In addition to my prior experience as a paraprofessional, I have also worked as a Title One Assistant. This meant I pushed into classrooms to provide assistance to teachers, and pulled small groups to provide additional instruction to students who needed it. This experience has shaped who I am becoming as a future educator.
I have also completed a four-month student-teaching internship in a first grade class. This allowed me to experience firsthand what it means to completely take over a classroom and manage students. I attended PLC meetings, performed parent/teacher conferences, planned and prepped instruction that follows along with the curriculum, as well as created meaningful relationships with students and other teachers!
As a paraprofessional, I worked alongside certified teachers to ensure students with exceptionalities not only learned but thrived. We worked together to set routines, and maintain structure. I learned to differentiate work, and provide students with accommodations that helped them learn best. This job allowed me to grasp an understanding of student behaviors, and behavior management skills.