The term “assistant teacher” covers a wide range of positions, from working with younger children, to working with college professors as a “TA”, or teacher’s assistants.  As a K-12 teaching assistant, you’ll have the chance to work closely with children as you help to prepare and implement new activities.  At the collegiate level, you may take on a bigger role in teaching courses, while helping the professor you work with to further his or her research goals.

Job Description

As an assistant teacher, you’ll perform a wide range of tasks, depending on where you work. You may help with preparing lesson plans, as well as distributing materials during class periods and leading class activities.  In some cases, you may also be asked to teach classes and supervise various exercises, especially if the teacher is absent for any reason.  Teacher’s assistants may also be responsible for grading coursework.  Finally, if students are having problems with specific lessons, you may be asked to offer tutoring outside of classroom hours.

Education

The education you’ll need to work as an assistant teacher depends on where you’re going to work.  For example, if you’re going to serve as a TA in a university, you’ll probably need to be enrolled in a relevant Master’s or Ph.D. program.  On the other hand, if you’re going to work with younger children, you may find jobs that require no more than a high school diploma, although most require that you either have your teaching certification or be currently enrolled in a certification/degree program.

Finding Jobs

In some cases, you may be able to find jobs in particular school districts by searching the classified ads and job banks.  As with other jobs, you’ll need to fill out an application or send in a cover letter and resume detailing your experiences and interest in the position.  You may also have to go for a number of interviews during the selection process.  If you’re still in college, you may also want to check with your academic advisor.  He or she may be able to direct you towards specific professors who are looking for help, or to K-12 schools that take on students as assistant teachers.

Career Opportunities

In many cases, you’ll find that being a teaching assistant is an intermediate career step.  Typically, you’ll either be looking to work in a different setting or working towards becoming a teacher yourself.  On the other hand, there are a number of permanent positions in this field – if you develop a good working relationship with your teacher, you may be offered a more permanent position within the school system.

If you’re looking for a fun, challenging job with a summer vacation, working as a teaching assistant may be ideal for you.  If you’re still in college, you can get paid for helping your professors manage their classes and research projects on a semester-by-semester basis.  On the other hand, if you want to work with younger children, the application and selection process may be more formalized.  Depending on the job situation, you may find that your job lasts for years, or just for a few months.