Supervision and Instruction of Exceptional Children
July 31, 2009
Lunch
Duty
• Some exceptional learners will need supervision during the lunch
period. It may be part of your assignment to provide assistance or
help a student maintain appropriate behavior, develop eating
skills, table manners and common table courtesies. A student may
need paraeducator help in carrying a tray or eating assistance. You
may have to go after lunches in some cases.
• When supervising identified students, they should be expected to
follow the same rules in the lunchroom, which other students
follow.
• This assignment is considered part of your paid duty day.
Paraeducators will be provided a non-duty lunch period.
• Paraeducators are not employed by SCKSEC to supervise
non-identified students.
Recess
Duty
• You may be responsible for supervising exceptional students on
the playground. A student may have a behavior plan that outlines
the behavioral expectations for the student on the playground. This
plan will also show the rewards or reprimands that will be given.
Each attendance center has adopted playground rules and the
consequences for misbehavior, so follow them. Your supervising
professional will provide you with this information. Don't hesitate
to reprimand other students on the playground if they are not
obeying rules or engaging in an activity, which might be dangerous
to themselves or others.
• No paraeducator will be assigned to general playground duty as a
professional can be. Paraeducators should only be supervising
identified exceptional students.
• A district may choose to employ a paraeducator to do playground
duty during the school day when it does not interfere with service
to exceptional students.
Bus
Duty
• Paraeducators may be responsible for seeing that exceptional
students get off and on the right buses. Be sure you know the
correct bus number for each student and the usual arrival and
dismissal times.
• Paraeducators may not be assigned to do general bus supervision
as part of their instructional day. A district may choose to employ
a paraeducator for this duty outside their duty day.
• Some paraeducators ride or drive school transportation and are
involved in the supervision of students to and from their
attendance center. This supervision time is considered part of the
duty day and will be paid for by the district or in some cases
SCKSEC.
Instruction
In The Absence Of The Supervising Professional
• Paraeducators may work with or supervise exceptional students in
a classroom, playground, hall, restroom, therapy area, gymnasium,
and other specified areas on campus. In some situations,
professionals may leave the classroom under the supervision of the
instructional paraeducator (i.e. planning time, parent conference,
telephone call, staffing, etc.). This is usually for a short period
of time. The teacher should remain on campus and continue to be the
person responsible for the classroom and students.
• In the absence of the supervising teacher with off-campus
responsibilities, the paraeducator will be assigned to another
teacher or administrator for supervision.
Community
Based Instruction
• Off-campus activities such as community based training,
work-study placements, work experience, field trips, errands,
shopping and recreation, etc., may be supervised by paraeducators
with appropriate supervision, and approval. Paraeducators are not
to use their personal car to transport students, unless approved by
the SCKSEC administrative office.
• Districts will provide transportation for community based
programs in most cases.
BE
PATIENT
• with yourself (teaching is a learned profession. It takes time to
learn the work).
• with the teacher (it isn't easy learning to work with another
adult).
• with the children (the courtesy and respect we show children will
be imitated).
Remember that you are a part of a most important profession. What
you do in the classroom will have an impact on the lives of your
students. Your individual help may give a student new confidence in
himself and his ability. Others may learn to be more tolerant and
respectful of those who are different, in ability, race, or
economic group because of your efforts.
YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION
TEAM
