Inclusive Practices- Paraeducator Support Model Presented by Kathy Kilgore

Considerations This webinar is being recorded and will be available for viewing at If you need to ask a question, please use the Chat Pod on your screen

Roll Call At this time, EVERYONE please use your chat pod (if you haven’t already) and type your first and last name as well as the district/LEA you are representing

People First Language Kathie Snow. (n.d.) A few words about People First Language. Disability is Natural. Retrieved August 1, 2012 from “People First Language puts the person before the disability and describes what a person has, not who a person is.”

Series of 6 Webinars 1.Overview of Inclusive Practices  2.Co-teaching Support Model  3.Consultant Support Model  4.Paraeducator Support Model 5.Scheduling for Inclusive Practice 6.Logistical Issues Grading IEPs Planning

Inclusive Practices….. … academic and behavior supports and strategies provided to students with disabilities in general education settings.

Collaborative Support Models for Inclusive Practices Co-teaching Support Model Consultant Support Model Paraeducator Support Model

Co-teaching Support Model As defined by Friend and Cook (2010)… Co-teaching is a service delivery option for providing special education or related services to students with disabilities or other special needs while they remain in their general education classes. Two or more professionals jointly deliver meaningful instruction to a diverse, blended group of students in a single physical space.

Consultant Support Model Support and assistance by a special education teacher to a general education teacher(s) (outside of the classroom). Consultation provided so that the general education teacher is able to meet the support needs of SWD.

Paraeducator Support Model Para supporting SWD in general education settings under direction of general education teacher Role is to facilitate successful inclusion of SWD in general education Tasks are determined by support needs of students in both academics and behavior

Inclusive Support Paras… Different than special education paras assigned to special education classes Different than child specific paras Paras assigned to general education classes with SWD Inclusive support paras not assigned to co- taught classes Primary beneficiary of paras’ supports is SWD but other students may benefit

Support Categories Routine, general school/classroom supports Direct instructional supports

Routine, general school/classroom supports… Essential tasks that apply to a wide variety of situations Environmental or external supports More supplemental than core Enable students to learn without being directly related to learning Visual, organizational, time management tasks Supportive of educational environment

Examples…. Grading papers Checking folders Dispensing medicine Helping with hygiene Supervising students Organizing classroom/materials Helping with bulletin boards Monitoring learning stations Assisting students with physical needs Helping students keep track of personal items Accompanying students Organizing/supervising field trips

Direct instructional supports… Related to curriculum and implementation of curriculum standards Directly affect student learning Help students be more engaged

Examples…. Tutoring students/providing feedback Facilitating lesson delivery Using questioning strategies Explaining/clarifying Collecting data Designing accommodations Coaching/supporting Rereading/repeating/re- explaining Implementing behavior systems Administering assessments Working one on one or small group Working with substitutes Assisting with specific tasks Supporting ESL Preparing/adapting materials Modeling/teaching social skills Supervising peer tutors

The Teacher…While the Para…. Plans lessons, arrangements, stations and activities Assists in implementing plan Determines lesson objectivesCarries out activities to meet lesson objectives Teaches lessonReinforces and supervises practice of skills Observes behavior, plans and implements behavior strategies Observes behavior, assists in collecting data and helps implement behavior plans Designs informal assessments and administers and scores formal and informal tests Administers informal tests Meets with parents and initiates conferences Participates in conferences when appropriate

Let’s take a poll…. Are there some other specific tasks or activities in which a paraeducator may may engage in order to help ensure the support needs of students with disabilities are met? Use your chat pod to type in a brief response

Confidentiality Never discuss students, staff members, or confidential school issues outside of school Student problems should not be shared with other staff members unless they are directly involved with the student Avoid sharing information about student’s progress with parents unless authorized by supervising teacher

Communication/Teambuilding Communication and working as a team are essential Communication begins with respect Emphasis on People First Language Critical part of collaborative partnerships

Effective Communication…. Active Listening Personal Space Voice

Active Listening…. Paying attention to what is said Improves quality of communication interactions Conveys openness, non-judgmental attitude and willingness

Personal Space…. Important to honor personal space of others General rule of thumb – one arm’s length (but varies with person and situation) Invading another’s personal space inhibits positive relationships, increases anxiety and reduces productivity

Voice tone and volume… Tone – convey respect Volume – appropriate for distance/situation Cadence – good rate and rhythm

Not what you say, but how you say it! I didn’t say Lucy was incompetent.

“Well, aren’t you the smart one today.”

Effectively communicating Working well together Students benefitting Positive Student Outcomes

Effective utilization of paraeducator… Clearly articulated expectations – Required tasks – Professional development needs – Evaluation system – Communication schedule – Disagreement procedures

Initial meeting with para, the teacher should…. Teacher’s instructional delivery approach Teaching methods Para expectations Para’s unique skills/talents Classroom schedule/routines Learner specific information Para should meet with sped teacher

At initial meeting, para should ask about…. Records and data collection Communication protocol Responses to parents Discipline procedures PD opportunities Person(s) in authority Evaluation procedures Absent teacher Time management

Let’s take a poll…. Are there some other expectations that the teacher should outline for the para? Or, if you have had such a meeting with a para, how did it go? Use your chat pod to type in a brief response

Instruction How instruction is planned and delivered is critical Teachers should design multiple-sized lessons Paras are in a pivotal position to assist in ensuring multiple-sized lessons Para supports makes a different in student learning Instructional support is primary function of para in inclusive classroom

Some examples…. Employing questioning strategies Explaining/clarifiying concepts Guiding the ‘thinking’ process Helping make meaningful connections

Schedules…. Para schedule is required Schedule based on student support needs Para should remain in class for entire period

Examples of Assistance… Involved in the lesson planning process Assist in data collection – Teacher identifies type of data – Collected in non-judgmental manner – Collected on both academic and behavior progress Assist in managing student behaviors – Collect behavior data – Deliver reinforcers

Co-teaching approaches Parallel Station Teaming Alternative One Teach/One Assist (better utilized with para) One Teach/One Observe (better utilized with para)

Examples…. Modified parallel approach – Teacher teaches one group, para reviews with other group – Groups switch Modified station approach – Teacher teaches each group that rotates through, para reviews with each group, independent group works independently

Let’s take a poll…. Do you think a para could be used to effectively assist the general education teacher in delivering a lesson using either a modified parallel or station approach and not just the 1 teach/1 assist or the 1 teach/1 observe approach? Why or why not? Use your chat pod to type in a brief response

Primary focus… Assisting general education teacher in delivering a multiple sized lesson that meets needs of all students in class Primary beneficiary of support are SWD, but other students also may benefit Paras are integral part of the core instructional program and have significant impact on students!!

The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H323A However those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Additional Webinars in this Series February 10:00 am: Scheduling April 10:00 am: Logistics

Questions? Please use your chat pod if you have questions related to this presentation (if time permits, we will answer them, if not, please questions to contacts below) After this webinar, you may any content-related questions to Kathy Kilgore You may any grant-related questions to Melanie Lemoine

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