PARAPROFESSIONAL SOCIAL SKILLS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

BEING THE OTHER GROWN UP IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

SEVEN SOCIAL SKILLS

DR. MARY HULL

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

You, the expert on youWhy are you a member of this occupation?

What talents, focus, and goals do you bring to the classroom?

Know Yourself Activity

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Know Yourself Activity

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

My skills My further interests

No thank you

Identify and understand learning/teaching styles and how they can complement, mesh or clash

with students and teachers

What thinking style do you bring to the classroom? Self-Knowledge Activity

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Know Yourself ActivityHow would you………

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Sequential

Precise

.

Teaching, Learning & Thinking Styles

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

Dr. Mary Hull

Teaching, Learning & Thinking Styles

Freely adapted from Let Me Learn, website at end of presentation.

Technical

Confluent

.

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Problem solving before there are problems by

1)

2)

To determine role

What are the possibilities?

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Co-working roles

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Types of support Teacher’s role paraprofessional’s role

Coach Teacher instructs entire class

Scan Teacher instructs entire class

Tutor Teacher instructs some of the students

Substitute teach Teacher is not available to teach

Organize Teacher instructs entire class

In the classroom

Co-working roles

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Types of support Teacher’s role paraprofessional’s role

Clerk Teacher instructs entire class.

Monitor behavior Teacher instructs entire class.

Report behavior Another teacher is teaching or in charge of class (PE, art, substitute, etc.).

Model Teacher instructs entire class.

Attend Personal Needs Teacher instructs entire class

In the classroom

Co-working roles

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Types of support Teacher’s role paraprofessional’s role

Sounding board Teacher considers possible actions.

Confident Teacher or student tells para a problem.

Bridge Teacher, parents, student, try to understand each other’s point of view.

Translator Teacher would like to speak to parent who does not speak English.

.

Community Liaison Teacher wants to use community resources.

.

In the classroom

Co-working roles

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Types of support Teacher’s role paraprofessional’s role

Monitor child welfare Teacher and para have concerns about student’s welfare.

Train manners Student does not behave in a socially acceptable manner.

Monitor nutrition Student seems to be lethargic and/or hungry.

Train student in life skills

Student does not have good self-care skills.

Bodyguard Student may bully others or is a target of bullying.

In the classroom

Establish parameters for partnership

Collaboration

☐ To be determined with teacher

☐ Co-working system:

1)

2)

3)

☐ Enabling versus support

☐ Etc.

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

DR. MARY HULL

Learn how and what to observe in classrooms Observation checklist

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Classroom Observation Checklist

What do seasoned professionals look for when initially entering a classroom to understand the people in the group? How do they complete ordinary classroom tasks and how do they fit into the group?

Teaching Space Adult Workspace:

Materials Student Characteristics

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Classroom observationChecklist

Procedures

Behavior System 

Daily Organization

Daily Organization

Teaching Style

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Classroom observation exercise

How Could You Help?

Where is……………….? What is…………………? 

In Class rooms:

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

DR. MARY HULL

CLASSROOM OBSERVATION ACTIVITY

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

DR. MARY HULL

Classroom observation ACTIVITY

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Classroom observation ACTIVITY

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Classroom observation ACTIVITY

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

How to find informal social connections

to enhance working relationships

Creating connections:

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

DR. MARY HULL

Finding common ground: communication activity

Speed Sped Meeting

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Speed Sped Meeting Form

1st potential partner:

2nd potential partner:

LEARN HOW TO CARVE OUTTIME AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE SOCIAL BEHAVIORS.

WAYS TO ESTABLISH A ROUTINE FOR ON-GOING COMMUNICATION …..

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

SAMPLE PARAPROFESSIONAL SCHEDULE

PATHWAYS TO TEACHER AND STUDENT SUPPORT

Social Behaviors:

1)2)3)4)5)6)7)

Paraprofessionals are the

most commonly

used special education

intervention in the United

States

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011

DR. MARY HULL

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

http://test.letmelearn.org/about-2/four_patterns/

http://marywhull.org/

http://uplearn.org/

websites:

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION

Paraprofessionals As Partners Conference 2011DR. MARY HULL

Books by Mary Hull

Conversations With Paraeducators: Optimizing Your Work As The Other Grown-Up In The Classroom

The Paraeducator: The Other Grown-Up in the Classroom