Much of a teacher's time is taken up with "office" work that another person could do -- copying, emailing/calling parents, correcting papers or recording grades in a gradebook/computer program, etc. As a private school teacher, I don't have ANY prep periods at all in order to do this -- so I must do as much as I can in the summer and the rest I do before/after school. I'd love to have a paraprofessional to help!

Answer 4

I'll add to elizabeth and say that a good paraprofessional in the class room will understand that they are there to assist the teacher and understand the importance of comunication with the teacher.

Answer 5

Advantages are a lower teacher / pupil ratio, enabling more attention and/or one on one with the children. Teachers can rotate groups, work in small groups helping children improve skills, etc. Disadvantages: only if one of the team (teacher or para) is slacking in their ability or work load. I've had asst. or para's who are more work because they require as much monitoring and direction as the kids. I'd rather go it alone than have someone who doesn't know what they're doing.

Answer 6

advantages - another set of eyes. someone to help with kids. Someone to watch kids when you use the bathroom. Someone to help with tasks that you don't need to do, like xerox and file.
disadvantages - if they're not good, it's horrible. I had a stupid one that couldn't help and got the kids aggravated. I had one that enabled the kids and it was like good cop bad cop. You have to be on the same page with discipline issues or it's a nightmare.