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Paraeducator Support:

Additional Resources Re:

"Developing a Shared Understanding..."
(Giangreco, et al., 1999).

The Additional Resources Listed Below Relate Directly to Statement #20

Paraeducators should be informed about the educational needs (e.g., IEP goals and objectives; components of the general education curriculum) and characteristics of the students with whom they work, as well as classroom and school practices and routines.

Non Data-Based Literature

Data-Based Literature

Training Materials

Ideas From the Field

Non Data-Based Literature

Clayton, T. (1993). From domestic helper to "assistant teacher": the changing role of the British classroom assistant. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 8(1), 32-44. Summary Available

Doyle, M. B. (2002). The paraprofessionals guide to the inclusive classroom: Working as a team. (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Paul H. Brooks. Publisher's Summary and Order Form Available

Ernsperger, L.A. (1998, Summer). Using a paraeducator to facilitate school reentry. Reaching Today’s Youth: The Community Circle of Caring Journal, 2(4), 9-12. Summary Available

Miller, C., & Levack, N. (Eds.). (1997). A paraprofessional's handbook for working with students who are visually impaired. Austin: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Summary Available

U.S Department of Education (1997). Roles of education paraprofessionals in effective schools: An idea book. Washington, DC: Author. Summary Available

Wadsworth, D. E., & Knight, D. (1996). Paraprofessionals: The Bridge to Successful Full Inclusion. Intervention in School and Clinic, 31(3), 166-171. Summary Available

Data-Based Research

Marks, S.U., Schrader, C., & Levine, M. (1999). Paraeducator Experiences: Helping, Hovering, or Holding Their Own? Exceptional Children, 65(3), 315-319. Summary Available

Young, B., Simpson, R., Smith Myles, B., and Kamps, D.M. (1997). An examination of paraprofessional involvement in supporting students with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 12(1), 31-38, 48. Summary Available

Welch, M., Richards, G., Okada, T., Richards, J., & Prescott, S. (1995). A consultation and paraprofessional pull-in system of service delivery: A report on student outcomes and teacher satisfaction. Remedial and Special Education, 16(1), 16-28. Summary Available

Training Materials

None Available at This Time

Ideas From the Field

Ideas from the field were generated and put into practice by school teams who used the the tool,
"A Guide to Schoolwide Planning for Paraeducator Supports"

• Provide paraeducators with access to IEPs
• Provide paraeducators with opportunities to discuss IEPs with teachers and special educators
• Have special educators cross-train all paraeducators in the building so they are familiar with the basic characteristics and needs of the small number of students in the school who have intensive needs. This is done to facilitate supports when staffing adjustments need to be made (e.g., paraeducator absence)
• Develop brief "student profiles" or use a "program-at-a-glance"

Questions for Paraeducators to Ask Teachers to Clarify Roles and Responsibilities, 
Source: Founders Memorial School, Essex Junction, VT, September, 2000

A complete list of Selected Paraeducator References 1990 - 2002 with summaries is also available.

Last modified February 14 2008 11:20 AM