Empowering Teaching Assistants
By Dana Specker Watts, Ph. D., ISS Director of Learning, Research, & Outreach
From February 24 to March 6, 2025, ISS EDUlearn® and PeerSphere proudly co-hosted the 5th Annual Teaching Assistant Conference (TAC), a professional learning experience designed by TAs, for TAs. Teaching Assistants play an essential role in international schools, yet they often have limited access to tailored professional development.
This conference changed that narrative, providing a dedicated space for TAs to learn, share, and grow together — in a language that best suits them.
Each day offered participants a choice between two presentations per time slot — one in English and one in Chinese — ensuring that TAs could engage with content in their preferred language. By shifting the focus away from English-only professional development, we provided an opportunity for TAs not only to learn in a language that best supports their growth, but also to experience what it’s like to be a multilingual learner by engaging with PD in a language different from their host country’s primary language.
Key Themes
The conference featured a wide range of sessions, reflecting the diverse and evolving roles of Teaching Assistants in international schools. On the following page, explore some of the key themes that emerged.
Maximizing TA Impact in the Classroom
- The Super Powers of TAs
- Understanding Multimodal Instruction: How TAs Can Use Comprehensive Input in the Classroom
- Engage to Inspire: Practical Strategies to Boost Student Participation
- Fostering a Positive Classroom Culture: Effective Behavior Management Strategies for TAs
- Synergizing Support – Effective Collaboration Between TAs & Teachers
- Smooth Transitions: Supporting the Move from Early Years to Year One
- Intrinsic Motivation in Lower Primary: How TAs Can Support Young Learners’ Self-Driven Growth
Inclusion, Wellbeing, & Social-Emotional Learning
- Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: How TAs Can Support Identity & Belonging in Learning
- Personal Self-Care for TAs: Managing Stress & Work-Life Balance
- Diversity & Inclusion in the Classroom: TAs’ Role in Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment
- TAs & Counselors as Allies: Supporting Wellbeing in the Classroom
- Supporting Students with ADHD: Case Study on Inclusive Education in Regular Classrooms
- Engagement & Motivation for Students with Diverse Learning Needs
- Sensory Integration in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for TAs
- Growing Alongside Children: The Role of TAs in Student Social-Emotional Development
- Empowering Students’ SEL Growth
Enhancing TA Collaboration, Creativity & Technology Integration
- Collaboration in International Schools: How TAs & Teachers Build Strong Teams
- Building Positive Relationships with Parents: Effective Communication for TAs
- Using EdTech Tools to Enhance Learning: Practical Applications for TAs
- AI Empowerment for Teaching Assistants: How AI Can Support Classroom Instruction
- Experience Sharing: Teaching Through Art
- Conflict Resolution for TAs: Navigating Harmony in Collaborative Teams
Language & Literacy Development in Multilingual Settings
- Translanguaging Strategies for TAs: Helping Students Bridge Languages
- Unlocking Bilingual Potential: Developing Language Skills in Cross-Cultural Classrooms
- Early Language Development: Engaging Strategies for Young Learners
- Maximizing TA Impact for EAL Students: Strategies for Secondary School Support
- The Development of Language and Thinking Skills in Cross-Cultural Environments for Primary School Students
- Promoting Belonging through Picture Books: A Creative Approach for TAs
Career Growth & Professional Development for TAs
- Finding Your Educator Zone of Genius: Discovering Strengths & Career Growth
- Paradoxical Practices & New Pathways: Supporting Our International School Teaching Assistants
- From Classroom Support to Leadership: Career Pathways for Aspiring Lead TAs
- Stress & Time Management: Tools for Controlling Schedules
- Building Your Dream: Unleashing Your Potential for Success
- Virtual Networking: Go Farther Together
- Professional Learning for All: Making PD Equitable, Sustainable, & Multilingual
Teaching Assistants 5 Course Bundle
Empower your role as a Teaching Assistant with this comprehensive professional learning bundle. Whether you’re new to the role or an experienced TA looking to advance, this flexible, expert-led series will equip you with the tools and confidence to thrive in international school settings.
Throughout the conference, the sense of community and collaboration was unmistakable. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions, shared their own experiences, and left each session feeling more confident and empowered in their roles.
As one attendee put it, “It’s incredible to finally have professional learning that speaks directly to us—learning from other TAs who truly understand what we do every day.”
Sustaining the Learning: Ongoing Access with ISS
To ensure ongoing access to this impactful training, ISS EDUlearn® will host the recordings and session content on the ISS EDUlearn platform. Each session will be available with subtitles in 230+ languages, making this professional learning even more inclusive and accessible.
- Schools with an ISS EDUlearn® Passport will have unlimited access to the recordings, allowing TAs to revisit sessions and continue their learning journey.
- Individual TAs or schools interested in these sessions can purchase access to the recordings, ensuring that high-quality, multilingual professional development remains available to all.
By investing in the professional growth of Teaching Assistants, we strengthen the entire school community. Thank you to all the presenters, participants, and partners who made this event a success!
Visit here to purchase the full TA course bundle for $400, or included with an ISS EDUlearn® Passport subscription. You can follow Dana on Linkedin.
This article was originally published in the April 2025 edition of ISS Newslinks.