Help - problems with aides!

[NewTeach]

I am a first year teacher in a life skills classroom, and so far, I love working with the kids, the paper work is excessive, but not overwhelming. So, my only real problems is that I have 3 paraprofessionals working in my classroom that are unhappy with their jobs, schedules, lives....I am not sure, but I am stressed thinking about keeping them happy when all I want to do is focus on the kids. (You know the reason we are all there) One of them seems to have a problem with every detail, dishes, recess duty, schedules, the kids attachment to me and not them, silly things that I feel are childish complaints. But I need at least three people in my room at all times, and the school is aware that one of these aides is the hardest person to work with of all time, so there is not a lot I can do....any suggestions that might help???:confused:

[mopar]

Don't feel that you need to justify yourself to your aides. You are the teacher in the classroom. Do what is right for the students.

Try giving your aides jobs that will keep them busy most of the day. Whether you put together a bin with tasks for them to do or give them a repetitive schedule...just make sure that they are busy. Busy aides cannot find as much time to complain. Also make sure that they are doing useful things...not just grading or sitting around. Have them work with Jimmy on his multiplication facts each day or listen to Jenny read at a certain time everyday.

Also let your administration know what is going on. You don't want them coming to you saying...well your aide told me this.

And understand that it takes time. The aides have probably been at the school awhile. They saw how it was done before and don't like the change. Listen to them, verify their opinions and try some of their ideas that you can work with. Change is hard for all.

[mopar]

How was the last few days with your aide?

[Chef Dave]

But I need at least three people in my room at all times, and the school is aware that one of these aides is the hardest person to work with of all time, so there is not a lot I can do....any suggestions that might help???:confused:

Who is the immediate supervisor of these people? Are you responsible for evaluation of job performance (not that aides are observed in the same manner as teachers) but surely someone must have administrative oversight?

If this person is the building administrator, schedule a meeting between yourself, the aides, and the building administrator. Bring any documentation you have regarding their behavior to the meeting. Hopefully you have been documenting their behavior with regards to deeds, words, times, locations, and any witnesses.

As a culinary arts instructor with two managers assigned to help me run a student operated restaurant, I was pleased to find that I actually had administrative oversight over my aides.

After one aide provoked a verbal confrontation and began screaming at me ... fortunately when no students were present ... I sent her home to cool off. When she was a no call, no show on the following day - I fired her.

It was that simple.

When I was a first year elementary teacher, I was assigned a veteran aide who had been working with children for 20 years. Given her experience and the fact that I was a novice teacher, she tried to take over my classroom. When she began countermanding my instructions in front of the students, I arranged for a meeting with the building administrator.

The building administrator was polite but firm. He told her that there was only one certified teacher assigned to the classroom and that person was me. He told the aide that she was there to ASSIST the classroom teacher and that if she couldn't bring herself to do this, she would be fired.

The woman was very subdued for the rest of the year.

[mopar]

But that goes to show the support that you have. Assistants are very hard to come by because they do not make a lot of money. It is a thankless job a lot of the time because they are asked to work with the worst students and given little praise for the work they do.
Yes sometimes it is better to cut your loses but just keep in mind if someone else is available for the position. My school has gone a whole semester shy one TA. It was very hard on the students. Some years we have started down 2 or 3 TAs.

[NewTeach]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, the last few days of school were okay. I talked to one of the aides about her work ethic and attitude - this is the one that has previously complained to admin about me - and she seemed to listen to me. I have also realized that some people will complain about everything, and the admin has realized that she is one of those people. I am not the direct supervisor of my aides, and the admin doesn't ever write up anyone or fire anyone. One of my aides has been absent over 10 times this first semester, often with no doctor's note. So..over my break I have made detailed schedules for each of my children and each of my aides, so that there is no time for complaints, and I can document each instance that someone isn't doing their job. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Bananas]

Be sure to let them know a lot of the good things they are doing and how you find them helpful. Notice how they are able to motivate a certain student or build a rapport with the students. Comment on their patience in what must have been a trying work session.

Also, keep in mind that once someone starts in a negative mindset, it can sometimes be easy to continue on that spiral. Knowing they are appreciated and doing good things which are noticed also can help some individuals turn it around in an upward spiral. Good luck!

[Chef Dave]

Yes sometimes it is better to cut your loses but just keep in mind if someone else is available for the position. My school has gone a whole semester shy one TA. It was very hard on the students. Some years we have started down 2 or 3 TAs.

No, we did not have anyone else for the position. I compensated by training student counter servers to work as cashiers. I replaced the student counter servers with volunteers from the beginning culinary arts classes.

Although the loss of a manager was inconvenient, in the end, this resulted in a stronger culinary arts program as all advanced students are now getting hands-on experience with our POS register systems.

