Life Skills Support

2019-2020
 Our classroom vision
Our ultimate goal is to help our students reach their highest
potential academically and functionally. Any skills that can be
performed independently needs to be built upon. Our students have
an average of only 5 years of schooling before they are high school
graduates and out on their own. The more independence we can
instill now, the better.

We work as a team and we grow as a team. We are all in this

together! We have a very unique classroom and plans can change
at the drop of a hat due to behaviors, medical emergencies, or
accidents. The better we work together, the more smoothly our
classroom will run.

Each person is appreciated more than you know and I personally

thank you for all you do for our students.
 Expectations
• Confidentiality: By law {The Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. §
1232g; 34 CFR Part 99)} all information regarding your
student, his/her disability, and classroom placement is confidential.
At no point should you discuss any student in this classroom with
anyone outside of the classroom who does not directly work with the
student.

• Attitude: Please come to work with a positive attitude and always

put the students first! Topics of conversations should directly relate
to benefiting our students and should remain professional and
respectful.

• Cell phones: I understand that we all have families and need to

check our phones periodically. However, I expect that you refrain
from using your phone (texting, phone calls, Facebook, etc.) during
lessons, rest time, specials courses, or any other time you should be
supervising students.
 Expectations
• Access: If your student requires access, you will be allotted time
during the day (15 minutes) to complete your access. Due to the
nature of the classroom, you are to begin and end during the 15
minutes. If you need additional time, speak with me.

• Breaks: Take your breaks when assigned. I will do my best to

remind you of your break, but it is your job to keep track of your
time. If you missed your break during your allotted time and there
were no extenuating circumstances preventing you taking a break, I
cannot guarantee it can be made up later on in the day. However, if
there are behaviors/schedule changes that require postponing a
break, I will make sure you get your break.

• Teamwork: Our classroom schedule is painstakingly created and

reviewed several times by administration. There will be times
where you are asked to work with students whoa re not “yours”.
Any questions, let me know!
 Expectations

• Specials: I expect that you are engaged with all students during specials.
Please set the example for our specials teachers that all students should be
included and expected to work/ participate.

• Instruction: During instruction, I expect you to be engaged with your

student or listening to my instruction to better assist your student when
he/she works independently. Conversations not related to the lesson are
distracting for both students and staff. Encourage students to try hard,
participate, and to do as much on their own as they can!

• Communication: Please, please, please communicate with me and other

staff members! If you have a question or concern, please address it with the
person it includes. I am available before/after school if you have any
questions or concerns. I ask during the day, you place your questions or
suggestions in the binder as not to throw off the pace of instruction.
 CBI TRIPS
Our class goes on trips into the community with a high
emphasis on independent living and job skills. When we
are in the community we are representing the school
district.

We may be in environments that could be dangerous

without proper supervision. Your students are to remain
properly supervised throughout the duration of the CBI
trip.

You will be notified of upcoming CBI trips no later than

a week prior to the planned trip. Any suggestions for trips
are always welcome!

**Jeans and Sneakers can be worn on CBI**

 Attendance
• Para reporting time varies. You are expected to be in the
building and ready to work at your start time.

• Attendance and punctuality is very important to ensure the

safety and well-being of our students.

• If you are planning to be absent, please put in your absence on

AESOP as soon as possible.

• Life happens and sometimes things come up that are

unexpected. If you know you are going to be absent or late,
please text/call me (otherwise I’ll worry something
happened!)

• Punctuality: If tardiness or attendance becomes a problem,

the teacher will have a conversation with you and
administration will be involved.
 Lunches/Breaks
• Lunches are 30 minutes, breaks are 15 minutes,
and if you have a student who requires access you
get an additional 15 minutes. With as many
adults as we have, it is imperative to watch your
timing. Continuously exceeding lunch/break times
will result in involvement from administration.
• Lunches can be kept in the fridge in room 213.
• Lunches/Breaks can be taken in the para lounge
on the 2nd floor
• During breaks, feel free to use your cell phone, but
do so out of view of any students.
• On days we have CBI’s, the time we are out of
the classroom may overlap with your scheduled
lunch time, we will handle this on a case by case
basis.
 Helpful Hints:
The good, the bad, and the Ugly
• We run out of tissues/hand sanitizer often! Feel free to carry
your own personal hand sanitizer.

• Our students deserve respect. Do not talk poorly about the

students or talk about the students in front of them.

• You deserve respect! If a student anywhere in the building is

disrespectful, report it.

• Our students can be overwhelming, and that’s okay! If you

need a mental break, just say so and someone will step in.

• I will support you. If a student receives a consequence outside

the classroom, I will support the decision within the classroom.
I need you to support my decisions as well so the students realize
we are working together!

• Everyone arrives at varying times and our classroom can seem

like a revolving door. Due to this, there is no one set time I can
speak with everyone at once.
 New Year, New
Challenges!
This year we have fewer paraprofessionals which means everyone’s
presence is imperative! One person short means we have students who
cannot attend their schedule classes. Please put all absence on AESOP
or contact the front office at 695-4426 AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE so we can arrange for a substitute.

I will be on Maternity Leave from approximately September 12th-

December 12th. A Long Term substitute will be in my place. She/he
can answer any and all questions! The schedule may run differently
when I am gone, and that is at the discretion of the substitute.
However, you know your students best so please speak up and offer
assistance if needed!