Building Professional Relationships During Student Teaching: Tips for Working with Paraprofessionals

Welcome back, EduMagicians! I’m Dr. Sam Fecich, and today we’re diving into one of the most rewarding and sometimes challenging parts of student teaching: building professional relationships in the classroom. As a future educator, learning how to collaborate with other adults, especially paraprofessionals, is essential for creating a supportive and effective learning environment.

This topic recently came up in our practicum class, and it resonated deeply with many student teachers. That’s why I’m excited to share this guest post written by Anna Wadding, a senior Elementary and Special Education major at Grove City College. She brings real-world experience and practical advice for student teachers working with paraprofessionals.

Building Professional Relationships Tip 1: Collaborating with Paraprofessionals in the Classroom

During her student teaching, Anna spent eight weeks in a first-grade classroom and another eight weeks in a combined 2nd and 4th-grade Life Skills Support classroom. In both placements, she worked closely with paraprofessionals and learned valuable lessons.

First Grade Experience

In the first-grade classroom, two paraprofessionals visited daily for about 30 minutes during reading intervention. While Anna didn’t interact with them extensively due to group separation, she learned this key insight:

Students need to understand that paraprofessionals have the same authority as the teacher.

Her cooperating teacher reinforced this by reminding students to respect and listen to the paras and empowering them to use classroom management strategies when needed.

Life Skills Support Experience

In the Life Skills Support classroom, Anna worked closely with two paraprofessionals who were present throughout the day. She quickly realized:

• Some paraprofessionals are more proactive than others

• Building rapport makes a huge difference in collaboration

By taking time to get to know them, asking about their lives, and showing genuine interest, Anna found that the paras became more eager to support both her and the students. Her cooperating teacher modeled this beautifully, creating a positive and productive classroom culture.

Building Professional Relationships Tip 2: Building Relationships with Adults in the Classroom

Whether you're working with paraprofessionals, aides, or other support staff, here are some student teaching tips for building professional relationships:

• Lend a hand: Offer help with small tasks like bulletin boards or data tracking

• Start conversations: Introduce yourself and ask questions

• Observe and learn: Watch how your mentor teacher interacts with other adults and take notes on what works

Building Professional Relationships Tip 3: Small Gestures Make a Big Impact

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple conversation or a helping hand to build meaningful relationships with the adults in your classroom. These connections not only make your student teaching experience smoother but also help create a more cohesive and supportive environment for your students.

What are some ways you’ve built relationships with adults in your classroom? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Meet the Author: Anna Wadding

Hi! I’m Anna Wadding, a senior Elementary/Special Education major at Grove City College. I completed my student teaching in Fall 2018 and am just a few credits away from becoming a certified educator. I’m originally from Long Island, New York, and I love spending time with my family, taking my dogs to the beach, and playing with my little cousins.

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