First-year paraprofessional and constantly questioning myself
I’m a first-year paraprofessional and I feel like I’m constantly questioning whether I’m doing things correctly.
Admin gave us basically no training. We weren’t even given basic training or information about different disabilities, what certain behaviors might mean, how we’re supposed to respond in different situations, etc.
I ask questions pretty much every day because I genuinely don’t know what to do in certain situations. I’m trying to learn as I go, but sometimes I wonder if I’m asking too many questions or if I’m somehow supposed to already know all of this.
For experienced paras or special education staff, is this normal for a first year? Is asking questions constantly basically all I can do when my school didn’t provide much training?
I’m trying really hard to do a good job. I just wish I had actually been taught what the job entails instead of being thrown into it and expected to figure it out.