Paraprofessionals are underpaid, but that's not the point here. They shouldn't write IEPs or lesson plans, but they should run instructional groups, use prompt-fading, and lead activities teachers design. Stop having them redo task boxes in the back of the room.
All right guys, I shared a video a few weeks ago about how paraprofessionals should be acting as educators and teachers in the classroom, and I had a lot of people clap back at me saying, "Oh my gosh, paras are not paid to do that. That is not in my job description." First off, let's all agree that our amazing paraprofessionals are absolutely not paid enough. I have no control over that. You have no control over that. I wish we could change that. Agreed, they're not paid enough. What I did not mean in that video is that paraprofessionals should be doing all of the job responsibilities of a teacher. No way. I am not talking about IEP writing, lesson planning, data-based decision-making, creating materials. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about paraprofessionals running instructional groups that our teachers are setting up for them, prompt fading, working on educational activities. That is part of the job description. What I sometimes see is paraprofessionals that are sitting in the back of the classroom redoing task boxes, not really working as an educator and providing those teaching opportunities. That's what I want your paras doing in your classroom.
