Molly

Marchese

SPED 441

Para-Educator Handbook

In Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for

good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” When looking at this scripture you

see that we all have a purpose in this life and when you put your trust in the Lord everything

will work out in the way it is supposed to be. When having all specialized instructions for your

students with special needs you can access all of those needs and instructions through looking

at each individual learner. To be able to get your students engaged in what you are teaching

them sometimes could be challenging, in D&C 19:23 “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk

in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” I think that scripture doesn’t only

refer to us teaching our students but how the Lord guides us while we are teaching.

I think the biggest thing that I learned about myself becoming a teacher is to allow the

Lord to guide me in my teachings and presentations. For He knows the right way and what

everyone needs. To allow Him to work through me when teaching is both beneficial for myself

and my future students.

Five pieces of advice for your defining roles and responsibilities with your Para educators.

1. Implements appropriate support and training with students. Para educators implement the

correct steps and encourages and support the student with the progress of the steps.

2. Follows lesson plans that are planned by the teacher, does not change or alter the lesson

plans. Para educators follow the plans that are made by the teacher and helps in the general

education setting to help students.

3. Supports student’s success in the general education classroom. Para educators gives students

the independence and confidence that they can help students success in a general education

classroom.

4. Inclusion of the students. Para educators are there to allow the students to be included and

learn in an environment that they can manage with assistance of you (the para educator).

5. A para educator is assigned to one student that is stated in their IEPs and should not be

responsible for any other student in the classroom.

Survival Kit/ Questions to think about:

1. Which part of your body do you think is most important? Why?

I think that the brain is the most important part of our body. Our brain is like our control system

it keeps everything working. Your brain is tells your legs to put one in front of the other when

walking, and when clapping your brain tell your hands to put them together.

2. Which member of your classroom do you think is the most important? Why?

I think that everyone in my classroom are equal and are all important. My students are very

important and I want them to learn the most from me. I think my students would be the most

important because they are the ones who are learning from me. I as the teacher am also a very

important person in the classroom, without me and my planning nothing throughout the day

would get done.

3. How does diversity enrich and strengthen the Church and your classroom?

Having a diversity can really strengthen and enrich both church and your classroom by having

all different background and being able to discuss and gather ideas off of each other and learn

from others experiences.

4. How can we differ from each other and still be unified?

I think that everyone has a past, the way we talk, dress, do our hair, music we listen to, types of

movies we watch and how many siblings we have is what makes of different from each other.

Even with all the differences that we do have we still can be unified by the gospel and the

things that we believe in.

5. How could a "Paraeducator Survival Kit," given from the teacher, help the paraeducator feel

like an important part of the classroom environment?

I think that providing your papa educators with a survival kit will really allow your papa

educators to feel cared about and that they are an important part of your classroom. I think

that showing your papa educators that you are there for them will allow them to feel like they

can come to your with any questions they may have.

5 interview questions:

1. In your own words, what would the roles be for a para-educator?

2. In a classroom setting what are you comfortable with and uncomfortable with? How much

responsibility are you willing to take on?

3. What motivated you to become a para educator?

4. What characteristics do you have that would make you a good para educator?

5. What qualifications do you have that would make you a good para educator?

Qualifications:

-Patient with the students and everyone in the classroom

-Kind hearted, to be able to relate and be compassionate with students.

 -Passionate about the work they are doing

-Motivated/ driven

-Honest

-Truthful

-Respective

-Creative

The five guidelines that I would have for my para educators I would have for non-effective

(abusive or abrasive) one. However, I think that these guidelines would be for every one of

my para educators.

1. Look for the good

a. I think that when you look for the good in our students, and praise them for their good

actions instead of only commenting when they are doing something bad. I think that this gives

our students the comfort of knowing that you see them and not just when their actions are

bad.

2. Teach

a. I want my para educators to teach my students in a positive uplifting way, and do not

intimidate my students when they don’t understand a concept.

3. Be able to listen

a. Make sure to listen to the concerns of the students, when our para educators actively

listen to our students so that they feel comfortable coming to you with any problem they might

have.

4. When a problem arises

 a. When a problem arises, make sure to find a common ground and to compromise and

always make sure you are listening to the students feeling and to treat everyone with kindness.

5. Know how to deal with every type of physical and emotion needs.

a. Make sure as a para educator that you are educated on every physical and emotional need

that your students may suffer from.

10 training sessions:

1. Introduction: classroom procedures/ rules

a. What time you should arrive vs. what time the students arrive.

b. Talk about which students you will be observing and notes that will should be

taken.

c. Expectations when in the classroom and working with the students.

2. Introduction: Emergency procedures

a. All different types of Codes there are in what they stand for

b. What to do if one of the codes is called or there is an evacuation needed.

c. How the best way to help our student make it safely out of the school.

3. Introduction: Special education Laws

a. IEP

b. IDEA

c. Accommodations

d. LRE

e. FERPA/ FAPE

4. How to accommodate your students

 a. Be familiar with their IEP.

b. Know what accommodations they have and how to server them.

c. Know what you can do for your students.

5. Communication with your students

a. Communication is KEY!

b. Let them know that you are there for them.

c. Treat them with respect.

6. Communication with your general education teachers

a. Let them know what you observe throughout their class.

b. Take notes and collaborate.

7. Communication with your special education teachers

a. Show them your notes of observation throughout the classroom.

b. Come up with ideas that you could help them in the sense of their IEP.

c. Communicate regularly on the progress being made.

8. Activities to help your student understand the material more.

a. Depending on their accommodations read the material to them.

b. Different strategies that could help them understand the material more.

9. Being a member of the classroom

a. Review the lesson plan and know what is happening throughout the week.

b. Know that you are an equal member of the classroom and do make an impact

and if anything comes up talk to your teachers.

10. Know your value and worth

 a. You are making a difference.

b. Help your student and appreciate them, they will connect with you through

steps you take to help them.

c. Always think what could make you a better para educator and change what is

not working.