Always identify the grade level, subject area, and student population for each position: '2nd-grade general education,' 'K-5 special day class with students with autism,' or 'ELL pull-out support for grades 3-5.' Without this context, your experience is impossible to evaluate. The more precisely you describe your role, the easier it is for a hiring administrator to see the fit.

Leading a guided reading group, facilitating a math center, conducting 1:1 phonics drills, or delivering re-teaching to a small group are all instructional activities. Use teaching verbs: 'delivered,' 'facilitated,' 'instructed,' 'modeled,' and 'assessed.' Avoid passive language like 'helped with' or 'assisted in'—it undersells your real contribution to student learning.

Teacher assistants in special education settings often carry significant responsibility for IEP data collection, accommodation implementation, and behavior documentation. If you collected ABC data, implemented behavior intervention plans (BIPs), or assisted with transition planning, state it explicitly. This expertise is highly valued and differentiates candidates targeting special education positions.