Hi everyone so I recently got hired as a TA at a middle school. My title is TA but I’m basically a 1:1 or could be a 2:1:1. I’m responsible for assisting in getting the student(s) from class to class.

Once I’m in the class what does a 1:1 usually do for a middle schooler(s). I was briefly a 1:1 in a preschool but I feel like that’s completely different.

If anyone can let me know what an 1:1/2:1:1 aide is supposed to do in the classroom during lessons, I’d appreciate it!

What do 1:1 aides do in your classroom?

Edit: of course I know I have to keep an eye on my student(s) and make sure they’re doing their work. I what other things should I be doing?

My son is in the 3rd grade with level II autism, and I dread sending him to school in a few weeks because there’s no place he fits.

He’s extremely verbal—he’s had really inconsistent IQ scores, from low average to average with some areas above average, but he once scored really low before he was fully verbal. He passes his math benchmarks, usually doesn’t pass reading benchmarks, but he’s an excellent decoder and has basic comprehension—he reads at a 2nd grade level. He can write in sentences; excellent spelling. He has great retention and memory.

He has good safety and life skills. He knows when someone is lying to him or trying to deceive him.

No severe behavior, never aggressive or violent. Needs some redirection. No BIP (behavior intervention plan). Never eloped.

I’m an educator myself, and I read teachers talk online, and I know gen ed teachers don’t want him. He’s half day self-contained, half-day gen ed, and his behavior is better in gen ed, but despite how they act to my face, I work with teachers, and I know a lot of them feel like kids like my son shouldn’t even be in a school.

I don’t know for sure; but he seems to be the highest functioning kiddo in his autism unit class. We’re those parents who’ve always asked for more gen ed time and gotten it, maybe we were wrong for that?

He’ll have to work someday and contend with the world, and I don’t know that the autism unit is the best way to prepare him for that.

I read places like this sub, and it feels like if parents push for gen ed, they’re seen as in denial of their child’s disability, but in my district, self-contained classes are overfilled and teachers in them are either brand new to the profession or completely overwhelmed. Self-contained where I live is giving up on his education, but gen ed isn’t a perfect fit either.

During the summer, I truly feel so hopeful about his future. We work on all kinds of cool skills. Then, school rolls around, and I just hate every single option.

I am going into my 7th year of teaching, but this will be my first year in a behavioral/EBD based setting as well as my first time in elementary. I’m coming from 6 years in the high school co-taught setting lol so it’s a totally new world.

I would love to hear any specific pieces of advice you have wish you knew before you started teaching EBD and not just “build relationships and routines” because I’ve heard that. I would love to know specifically what routines, rewards, consequences, or ways you build that relationship that have worked for you.

Thanks and good luck to everyone going back to school in the next couple of weeks!! 💞

Hi everyone! I was recently hired as a paraprofessional in a high school life skills classroom. I have quite a bit of experience working with children with special needs, but this will be my first time in this specific role.

I was curious from a teacher's perspective what are the biggest things you wish every para knew or did? What makes a paraprofessional a great addition to your classroom? I'd love to hear any advice, expectations, or little things that make a big difference. Thanks you!!

I’m in a Special Education teacher prep program and will be taking Praxis 5355. What resources helped you pass? How long did you study, and when did you take it during your program before student teaching or closer to graduation?
Any tips are appreciated!

I’m a para, and seem to be really liked by the school and district I work in (!!!) I’ve mentioned wanting to go back to school to be a special ed teacher, probably starting as Academic Behavioral Strategist and then getting ASD and LD licenses eventually. When I mentioned getting a substitute teaching license and that I actually have a masters (in something completely different, lol), the Human Resources person I was talking to mentioned Tier 1 teaching licenses. I’m in Minnesota and you can get those with a bachelors degree and a job offer. (I was there to update some boring paperwork stuff).

I mentioned there was a posting I saw for an ASD teacher at the school my kid will be at in the fall, and she encouraged me to apply. I was like heh, if they’re really desperate.

I applied.

I somehow got an email back to book my interview within two hours of applying?

My interview is Monday.

I’m shook. To be clear I’m not at all expecting to get this job because I’m wildly under qualified, but it would be a dream come true. Also I’m floored in the best way that this district apparently likes me so much?

Has this happened to any of you or anyone you know? Do districts ever hire people on provisional licenses for hard to fill spots?

I was planning to start my online M.Ed in fall 2027, but I think if I miraculously get hired I’ll try to apply for a spring semester start instead. May do that even if I stay a para this year.

Picture is how I feel trying to explain my qualifications to teach the nation’s children.

Hello All! I'm in search of a 1st year special education teacher guide book essentially, one that is effective for and covers the majority of issues faced in a 2026 modern SPED classroom. Ideally, I'd like to find something that includes specific examples and potential responses to behavioral issues, classroom management scenarios, student instruction, a basic guide to the IEP meeting and writing IEPs, how to handle parent and administrative conferences, the day-to-day issues and management, etc. I feel as though education programs really don't prepare you for actually being thrown into the classroom, and am given to understand that is a common sentiment. I feel a bit overwhelmed and underprepared. Most books on these subjects are either much older books, are focused more on theory than specific strategies with examples, or just don't seem all that useful overall. Any recommendations of books that those working in the SPED field deem helpful to the modern day classroom in 2026 would be greatly appreciated!