An Aide’s Work is Never Done

1. An Aide’s Work is Never Done Helen Boyes October 2010

2. Hyperlinks appear throughout. Click on the icon and open. Contents • Role of an Integration Aide • Student/Aide Relationship • Teacher/Aide Relationship • Parent/Aide Relationship • Aide/Aide Relationship • Classroom Involvement • Resources Central • Playground Supervision • Special Events • Other Duties • Summary • Acknowledgement

3. The Role of an Integration Aide Many students who are ‘out of the box’ for one reason or another, often require one-on-one assistance. This assistance provides effective support which enables them the opportunity to reach their full potential. Some of these children are government funded for a number of reasons, and it is generally this funding which enables schools to employ an Integration Aide. Whether it be for physical, medical or behavioural reasons, it is the Integration Aide’s role to provide the best support, assistance, encouragement, care and safety net that they can for these students to succeed and achieve to the best of their ability. Often the other ‘out-of-the-box’ students in a classroom, who are not funded, benefit from having an Aide in their room as well, for they too can receive the extra assistance they require to achieve success which the classroom teacher is not always able to provide. Just some of the Integration Aide’s Responsibilities ... • Work closely with teaching staff • Work closely with specialist staff • Work closely with visiting specialists • Prepare and compile resources • Liaise with parents • Update Professional Development The Role of An Integration Aide – more information Please read Aide as Integration Aide

4. Student/Aide Relationship • It takes time to build a relationship with a student who may be a bit scared, wary, and resentful of you just being around; not sure of what you are doing there; or simply not wanting to be at school at all. Regardless, this relationship will become essential for achieving student success at school. • What may work for one child may not necessarily work with another! This is certainly an individual process and the discovery of how to achieve the best outcomes, deserves the time and effort to build, develop and strengthen a relationship. As with all children, ‘serious’ is not always the way to go, and ‘fun’ is not always the way to go, but a good mixture of both goes a long way to achieve this relationship goal. • Never think that trying to work this out is a waste of time! Relationship is all important, and especially important when working with a ‘special’ child. • We all like it when others take some interest in us. Be interested in the child you are working with. Find out their likes and dislikes, joys and fears, heroes, football team, etc. Delight in these and share some of your own. Laugh and challenge and enjoy a few minutes here and there to develop this knowledge. • A good relationship between student and Aide will provide a solid foundation for a child being able to accept the good and perhaps not so good that they will no doubt be confronted by within the school environment. Enjoy this amazing privilege !!!

5. Teacher/Aide Teacher/Aide Relationship The relationship between a teacher and an Aide is a very special and unique one. It is a relationship of mutual reliance and trust. The two become part of a team working together for the benefit of a student or students. Lack of recognition for the need of this relationship will compromise desired positive outcomes for the student and these will be quickly evidenced. An Aide needs to accept direction from the teacher as to what is required, and may then be able to make suggestions of how this can effectively be delivered to successfully support the student/students. Because an Aide spends time with a student, he/she is likely to pick up on other areas which might require more focus, and after discussion with the teacher, may be able to successfully work on these areas too. To be able to support the visits of a visiting specialist, such as a Speech Therapist, in the school environment is also an important part of this role. Constant liaison between teacher and aide is essential if set goals are to be successfully achieved.

6. Parent/Aide Relationship The liaison between parent and Aide is an important aspect in the success of the aided student at school. The delivery of information from one to the other in regard to a myriad of aspects of a child’s school and home life can heavily influence a successful day or an unsuccessful day, successful weeks and successful terms. For example: A parent may inform us that there was a huge upset at home just before leaving for school. If the Aide knows this information, it can be relayed to the teacher (if the teacher has not already been informed) and this can be taken into consideration as the morning begins and the day progresses. This helps quell any further needless upset and the aide can be prepared for behaviour out of the usual. Information can then be passed on during the day to the parent to put their mind at rest, and then also at the end of the day so they are prepared for what to expect at home. The sharing of a student’s development both at home and school benefits parents, teaching staff and aide. The parent is the integral third part of the team – teacher, aide, parent.

