Module 2:
Effective Supervision of Paraeducators
Module 2,
Transparency #1

Overview of this Training Module
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Module 2: Effective Supervision of Paraeducators
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Unit 1 – Teacher Supervision of
Paraeducators
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Unit 2 – Administrator Supervision of Paraeducators
Module 2,
Transparency #2

Module 2, Unit 1:
Teacher Supervision of
Paraeducators
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Instructional Objectives:
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To understand the roles of teachers & administrators in supporting paraeducators
To learn how to welcome & incorporate a new paraeducator into the classroom
To learn skills for assigning tasks & monitoring paraeducator performance
To gain additional team leadership skills
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #3

Unit Overview
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Overview of the instructional team
Providing paraeducators with an appropriate orientation
Appropriate planning, delegation, & evaluation
Providing effective team leadership
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #4

Overview of the
Instructional Team
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Characteristics of paraeducators
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Gender
Income
Home life
Education & past work experience
Training for the paraeducator job
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #5

Overview of the
Instructional Team
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Paraeducators are technicians who provide direct services to youth, under the guidance & supervision of certified teachers
“Paraeducator” is the preferred term for this role.
It mean “works alongside an educator”.
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #6

Roles &
Responsibilities of the
Instructional Team
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Administrators
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Ensure school policies/practices comply with federal, state, & local district policies & laws
Involved in hiring, supervising,
& evaluating school staff
Assist with crisis-management
& problem-solving
Help decide what activities & programs the school will host
Module 2, Transparency
#1

Roles &
Responsibilities of the
Instructional Team
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Teachers
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Design & implement instructional programs for students
Assess student performance & evaluate effectiveness of instructional programs
Involve parents in students’ education
Develop accommodations & modifications for students with disabilities
Participate in an instructional team (e.g., supervise paraeducators)
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #8

Roles &
Responsibilities of the
Instructional Team
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Paraeducators
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Provide instruction 1:1 or in small groups, according to teacher lesson plans
Assistant in implementing teacher-designed accommodations & modifications
Assist with assessment activities
Assist with behavior management
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #9

Roles &
Responsibilities of the
Instructional Team
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Key difference between the roles of teacher & paraeducator:
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The teacher decides WHAT will be taught & HOW it will be taught; the teacher is the instructional designer
The paraeducator helps DO what the teacher has designed; the para helps implement the teacher’s instructional designs
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #10

Providing an
Appropriate Orientation for Paraeducators
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Basic information
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Introductions to all school staff
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Written policies & procedures for school staff, for example…
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Emergency & safety procedures
School rules & routines
Protocol for reporting absences
Students’ rights to confidentiality
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #11

Providing an
Appropriate Orientation for Paraeducators
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Getting to Know One Another
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Ask good questions of each other
See how well your work style preferences “fit”
Think ahead to how you can prevent differences from becoming problems in your working relationship
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #12

Providing an
Appropriate Orientation for Paraeducators
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Determine exactly what the paraeducator’s role will be
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Do a Needs Assessment
Assess the paraeducator’s current level of skills
Compare these two, to determine current tasks and future training needs of the paraeducator
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #13

Providing an
Appropriate Orientation for Paraeducators
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Para should be given a copy of the district’s general job description
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Teacher & para should work together to supplement that with a personalized job description
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #14

Providing an
Appropriate Orientation for Paraeducators
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Provide the para with a
Growth & Development Plan
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Serves as a reminder to the teacher that training is needed
Helps to establish continual learning & development as a part of the school culture
Once training has occurred, it serves as a convenient way to document the training
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #15

Planning, Delegating &
Evaluating
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Planning for Paraeducators
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A legal & ethical responsibility of teachers
Includes specific duties & a specific schedule
May be shared among a team of teachers
Must be written; may be most efficient to use a form
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #16

Planning, Delegating &
Evaluating
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Delegating Skills
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Know which tasks can appropriately be delegated
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Remember paraeducator roles & responsibilities
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Only tasks the paraeducator has been trained for
Consider paraeducator strengths
& preferences
Consider desirability of the task
Consider urgency of the task
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #17

Planning, Delegating &
Evaluating
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Delegating tasks to paraeducators
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Include:
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Why
What
When/where
How
Authority
Monitoring/evaluation
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #18

Planning, Delegating &
Evaluating
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Evaluating
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Tell the para in advance
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Factors to consider when deciding how to evaluate
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How long has the para been working with you?
Para’s skill level
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District/school policies
Student support needs
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #19

Providing Effective
Team Leadership
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Holding Meetings
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Be creative in “finding time” for regular, sit-down meetings between you & the para
Will you need a meeting facilitator?
Who will record meeting notes
& decisions?
How will decisions be made?
Set (and stick to) agendas
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #20

Providing Effective
Team Leadership
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Effective Communication
Techniques
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Express yourself clearly & with tact
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Aim for an Assertive style
Use “I statements”
Choose the setting carefully
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #21

Providing Effective
Team Leadership
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Effective Communication
Techniques (cont.)
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Listening & Responding to others
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Concentrate
Wait to respond
Check for understanding
Show empathy
Offer input, if appropriate
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #22

Providing Effective
Team Leadership
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Managing conflicts & problem-solving
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Important part of a teacher’s job is dealing with problems
This can be stressful, but it is manage-able
What can you do about problems?
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #23

Providing Effective
Team Leadership
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1)
6-step problem-solving process:
Define the problem
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Determine the causes of the problem
Set a goal
Brainstorm solutions, then evaluate them
Select the best solution(s), then try it/them
Evaluate the solution(s)
Module 2, Unit 1,
Transparency #24