Para Educator Rules & Responsibilities

Handbook
Courtney Barker
5 Pieces of Advice
You notice that a para-educator has a difficult
time working with a particular student. Both
become frustrated quickly and progress is very
slow.
-This is going to be very different per
personality. I feel that I would easily be able to
ask what was up. I would definitely get both
the student and the para's insight. From there
merge and idea to fix it.
Two para educators dont get along, or you and
a para educator dont get along and its
effecting the functionality of your classroom.
-I would try to get on the same page, and if
that becomes detracting from the learning
environment, I would talk to a supervisor.
Your Para educator expresses a desire to create
lessons to be implemented in the classroom.
-Heck yeah! It takes humility, I'm sure, but why
would you hinder someone else input?? I would
have all the lessons run by me, but as long as
they met my students needs, then of course.

Para-Educator Survival Kit

Para-educator guidebook: This will help
them to know what the expectations for
them are. It will also help them to know
what to do in certain situations.
Pens and pencils: Use to take notes and
data while working with the students.
Clipboard: Use to take notes and write
down data.
Chocolate: Everyone needs a little
chocolate to survive the day.
Whiteout: We all make mistakes and can
help make them right again.
Smiley-face stickers: Always remember to
just keep smiling.
Red hot hearts: Love the students no
matter what.
100 Grand Bar: You are worth more than
100 grand to us.
Interview Questions
1. Tell me of a time when you have
collaborated with another person and it went
well/not well and why?
2. What are your strengths that will add to our
classroom?
3. Can you tell me about confidentiality and
why it would be important in a special

education classroom?
4. What are your weaknesses and why?
5. What experiences do you have that will help
you with this job? What experiences with
children and or children with disabilities can
you tell me about that have impacted your life?
Five Paraeducator Qualifications:
1. Two letters of recommendation
2. First aid training
3. District paraeducator training completed
4. Comfortable around individuals with
disabilities
5. Positive attitude & Patience
Guidelines for working with a non-effective
para:
-Help them realize what they can do to improve
-Put them in situations where they can be
successful
-Have other paras help them realize what most
effective practice is
-Help the para realize the needs of the
students
-Help the non-effective para realize what their
negative behavior is doing to the classroom
-Find things they can do to make them feel
needed.
-Help the para feel like a member of the team
-Model good behavior to the para and what
through effective leader ship
Para Professional Training Schedule

September

First day
o Orientation
o Responsibilities of Para and Sped teacher
o Classroom procedures and safety
procedures

Week 2
o Para survival kit
o Power-point
o Review procedures

Week 3
o Training on teaching
o Look at student profiles/IEP/BIPs
o Observation

Week 4
o Training on Teaching
o Finish looking over IEPs
o Observation
October

Week 1
o Training on assessment

Week 2
o Training on assessment and data collection
o Compare to IEP goals

Week 3
o Training on classroom management

Week 4
o Training on behavioral needs
November

Week 1

o Collaboration and input

o Look at assessments and data

Week 2
o What have you learned/noticed
o Questions? Concerns
o Are students meeting their goals?