11 Ways Teacher Assistants Are the Hidden Heroes of the Show
This article was written by Andy McCall. Andy is in his 9th year teaching, and does everything to honor his little girl, Penelope, who passed last year. He is the author of the new book: Pig & Steel. Check him out on his Blog.
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Our favorite superheroes or movie characters never could have made it without their sidekicks. A lot of times, it was the sidekick that stole the show, and our hearts. You knew deep down that the sidekicks could do it just as well as the others, but they never got the spotlight or the glory.
For teachers, if you're lucky, you have that one person that you can always count on. It is just as much about the kids for them as it is for you. They are there to listen to your problems and know all the school gossip before you do. They are your hero masked in a sidekick role. They are our teacher assistants.
Our teacher assistants are our heroes. They might not have a cape, but they don’t need one. Just like in all our favorite movies, they are right by our side, and we couldn’t do what we do without them. They don’t get paid enough or get the credit they deserve most of the time, but they make us look like super teachers on most days, and for that, we should be forever grateful.
1. They are the Batman or Robin depending on what you need...
They can do it all. From holding down the fort (your classroom) while you're out, to sprinting down the hall to make that one more copy before the whole class erupts, it's just part of their superpowers.
2. They are your Tonto when you feel like the Lone Ranger...
You can feel alone and like everything you are doing just isn’t working, but they are always there to help you get through it. When you feel like you're tied to the railroad tracks, you can be confident that they’ll always be there to untie the ropes, just in time.
3. They have the powers of Tinker Bell when Peter Pan gets in a bind...
It might be fairy dust, or it might be dusting off an old book, but your assistant is always there with a pinch of magic when you need it the most.
4. When sometimes you are down like Pooh, they always know how to brighten your day like Piglet...
They get just as nervous as you when it's test time or evaluation time. But assistants have that magic touch of calming you down with a few simple words and a smile when you need it.
5. They're always there with some good advice like Jiminy the Cricket gave Pinocchio...
Most of them have done it for a long time and have that one bit of knowledge that will keep you on the right track when you're searching for all the answers... or just that IEP.
6. Even Hercules needed Pegasus to help him out...
You might feel like you have all the answers and are king of the world, but when little Johnny puts you in a bind, your assistant is always there to swoop in and save you from complete disaster.
7. Sebastian just wanted Ariel to succeed...
There are days you don’t feel like doing it and just want to stare at all those glorious things outside your window, but your assistant reminds you why you became a teacher and how important you truly are. (Mainly because they spent so much prep time on making those copies and cutting out those laminates you asked for!)
8. They can be the Flounder to your Ariel...
It isn’t all work though, they become your friend and know all those things that make you smile. Some days it is just nice to laugh and talk about all things they overheard in the copy room.
9. Or the cheerful Lumière to your Beast...
Behind the scenes, they keep you on track, without you even knowing it. They make sure you succeed, and are the first ones to clap at those fairy-tale ending moments in class.
10. They can be the magic Genie to get you through the struggle.
Some days, most days, you don’t know how you're going to do it. You don’t know how it'll all work out. You put all your trust in them and POOF! There are perfectly labeled projects and copies ready to amaze the princes and princesses for the day.
11. They can do the work of Snow White when you are the Seven Dwarfs.
As a teacher you have 70 things going on at once, and more times than not, you are more Grumpy than Happy. But your assistants still do everything they can for your classroom, to make it the best it can be.
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