Teacher Assistant

Description

Purpose/Description

Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.

Requirements

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent

Short-term on-the-job training

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education and Training

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Psychology

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Skills

Basic Skills

? Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

? Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

? Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

? Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

? Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.

? Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

? Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

? Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

? Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.

? Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Social Skills

? Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

? Instructing Teaching others how to do something.

? Negotiation Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

? Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

? Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.

? Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Complex Problem-Solving Skills

? Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Technical Skills

? Equipment Maintenance Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

? Equipment Selection Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

? Installation Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

? Operation Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

? Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

? Operations Analysis Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

? Programming Writing computer programs for various purposes.

? Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

? Repairing Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

? Technology Design Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

? Troubleshooting Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Systems Skills

? Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

? Systems Analysis Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

? Systems Evaluation Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Resource Management Skills

? Management of Financial Resources Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

? Management of Material Resources Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

? Management of Personnel Resources Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

? Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Desktop Computer Skills

? Presentations Using a computer application to create, manipulate, edit, and show virtual slide presentations.

? Internet Navigating the Internet to find information, including the ability to open and configure standard browsers; use searches, hypertext references, and transfer protocols; and send and retrieve electronic mail (e-mail).

? Navigation Using scroll bars, a mouse, and dialog boxes to work within the computer's operating system. Being able to access and switch between applications and files of interest.

? Word Processing Using a computer application to type text, insert pictures, format, edit, print, save, and retrieve word processing documents

? Graphics Working with pictures in graphics programs or other applications, including creating simple graphics, manipulating the appearance, and inserting graphics into other programs.

? Databases Using a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.

Work Context

Body Positioning

? Requires kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling

? Requires standing

? Requires bending or twisting

Communication

? Requires face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams

? Requires contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise)

? Requires telephone conversations

? Requires writing letters and memos

Conflict

? Includes conflict situations

Impact of Decisions

? Requires making decisions that impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company

? Opportunity to make decisions without supervision

? Requires making decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization

Level of Challenge

? Freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals

? Requires being exact or highly accurate

Pace and Scheduling

? Requires meeting strict deadlines

Personal Interaction

? Requires coordinating or leading others in accomplishing work activities

? Requires work with external customers or the public

? Requires work with others in a group or team

Responsibility for Others

? Includes responsibility for work outcomes and results

? Includes responsibility for the health and safety of others

Work Setting

? Requires working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions

? Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people

Tasks

? Maintain a safe play environment.

? Observe and monitor children's play activities.

? Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.

? Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understand