Preparing Paraeducators

Part 1: The Foundation – Trust, Relationships, & The "Why" of Behavior

The Focus: Understand your unique role as a paraeducator in co-regulating students and building a safe classroom environment.

Learning Outcomes:

• The Paraeducator's Power: Shifting from "enforcer" to "co-regulator"

• Understanding the "Why": Behavior is communication. We will break down classroom scenarios to see what a student is trying to escape, avoid, or gain through their actions.

Part 2: Proactive De-Escalation Strategies

The Focus: Identify the early warning signs of agitation and use verbal and non-verbal tools to safely de-escalate a student.

Learning Outcomes:

• The De-Escalation Continuum: Recognizing the stages of a behavioral incident

• Proximity Control: Moving closer to a student quietly without drawing negative attention.

• Validated Listening: Acknowledging their frustration ("I see this math sheet looks really long, and it's frustrating.") rather than arguing.

• Offering Choices: Giving controlled choices to restore a sense of autonomy ("Do you want to do the odd numbers or the even numbers first?").

• What to Do in High-Challenging Moments: Managing your own body language, lowering your vocal tone, reducing words, and giving the student physical space to keep everyone safe.

Part 3: Proactive Systems, Tracking, & Team Collaboration

The Focus: Learn how to set up predictable structures that prevent off-task behaviors, while using simple tracking tools to collaborate efficiently with your supervising teacher.

Learning Outcomes:

• Visual and Structured Work Systems: Help students answer...What work am I expected to do here? How much work is expected? How do I know when I am making progress and when I am finished? What happens next? (The reward or next activity).

• First/Then Structures & Reinforcement: Mastering the use of simple, visual "First [Task], Then [Preferred Activity]" systems to keep momentum, while intentionally maintaining a high praise-to-correction ratio.

• Quick Team Connects: How to share what you observed with the classroom teacher so you are always problem-solving as a united front.