What Would You Do?
The responsibilities and role of the Education Assistant (EA) are continually shifting based on the needs of students. With the increase of mental health awareness in our classrooms, EAs play an even more critical role in supporting the overall well-being of the students they work with. They are often the first to notice the behavioural shifts and changes. Recognizing and responding to these early indicators can make a meaningful difference in how students are supported and included in their learning environments.
Important to Remember
Most districts have developed their own set of guidelines that help to define an EA’s roles and responsibilities. This Handbook developed by SD61 includes some useful tips for all EAs, along with policies and procedures that are specific to EAs in the Greater Victoria School District.
Let’s start with a “WWYD Activity” – What Would You Do?
In this activity, you’ll explore a few fictional classroom scenarios and consider how you might respond. Each situation includes a set of possible actions—simply select the one that feels most appropriate to you.
There are no wrong responses. Every student is unique, and so are the strategies that might support them. What works in one situation may not in another. The goal is to reflect on your approach and build awareness of different responses.
Click the hotspots in each scenario to help you guide your choices.