Welcome back! I hope everyone had a restful and rejuvenating break! We are continuing with the paraprofessional training series. We previously covered the importance of training paraprofessionals, defining roles, fostering a team mindset, and creating systems within your classroom so everyone is on the same page. This week, we will cover part two of the planning step in training paraprofessionals - using visuals to support the whole team.

We will cover a lot of information throughout these two parts. Please do not feel like you need to do it all at once! If you still need to create a detailed para schedule, start there. If you have already had a detailed para schedule, think of a time of day that you want to make a plan out so it will run more smoothly.

There are so many different visuals you can create to support adults in the classroom. Today, we will discuss some of the most impactful visuals, including visuals for teaching lessons in para-led centers, such as task analyses, lesson guides, instruction binders, visuals to support prompting, and visuals of clear expectations.

A task analysis breaks a skill or a routine down into small steps. We can use a task analysis to teach academic skills, functional routines, social skills, etc. These are so useful for training paras because they communicate exactly what the adult and student should do when completing the activity. And there's an added BONUS! You can use them to easily collect data. Below, you'll find two examples of task analyses. The one on the left is a check schedule routine and the one on the right is an academic task "match colors." They outline what the adult should do/say (the cue) and the student response (response). They also provide a prompting hierarchy and a data collection key.

A lesson guide provides detailed information on how a lesson should be completed. They should include the following components:

• Skills being taught

• Wait time

• Prompting

• Student response

• Steps

• Criteria for mastery

Lesson guides are a great resource for training paraprofessionals. We can use them as a training tool, and paras can also reference them if they have questions about the program.

An instruction binder is an organizational system to store all the materials needed to run a station successfully, making it easier for paraprofessionals to gather necessary items, run the station, and collect data. Some examples of items stored in an instruction binder include:

• Weekly or monthly plans

• Lesson guides

• Data collection sheets

• Visuals

• Manipulatives

Just like with our students, adults can benefit from visual reminders, too! Here are some visuals you can post to help everyone remember the expectations:

• Phone policy

• AAC communication reminders

• Team communication expectations (talking during instruction, student break time, how to appropriately communicate incidents with the teacher, etc.)

• To-do checklists for different parts of the day

• The break and lunch schedule and instructions on what to do if they are late

Prompting guides make your prompting hierarchy clear for paraprofessionals. Make sure you provide some detail in your lesson guides on how to prompt for each lesson.

If you have planned and created most of these resources, I encourage you to create a paraprofessional classroom handbook. They can be a great introduction to your classroom for new paraprofessionals. They also serve as a one-stop shop for questions your paraprofessionals might have. I stored mine in my para prep station, along with IEPs at a glance, behavior programs, and other relevant information. Below is a screen recording of my classroom handbook. I included specific information about my own classroom and general information from The Autism Helper's paraprofessional training guide. If you're looking for ideas on what to include in your handbook, here is my table of contents:

Introduction

• Welcome
• Classroom Vision
• What is Autism?
• What is DCD?

Our Classroom

• Student Expectations
• Stations
• Schedules
• Breaks
• Students leaving

Responsibilities

• Introduction
• Data
• Running Stations
• Modeling Social Skills
• Supporting Students

Behavior

• Behavioral Approach
• Aggression
• Increasing Behavior
• Reinforcement
• BIP
• Flow Charts
• Zones of Regulation

Communication

• Introduction AAC
• Common Classroom Language
• Sensory
• Behavior

Sensory Room

STAR/LINKS

• Introduction
• Evidence-Based Practices
• STAR/LINKS in the Classroom

Visuals

• Prompt Hierarchy

Check out the Welcome Winter unit in Theme's First! Theme units include original songs, books, and activities that support students’ skill development and generalization with content that’s fun, accessible, and theme-based. These monthly units now include an expanded Social Studies suite, containing fun, theme-related activities that reinforce cultural engagement. Included in all Themes First! units are lessons, activities, and worksheets for group and independent work at a wide range of levels.

Link to Welcome, Winter! Monthly Theme Calendar

Date/Time: March 5th, 2024 from 3:00-4:30

Where: Virtual

Cost: Free

Join us on March 5th, 2024 for the next EBP webinar! The topic will be on promoting AAC use in the classroom. Make sure you subscribe to the ASD listserv or follow the MN ASD Educators Facebook page to get update information on this training and other upcoming opportunities!

Date/Time: May 7th, 2024 from 3:00-4:30

Where: Virtual

Cost: Free

Join us for our last ASD EBP Webinar (formally known as STAR Webinars) of the 2023-2024 school year! During this webinar, Michele Glynn, ASD Specialist, will discuss using simple video modeling, modeling, and peer modeling to practice and promote positive behaviors that support student engagement and learning.

Feel free to contact me for any questions or concerns via email or phone. I'm also available to chat via Zoom Mondays from 7:30-8:00 AM and 3:00-3:30 PM. If these times do not work for your schedule, please email me and we will find a time that will work for both of us.

Use the link below to ask questions about this week's Tuesday Tips 'N' Tricks and/or give suggestions on future topics.

Classroom Set Up Series

Classroom Set Up: The Why

Classroom Set Up: Visually and Physically Defining Your Layout

Classroom Set Up: Classroom Schedules

Classroom Set Up: Para Schedules

Classroom Set Up: Individual Schedules

Classroom Set Up: Individual Schedules FAQ

Classroom Set Up: Visual Supports

Classroom Set Up: Teaching Visual Supports

Classroom Set Up: Creating Visual Supports

Classroom Set Up: Teaching Routines and Expectations

Classroom Set Up: Routines and Expectations

Tuesday Tips 'N' Tricks is made possible by Minnesota Low Incidence Projects