Assisting Students with Disabilities

1
Assisting Students with Disabilities

• A Training Program for Paraeducators

2
Overview of this Training Module

• Module 1 Introduction to the Paraeducator Role
• Unit 1 Roles Responsibilities
• Unit 2 Communication Teamwork Skills
• Unit 3 Legal Ethical Issues

3
Module 1, Unit 1 Roles Responsibilities

• Instructional Objectives
• To understand how the paraeducator role developed
• To understand the importance of the team
• To describe the teamwork responsibilities of
  paras, teachers, administrators
• To describe the distinctions in teacher
  paraeducator instructional responsibilities

4
Unit Overview

1. Introduction to the Paraeducator Role
2. The Administrator-Teacher-Paraeducator Team
3. Distinctions in teacher paraeducator
   instructional responsibilities
4. Closing

5
Overview of the Paraeducator Role

• Paraeducators playing an integral role
  providing much-needed support, due to
• More participation of students with disabilities
• Federal state legislative mandates
• Teacher shortages
• Restructuring of the roles of teachers

6
Overview of the Paraeducator Role

• Para alongside
• A paraeducator is a school employee who . . .
• provides instructional or other direct support
  services to students, and
• works under the supervision of a
  certified/licensed staff member who is
  responsible for educational programming student
  progress

7
Overview of the Paraeducator Role

• Paraeducator Work Settings
• Inclusive general and special education classes
• Early intervention pre-school programs
• Libraries computer labs
• Parent training programs
• Transition training, supported employment,
  other vocational programs

8
Overview of the Paraeducator Role

• Impact of paraeducators on educational programs
• More individualized instruction to students
• More monitoring evaluation of students
• More positive role models in students
  environment
• More time for teachers to assess needs, consult,
  diagnose problems, plan lessons

9
Overview of the Paraeducator Role

• Benefits of paraeducator involvement in
  education
• Improved student learning
• More consistency in student services
• More positive student attitudes toward school
  learning
• Improved student behavior in the classroom
• Improved parent-school- community relations

10
The Administrator-Teacher-Para Team

• Paraeducator knowledge skills supportive
  working environment more satisfied effective
  paraeducator, improved learning for students
• Teamwork responsibilities
• Administrators
• Teachers
• Paraeducators

11
The Administrator-Teacher-Para Team

• Administrator Teamwork Responsibilities
• School- or district-wide support for paras
• Needs Assessments
• Provide job orientation, including written job
  description, introductions, handbook on school
  policies
• Set enforce best practice supervision
  policies
• Evaluate teachers supervision of paras

12
The Administrator-Teacher-Para Team

• Teacher Teamwork Responsibilities
• Classroom-level supervision of paraeducators
• Provide a more specific, personalized job
  orientation
• Assess paras strengths weaknesses
• Use effective teaching techniques with paras
• Conduct frequent, formal meetings with the para

13
The Administrator-Teacher-Para Team

• Paraeducator Teamwork Responsibilities
• Take an active role in determining your success
• Positive, cooperative attitude toward assigned
  tasks
• Seek training supervision, as needed
• Request meetings with the supervising teacher
• Seek information about students instructional
  process
• Provide information about student progress

14
Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Teachers responsibilities
• (Primary responsibility for students education)
• Diagnose students education support needs
• Prescribe the programs to meet those needs
• Develop goals objectives
• Prepare lesson plans for whole class
• Modifying strategies content for individual
  students

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Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Teachers Responsibilities (cont.)
• Lead the implementation of instructional programs
• Evaluate program effectiveness student
  performance
• Involve parents in their childrens education

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Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Paraeducators Responsibilities
• (Assist the teacher, as directed and with
  supervision)
• Instructional support tasks
• Implement educational programs lesson plans
• Help individual students with academic work
• Help in collecting maintaining data about
  students performance
• Score objective tests, keep records
• Give info and/or attend IEP/IFSP meetings

17
Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Paraeducator Responsibilities (cont.)
• Behavior management support tasks
• Implement behavior management programs in the
  classroom
• Supervise students and enforce school policies
  for student behavior in non-academic settings
  (for example, playground, lunchroom)

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Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Paraeducator Responsibilities (cont.)
• Clerical/technical support tasks
• Prepare/duplicate materials
• Set up maintain adaptive equipment learning
  centers
• Operate office or video equipment

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Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Paraeducator Responsibilities (cont.)
• Provide personal/health assistance to students
  with disabilities
• Assist with personal/hygienic care
• Assist with special health care needs

20
Distinctions in Instructional Responsibilities

• Duties a paraeducator may NOT perform
• Be solely responsible for
• An entire classroom (for example, as a substitute
  teacher)
• An entire educational program
• Diagnosing student needs
• Developing lesson plans
• Assigning grades
• Grade subjective or essay tests
• Administer or score standardized tests