There are many characteristics that will benefit you as an Education Assistant (EA). In my opinion, these are the five most important traits needed to be a great EA.
COMPASSION
Compassion is super important because many of the children you work with have different issues and exceptionalities. With compassion, you have the ability to show empathy and caring for each individual student. They might act out in response to something they cannot control. With compassion, you realize that everyone has something going on and that 99% of the time, it has nothing to do with you, so there is no need to take things personally.
FLEXIBILITY
As an EA, you need to be as flexible as play-doh! Try to think on your feet and roll with the punches. You will always have a schedule and a plan for the day but life doesn’t always follow a plan. Often, your children have a very different schedule than you, and it’s important to be able to adapt and think of ways that you can make your schedule and their schedule co-exist.
PATIENCE
When it comes to being an EA, your job is all about patience. There are going to be some days that will test your patience, as well as your will to work with kids. You might even need patience when working with your co-workers and superiors, because everyone has different opinions and ways of doing things. Just remember that you can only control yourself and how you act. It also helps to remember why you chose this career and that what you do is very important!
COMMUNICATION
Communication is the glue that holds the team that you work with together. Whether you are designing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a student or implementing new strategies, you need to communicate with everyone on your team. Listen to both your students and your co-workers gets the best result. Being an EA is all about team work and communication, as well as listening and connecting with the students.
ORGANIZATION
This one is HUGE! When it comes to organization, it is a MUST! This doesn’t just include being organized within the classroom, but in your own life – this way, you will be completely prepared for work. It is super important to be punctual, as lateness can cause stress for a child with exceptionalities. The children that you work with are counting on you to be reliable and consistent. You may be the only consistent thing in their life, so ensure that you are on time, and organized at all times.
If this sounds like you, then consider a career as an Education Assistant!
