I had an aide for one period a day part of one semester. It depends on the aide of course, but this one wanted to talk to the students during lessons and basically disrupted class more than she helped.
LOL-I know exactly what you mean.
The 'aide' I had this year, kept a notebook and did all of the activities my kids did-it was like I had another student in my class-eyeroll! I had to remind her to go sit with the students she was SUPPOSED to be aiding!! Sad isn't it?