Any classroom teacher that has an EA knows that they are much appreciated. I am truly thankful that the practicum class that I am working in has 2 EA’s! We have several students who need support. 1 child has autism+OCD, another has a chromosome disorder, and another is extremely defiant. It is such a weight off my shoulders knowing that when an outburst happens during one of my lessons I can keep going and an EA just jumps in to handle the situation. There is already SO much going on and I cant imagine our class without the support of our EA’s. Additionally, There are times when the student who needs support is working independently, and the EA is another adult in the classroom who can help other kids.
However, as thankful as I am to have them, there is a small downside. I don’t have a lot of opportunities to diffuse the situation with the autistic boy in our class because the EA is very on top of her job (in a good way). The boy with autism has a hard time listening and respecting any TOC that comes in our classroom or anyone that he isn’t used to. I’m worried that he wont respect me when my long practicum time comes. He is very dismissive to anyone other than my practicum teacher or the EA he is used to. Due to his Autism+OCD, this is just the way he is. It is extremely difficult to get through to him. I feel as though I have the least relationship with him compared to anyone in the classroom, and im sure my practicum teacher feels the same way because the EA takes care of him so well. Im not sure if this is a missed out opportunity to get experience working with children like him, or if I am just better off because he can be very disruptive without his EA.
I hope that I can make small steps to getting to know him better when my full time practicum comes along. I will have more time in the classroom. I am not expecting to make a major breakthrough, but I am just hoping he can respect me.