7. Aide/Aide TEAM Aide/Aide Relationship The saying: ‘There is no I in the word TEAM’ is an absolute truth and one which is unquestionably applicable in this area of education. Within the school environment Aides need to communicate with each other. They need to share issues such as how a particular child is progressing or not progressing and share challenges which are often not unique to any one situation. As students progress through their school life, they will often be aided by a number of Aides and so the passing on of information from Aide to Aide becomes an important tool in assisting the student, and setting up a framework for the student to achieve to the best of their ability. The importance of sharing the wealth of experience learnt over time and information gained from Professional Development days cannot be underestimated, as just a little thing mentioned can be an answer for someone struggling at a particular time with the biggest of challenges. Aides have much to learn from each other !!! TEAM

8. Classroom Involvement Involvement in the classroom is an important aspect in aiding a student. It’s vital that students see the Aide as being just as integral in the classroom as they themselves are ... that you are a member of the classroom while you are there and have an important place there. The classroom can be such a fun place to be, so get involved in all its activities and laugh and have lots of fun. The students love it when you can be silly occasionally and enjoy yourself !!! When students see that the teacher and Aide work co-operatively and well together it easy for them to accept an Aide into the classroom.

9. Josh at School – Social Story for an autistic Prep child settling into school Resources Central Joshy’s New Home – Social Story for an autistic Prep child moving to a new home & school An Integration Aide may be called upon to modify the teacher’s activities, seek out relevant activities or to prepare a resource from scratch to assist a student in a particular area of learning, endeavouring to make the learning easier for the student. The following are just a couple of ideas ... Your own school and its teaching staff are a wonderful resource. Many staff have passionate interests in special areas of education. Seek these out and use their knowledge. For example make use of your ICT teacher. Many students find working on a computer an easier option to writing, and of course there are many brilliant programs which can also be of beneficial to the student. Social Stories can be a terrific tool in teaching social expectations and socially accepted behaviour. There are many books available containing pre-prepared social stories which can be adapted to your own situation, but it takes little time to write your own. Click the icons to read 3 different Social Stories. The first two Social Stories were to prepare an autistic Prep student for change and the third Social Story was to prepare a Year 5 student to catch the bus to school. Your school’s Disabilities Manager will also prove to be a great resource, often having the years of experience to be able to suggest, assist and encourage.

10. Playground Supervision • Playground supervision is not always the most favourite of the Aide’s responsibilities, especially if the weather is unpleasant. • Many aided students do not require supervision in the playground as their needs are not in this area. • Some though come to school with physical needs or with behavioural challenges which demand supervision in the playground. • It is usually clear if a student has physical needs, as to the type of support they will require in the playground. • For those with behavioural needs though, the area of support may not be as clear cut. The playground is an area which has little structure and where there is much student interaction. These two can cause a student much angst, or on the other hand the freedom in the playground can cause a myriad of other problems for not only the aided student but for others as well. Getting along with other students, being sensitive to them and playing sensibly can be huge issues for some students causing much grief and heart ache. • The role of the Aide in the playground to act as a support to a student, can effectively make the difference between a student having an enjoyable or an unenjoyable day at school !!

11. Special Events • In a school there are always Special Events happening and there are many ways to be involved. There are different Events in different schools. Choose to be involved and contribute as much as you can. Be part of the whole school community. This way you not only get to know the students and staff in your area of the school, but you get to know the rest of the school community and they get to know you. charitydays concert fete footydays camps walkathon discos sportsdays Camp Fun

12. Other Duties • The Integration Aide may be asked to perform other duties which are very different to those associated with a student and a classroom but are in line with the ES Agreement. These might include a variety of duties such as filing, shredding, listing items, first aid duty, etc.. All these seemingly trivial tasks help make for a smooth flowing school and enhance the important role of the Integration Aide.

13. E N J O Y An Integration Aide’s lot IS a happy one !!!

14. Acknowledgement A huge thank you to Mr B for his inspiring PDs and his amazing patience!