As a trained culinary chef and restaurant manager, I refuse to be "held hostage" because of one person.

Any competent restaurant manager is cross trained in all areas of restaurant operations for precisely this reason. If necessary, we can fill in for any no call/no show employee. This training also circumvents the entire prima donna routine with employees who think they can hold the restaurant hostage because their service is indispensable.

As a restaurant manager I have had the pleasure of giving the boot to prima donnas as readily as I've terminated employees for no call/no shows, sexual harassment, and/or insubordination.

The hallmark of a well organized restaurant is that NO ONE (including yours truly) is indispensable.

[leafy seadragon]

Be sure to let them know a lot of the good things they are doing and how you find them helpful. Notice how they are able to motivate a certain student or build a rapport with the students. Comment on their patience in what must have been a trying work session.

Also, keep in mind that once someone starts in a negative mindset, it can sometimes be easy to continue on that spiral. Knowing they are appreciated and doing good things which are noticed also can help some individuals turn it around in an upward spiral. Good luck!

I absolutely agree. It is hard working with new TAs but if you are organised and positive eventually it can come together. It took about six months for the TA I work with at them moment to get used to the way I do things but I just kept it professional, was friendly (very difficult sometimes) and simply held the line that she was valuable but this was my classroom. It helped that at the end of each day we debriefed and talked the day through. Now we work well together, but we both agree that it was a very rocky start and because it is a very full on job we support each other. I really need my TA she is invaluable and it is worth the effort to make things work. Unfortunately, with three to handle who know each other already it can be tricky, just be positive, hold your position, be organised and eventually they will see that you know what you are doing. Change is difficult for everyone!

[busbus]

Hello to everyone who responded to New Teacher. Her problem is the same as one of my new teachers. I came to the Special Education forum to see if I could find some advice for this teacher and here, a whole lot came up in the very first thread that I read.

Gotta lot to offer my new teacher, thanks to your advice to New Teacher. :)

[s.kindel]

I have been a TA at a preschool for almost two years. I have to admit, there are plenty of times that I have complained and had a bad attitude. I have worked with two different teachers and have been much happier with the current one. She delegates, asks me for my opinion, enjoys it when I bring in a coloring page or craft for free time, thanks me every day for all my help. The other teacher would not delegate so I sat around looking for something to do. (if I asked she would tell me to do "whatever"), she never thanked me for any help, and she treated me like a slave. It is also hard sometimes because I have my own ideas for activities, lessons. If you are being respectful, giving them something to do, letting them know that you appreciate their help then they should be happy. If not, then this is not their calling and they need to find something else.

By the way, being a TA has made me realize that I wanted to teach and I am currently attending college for receive my bachelors degree.:D

[busbus]

I have been a TA at a preschool for almost two years. I have to admit, there are plenty of times that I have complained and had a bad attitude. I have worked with two different teachers and have been much happier with the current one. She delegates, asks me for my opinion, enjoys it when I bring in a coloring page or craft for free time, thanks me every day for all my help. The other teacher would not delegate so I sat around looking for something to do. (if I asked she would tell me to do "whatever"), she never thanked me for any help, and she treated me like a slave. It is also hard sometimes because I have my own ideas for activities, lessons. If you are being respectful, giving them something to do, letting them know that you appreciate their help then they should be happy. If not, then this is not their calling and they need to find something else.

By the way, being a TA has made me realize that I wanted to teach and I am currently attending college for receive my bachelors degree.:D
I wish you success in pursuing a teaching career. Somewhere in your teaching career, you may work with a teacher assistant, your experience as a TA will definitely help you to remember to treat that person with dignity and respect. And, I know that you will always remember to say, "Thank you." :) Good luck to you.

Anyway, when I saw your post, I thought of one of my new teachers. She has an assistant for each of her MDS special education students. Her problem is the reverse of what you went through. These assistants have worked in this classroom for many years, to the extent that they think that they are in charge. This is the first year that my new teacher has been in the school and in this classroom, so she hesitates to confront these assistants. I guess she hesitates because the principal is very much aware of the poor working climate in the room and has failed to do anything about it. Maybe the principal is waiting for my new teacher to confront the issue and assert her role as the person in charge! The bottom line is that no one can do it for her; she must do it (hopefully, with administrative support)!

I guess it is hard at both ends of the spectrum! I just hope that this power struggle will be resolved before the end of the school year.

Again, good luck to you in getting your bachelors degree.

[Bananas]

It is a difficult position to be in. I had that problem my first year of teaching, with the aide working for all three special ed teachers. I got the aide as low member on the totem pole, or with whatever time was leftover. I knew I would only be there that one year, so I did not shake the status too much. I would have if the position were permanent.