Tick Tock: The Back-to-School Clock is Ticking. Are Your Paraprofessionals Ready?
The start of a new school year is a whirlwind of preparation. Curriculum planning, classroom setup, and setting up policies and procedures, all demand your attention. Not to mention that summer hangover! Whether you are mourning the end of your summer or excited for the school year to start, we can all agree you have approximately 3,828,392 things on your “to do” list. It’s crucial to remember the invaluable role your paraprofessionals play in your classroom running smoothly and not neglecting to add some training to those “to do’s”.
Behavior management is a constant challenge, and it can quickly consume valuable instructional time. It is no secret that behaviors in schools are increasing in the most recent years. Typically, the students who receive paraprofessional support have those behaviors and our paraprofessionals often have very little training! We pretty much give our hardest students in the entire building to the adults in the building who have the least amount of training and education. Say what?! That can all end now though, by equipping your paraprofessionals with the right tools and knowledge, you’re not just investing in them; you're investing in a smoother school year and your students!
Essential Behavior Strategies offers a comprehensive approach to behavior in the classroom by providing a foundational understanding about why behaviors occur, proactive strategies to prevent them, and de-escalation strategies for when they inevitably do happen. It also includes notes pages for your paraprofessionals to write down information that sticks out to them and they want to remember, it even has quizzes for each chapter to check for their understanding.
Providing your paraprofessionals with this training guide at the start of the year is going to empower them to proactively support your students and then help to redirect them so you can keep teaching! Can you imagine making it through a lesson without having to manage a problem behavior?! Make it happen this year by supporting your paraprofessionals proactively and then keeping a copy of the guide in your room to reference as behaviors pop up!
Save Yourself Some Time!
I cannot tell you how many hours I have spent searching for the perfect resource to help the paraprofessionals I work with. I couldn’t find it….which is why I created the Essential Behavior Strategies Training Guide. You have so many other responsibilities you are juggling as a teacher, please don’t waste any more time like I did. Using the training guide with your paraprofessionals you can reclaim valuable instructional time too! Your paraprofessionals will be able to handle many of the routine behavior issues independently, allowing you, as the teacher to focus on core curriculum, individualized student support, and ALL of the other essential tasks required of you.
Provide a Strong Foundation in Behavior!
A solid understanding of behavior is essential for effective classroom management. Essential Behavior Strategies offers paraprofessionals a comprehensive overview of behavior principles, including what a behavior even is, why students engage in behavior, and what to prioritize when it comes to behavior. This foundational knowledge empowers them to respond to a variety of behavioral challenges with confidence and consistency, which is necessary for behavior change.
Emphasize Proactive Strategies
The guide emphasizes proactive strategies to prevent and minimize behavioral issues. Paraprofessionals will learn how to create positive classroom environments, establish clear expectations, and build strong relationships with students. Focusing on prevention will significantly reduce the occurrence of disruptive behavior in your classroom which ultimately means more learning will occur!
Not a One and Done!
Essential Behavior Strategies is designed to be a long-term resource, not just a one-time training tool. It provides practical guidance and strategies that can be applied throughout the school year. As challenges arise, paraprofessionals can refer back to the guide for support and reinforcement. This ongoing access to information will encourage consistent implementation of strategies learned and continuous professional growth. Next time you have an early release day, just pull out the guide or re assign a chapter to your paraprofessionals to work on and discuss.
Not sure if it’s right for you? Grab Chapters 1, 2 or 3 individually!
Start Your Year Off Right!
Essential Behavior Strategies isn’t just a manual; it’s a jam packed tool that every paraprofessional deserves to be equipped with in order to effectively perform their job. It’s packed with practical tips, real-world examples, and foundational principles to help your paraprofessionals become behavior management pros.
Let Essential Behavior Strategies be the key to a successful start to your school year and managing of behaviors while giving your paraprofessionals in depth training from the beginning. Get it for your individual classroom or contact me for district wide pricing!
Share in the comments how you will use it in your classroom!
