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?

TheresJustNoMoney · 2025-01-14T06:28:15+00:00

Even before phone bans I have never had a learning support assistant send any of my students material by phone. They still sit one-on-one with the student (provided the student will work with them, as many students, like yourself, get to the age that they don't want them there).

TheresJustNoMoney · 2025-01-14T06:52:15+00:00

No.

We didn't all have cellphones then. And we sure weren't openly using them in class. If they were spotted they were gone. Took a parent coming to get it from the office at their leisure, and you got detention.

Jack_of_Spades · 2025-01-14T06:35:03+00:00

No. Because that isn't their job. Their job is to hlp you understand material or cope with emotional outbursts. Just texting information wouldn't convey everything. If students could just read something and know what to do, all we would need to do is print directions.

There are aren't such things as roaming teacher aides in most schools, at least where I live. Even at elementary level.

aaba7 · 2025-01-14T10:18:44+00:00

First, an adult individually texting a kid that much is not good. Too many liabilities.

You mention that your para would warn you or give instructions. Warnings mean you did some sort of behavior that required intervention. Not doing that behavior would have minimized her coming over to only instruction time. However, if the embarrassment of her coming over to give a warning is not enough to prevent that behavior, a text probably wouldn’t be better. A text could be ignored.

Some teachers will develop secret signals that give reminders if students struggle with particular behaviors and want to minimize them but struggle doing so on their own. This could be putting their hand on the corner of your table, or making eye contact and putting a finger on the side of their glasses or some other pre-agreed upon signal. These only work if the student watches for the signal and then responds. If they don’t, then walking over and giving you a warning in front of everyone is their only choice.

Her purpose and goal was to make sure you were able to learn. I’m sorry that you needed a little extra support and how that made you feel. It’s never nice to feel like people are pointing out your differences. However, you needed support for a reason. Additional phone usage makes almost every kids struggles worse, not better. Why use a tool with so many problems (distraction, ignored at student will, liability) when she could just walk over to do her job?

Being sensitive to how you feel can be done, but only to the extent that it doesn’t prevent them from doing their job. I have paras that will sit in a chair next to the student. They don’t walk over because they permanently sit next to the student. It sounds like they were already being somewhat sensitive to how you felt by not having her be at your table permanently.

SonicAgeless · 2025-01-14T09:15:47+00:00

No, students are not allowed to use their phones during class.

radbelbet_ · 2025-01-14T09:48:12+00:00

I was in 7th grade during 2011/2012. If my cellphone was seen during school that shit would get taken to live in the office until my parents could come get it.

In my county if you’re directly communicating with a student through text - you’re in trouble. Because why do you need a kids phone number, that’s weird.

I think you should appreciate your para and learn how to cope with the fact that you need them. They wouldn’t give you instructions or redirect you if you didn’t need it. You need to learn how to have confidence and not let stuff like that bother you, I promise you’re thinking about it way harder than even the other students would. If you’re really having a hard time, ask to speak with them in the hallway and maybe you guys can find a balance. That’s a convo you’re gonna have to facilitate, though.

Ok_Street1103 · 2025-01-14T07:01:28+00:00

Okay I'm Elder GenZ ('97) and I don't know what a para is? In 2010/11 I had an iPod touch and a Nokia. Typically, teachers can't have your number and text you messages like that. Phone communication via back then was very limited as a way to like kids in your class. I also would mainly text on an app on my iPod.

Man Temple Run was peak.

lifeinwentworth · 2025-01-14T07:13:04+00:00

Possibly or some other device but probably more so for communication differences if written is easier. I think it's reasonable. But in terms of phones I think a lot of schools don't allow phones now so that could be trickier. Para should be able to be discreet though and be aware that they're student doesn't want to attract negative attention!

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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