K-5 Life Skills Instructional Assistant
After graduating from college, I accepted a position as an instructional assistant in a life skills classroom at Woodbrook Elementary School. Throughout my time in this classroom, I assisted students with their assignments in their general education classrooms, adapted an OG phonics writing handbook, taught reading comprehension skills, and administered an NWEA reading standardized test. The experience in this classroom helped me exponentially. In this position, I grew in my ability to address behaviors, deescalate students who are feeling anxious, and teach students academic concepts while also incorporating fine and gross motor activities. Additionally, I gained a lot of knowledge about AAC devices and how to use them. In my position as a life skills instructional assistant, I encouraged the students to speak or use their communication devices to answer questions and make choices in their learning.