Being the Other Grown up in the Elementary Classroom

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


Know Yourself Activity


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


Know Yourself ActivityHow would you………


Sequential

Precise

.

Teaching, Learning & Thinking Styles


Dr. Mary Hull

Teaching, Learning & Thinking Styles

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

Technical

Confluent

.


Problem solving before there are problems by

1)2)

To determine role What are the possibilities?


Co-working roles


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



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



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



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.


DR. MARY HULL

Learn how and what to observe in classrooms Observation checklist


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


Classroom observationChecklistProcedures

Behavior System

Daily Organization

Daily Organization

Teaching Style


Classroom observation exercise

How Could You Help?

Where is……………….? What is…………………?

In Class rooms:


DR. MARY HULL

CLASSROOM OBSERVATION ACTIVITY


DR. MARY HULL

Classroom observation ACTIVITY






How to find informal social connections to enhance working relationships

Creating connections:


DR. MARY HULL

Finding common ground: communication activity

Speed Sped Meeting


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 …..



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


DR. MARY HULL

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION


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

http://marywhull.org/

http://uplearn.org/

websites:



http://marywhull.org/

http://uplearn.org/

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION


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

Documents

Being the Other Grown up in the Elementary Classroom