It's Paraprofessional Recognition Week! Here is a list of suggestions provided by MDE to recognize and celebrate these amazing folks and team members:

• Kick off the week with “Welcome to Paraprofessional Recognition Week!” messages sent via email.
• Highlight paraprofessionals in the school and/or district newsletter.
• Provide breakfast, lunch or special treats for paraprofessionals in the staff lounge.
• Ask teachers/colleagues to provide “shout outs” highlighting individual paraprofessionals’ contributions.
• Welcome each paraprofessional with a balloon or flower as they arrive at school.
• Hang a sign on doors saluting the paraprofessionals who work there.
• Award each paraprofessional with priority parking for a day or a week.
• Ask a local radio station to air public-service announcements publicizing paraprofessional recognition week. Script the spots and record them yourself or have students record them.
• Acknowledge paraprofessionals in the agenda or outset of meetings.
• Have students, teachers, and administrators make appreciation signs and display them at meetings or in shared spaces and hallways in the building.
• Have students or staff produce a musical/video tribute to share electronically.
• Have students write or record a “thank you” to the paraprofessionals who work with them.

Last week, we focused on Behavior skills training (BST) as a great strategy to teach paraprofessionals a new skill. It involves discussing the skill, modeling it, practicing it, and providing feedback. Just providing BST is not enough, however. If we think about the stages of learning, we know there is acquisition, proficiency/fluency, maintenance, and generalization. BST only addresses acquisition. We model, practice, and provide feedback until paraprofessionals are completing the skill with fidelity. But what happens after a few days or a few weeks? Many times, we forget key components. This is why it is important to provide continuous feedback.

This week, we'll cover how to provide continuous feedback and support and ideas on how to create time to train paraprofessionals.

When providing performance feedback, the key is to provide a lot of reinforcement. Some ideas of valuable reinforcement include:

• Provide praise in front of others

• Community praise

• Parent feedback

• Student data

Along with reinforcement, make sure to correct inaccuracies quickly before they become habits. If appropriate, say something as soon as you observe it. If not, wait until you have a private moment to address the issue. Start with what went well, then specify what was incorrect. Be very explicit. Provide the "why," demonstrate how to do it correctly, and give them the opportunity to practice. Make sure to solicit questions. I like to end with positive feedback for how they handled the corrective feedback.

Another strategy we can use when providing continuing instruction for paraprofessionals is to model. We can model strategies, professional behavior, providing positive feedback to students, building relationships with each other and students, and giving and receiving feedback (positive and constructive). The best thing about modeling is it is extremely effective and time-efficient.

You might be thinking this all sounds great but when will I be able to actually find time to train?! As teachers, it is our job to create the time. We will have to be flexible and creative. Here are some ideas:

• School updates

• Student updates

• Upcoming events

• Schedule changes

• Program refinement

• New behavior/lesson programs

• How-to’s (prompting, time delay, duration maps, etc.)

• Positive feedback

• Questions and concerns

Team meetings are a great time to address BST step one!

Again, we will have to create the time to individually train paras on specific skills. Here are a few ideas:

• Create time while students are in center rotations

• Give your students something independent to do

• Close your center and distribute students equally across other centers

• Have a related service provider or experienced paraprofessional run whole group

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