If I had been a 7th grader in the 2010s or later when 7th graders commonly had their own cellphones, and still had been assigned a para, would she have sent me instructions by text message?

mandolinn219 · 2025-01-14T06:34:27+00:00

I have a few different thoughts about your question. First, no I wouldn’t text a student on their personal device, since general education students get in trouble for having their devices out or using them. However, I am certainly willing to stay out of “my” students way as much as possible! If that means having some sort of inconspicuous signals to each other, I’m fine with that.

Lastly though, I’m often supporting students because either a) they need pretty significant academic help or b) they struggle to manage their behavior. In both cases, it’s going to be eventually noticeable to their classmates anyway - students notice when one particular kid struggles to read, or ‘gets’ to use a calculator when no one else does, or maybe they knock over chairs or rip up papers or curse or run out of the room when they are upset. In those cases, I think it hurts their social standing more to let them flounder without my support (even if I need to be with them a significant amount and it’s clear that I’m there for that student).

LadybugGal95 · 2025-01-14T13:55:40+00:00

Letting my students have access to my cell phone number, ah HELL no. Besides that, we’d both get in trouble for being on our phones. I do, however, interact with more than just my student in the classroom. How much depends on the class. Sometimes I’m bouncing all over the class helping everyone and you’d be hard pressed to know who I was assigned to. Other times, I check in with my student(s) before lecture, hang back during lecture and then focus solely on them after the lecture. It all depends on their needs.

Having said that, I think other students are not as horrible to peers about having an aide. Also, I make a point of connecting with at least a couple peers every class. Once the peers get to know me, they will come to me for help as well as the teacher. One of those classes that I focus solely on my students had multiple other students coming to me the other day when we had a sub. They knew I could and would help them. I ended up addressing the whole class and reteaching a section after getting the same question from several students.

Maleficent_Theory818 · 2025-01-14T12:51:30+00:00

No, my school district has a zero cellphone policy for students.

I do my best to stay back from the student but where I still can hear them. I let the teacher step in first.

Daez · 2025-01-14T13:41:45+00:00

Have you been here before asking about the para you hated as a child?

Hmm. Anyway. No, I sure as hell would NEVER give any student my cell phone number.

1) our district policy is NO PHONES - they're not to be out unless the teacher specifically states that PCD's are allowed to be out for purposes of music, etc. I lead by example, which means unless there's an emergency going down, my phone is in my pocket. Would be pretty noticeable if one and one student only had permission to be checking his phone when nobody else did, no?

2) I may be there for "specific" students, but i help the entire damn class. Teachers have enough to juggle, and can regularly use the help, but this also keeps me from looking like I AM singling any kid (or kids because I'm often there for more than one at a time unless they are a student with a behavioral/emotional disorder or are a safety student) out. And allows me to build a helping relationship with many students, GenEd or not. And as those kids have moved towards seniors, THOSE kids then set the example for incoming frosh, that in just another "miss" there that is more than willing to help.

The only time I am 100% "on" any one kid instead of either taking my own notes (on a subject that isn't fresh for me) or wandering the entire class and giving aid regardless of IEP/504/diagnoses, is when I'm assigned to our 1:1 safety student, who is never, ever, ever allowed in the building unless they have that 1:1 safety para present.

I don't get off by torturing students. But I sure as hell won't risk torturing myself by giving a student access to my phone number. Not only is that inappropriate on a plethora of levels, but it's also a recipe for disaster.

So, no.

However, assuming said student didn't then immediately need redirects, i would indeed make a concerted effort to make sure that the impression, to the best of my ability, remained that I was there and willing to help all students. Because to me, I am.

maxLiftsheavy · 2025-01-14T13:56:50+00:00

If you could get it approved in the IEP meeting then I think it could happen. You deserve dignity. When I was a para I would have been open to it. We both would have used Google numbers and it would have been a text thread that would included an administrator.

barista19471057 · 2025-01-14T19:40:39+00:00

As a para that was born in the early 2000s, absolutely NOT. I do not, will not, and never will give students or parents my personal email, phone number, or any other personal information. They can contact me through school approved ways

BIG YES BOMB!!!!!

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

If I had been a 7th grader in the 2010s or later when 7th graders commonly had their own cellphones, and still had been assigned a para, would she have sent me instructions by text message?

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