The Teacher’s Aide & Child and Adolescent Development Program prepares learners with the academic knowledge, instructional skills, and developmental understanding needed to effectively support students and teachers in today’s diverse educational environments. The program combines classroom support training with a strong foundation in child and adolescent development, equipping learners to assist instruction, manage classroom dynamics, communicate effectively, and respond to learners’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
Module 1: Understanding Public Schools
Public education systems, diversity, history of education, curriculum purposes, paraprofessional roles, classroom management, inclusive practices, students with exceptionalities, and language diversity.
Module 2: Developing as a Paraprofessional
Education law and ethics, communication with educational teams and families, mentoring, stress‑reduction strategies, instructional support, learner development, and professional growth.
Module 3: Basic Mathematics for Classroom Support
Foundational math skills including operations, number systems, fractions, decimals, equations, estimation, and factoring.
Module 4: Geometry and Pre‑Algebra Skills
Ratios, proportions, percents, algebraic and geometric concepts, graphing, linear relationships, and applied problem solving.
Module 5: English Grammar
Parts of speech, sentence structure, verb forms and tenses, voice and mood, spelling, vocabulary, and diction.
Module 6: English Composition
Writing mechanics, punctuation, the writing process, essay development, research and citation, editing, and common writing errors.
Module 7: Introduction to Child and Adolescent Development
Foundations of developmental study, domains and periods of development, major theories, research methods, and ethical considerations.
Module 8: Genetics, Conception, and Early Development
Genetic foundations, prenatal development, birth, infancy, early learning, memory, and infant care.
Module 9: Physical Development
Growth patterns, maturation, health and safety, nutrition, puberty, and physical milestones across childhood and adolescence.
Module 10: Cognitive Development
Cognitive theories, information processing, language acquisition, intelligence, learning differences, and educational implications.
Module 11: Psychosocial Development
Emotional development, temperament, attachment, family and cultural influences, peer relationships, self‑concept, and psychosocial risks.
By completing this program, the learner will be able to:
Explain the structure and purpose of public schools and the role of paraprofessionals
Support classroom management and inclusive learning practices for diverse student populations
Apply effective communication and collaboration strategies within educational teams
Demonstrate foundational math and English skills to assist classroom instruction
Analyze physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development across childhood and adolescence
Recognize how developmental theories inform educational practice and student support
Uphold legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities in educational settings
Upon completion of this program, learners will be eligible to sit for the ETS’ ParaPro Assessment Certification exam.
This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.