Category — 3.1 The “R” Professionals

Resource Teachers/Learning Assistance Teachers

Resource teachers have training in special education. They work very closely with the teachers of children with special needs. They are actively involved in every aspect of the child’s education. This includes:

• Assisting the school-based team with the assessment process;
• Identifying the skills and needs of children with special needs;
• Helping to make the Individual Education Plan (IEP) (see full Glossary);
• Helping to put  the IEP goals into action;
• Watching and tracking the child’s progress;
• Attending all meetings related to the education of the child;
• Working with other members of the IEP team, including special educators, teachers, parents, occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists.

With other professionals, resource specialists offer children with special needs a variety of services which include:

• Teaching academic skills such as reading, writing and/or math;
• Teaching basic cognitive skills such as paying attention and concentration;
• Teacher behavior management skills.

Resource teachers can work with children with special needs individually or in small groups. They work closely with the child’s regular education teacher and help the child meet the goals that were set for him or her at the IEP  meeting.

For more information about the resource teacher, please visit the birth to six part of this course.

see References