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The Paraprofessional's Essential Guide to Inclusive Education
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The Paraprofessional's Essential Guide to Inclusive Education

Third Edition


November 2008 | 248 pages | Corwin

"A well-designed reference and learning tool for paraprofessionals. The valuable templates can easily be reproduced and used with students."
—Renee Bernhardt, Special Education Teacher
Johnston Elementary School, Woodstock, GA

"This is a great guide. I have already used excerpts for an informal paraprofessional workshop in my school. The paraeducators thought that it covered all the areas of concern that they have. They couldn't believe how many ready-to-use ideas it had."
—Dawne Dragonetti, Special Education Teacher and Instructional Coach
Center School, Stow, MA

Hundreds of strategies that promote success for struggling students in inclusive classrooms!

Paraprofessionals are essential in helping students with special needs access the general education curriculum and receive the individualized attention they need. This updated edition of Inclusion: An Essential Guide for the Paraprofessional answers paraprofessionals' most common questions and provides extensive strategies for all content areas.

Developed as a daily, hands-on working manual, the completely revised edition includes a new chapter on reading, expanded chapters throughout, additional activities for classroom use, more than 75 new strategies, and more than 50 forms available on a CD-ROM for easy reproduction. Ideal for experienced or novice paraprofessionals, this volume includes techniques for supporting students in reading, spelling, language, and mathematics, and covers topics such as:

  • Inclusive practices
  • Policies, procedures, and schedules
  • Accommodations and modifications for the classroom
  • Communication and organizational skills
  • Peer tutoring
  • Behavior management
  • Confidentiality and reporting

Also an appropriate handbook for working with general education students who may need additional help to experience academic success, this resource provides the ideal support for all paraprofessionals working in the general education classroom.


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction
 
1. Building Background
Activities

 
Inclusive Practices: Myth and Reality

 
Benefits of Inclusive Education

 
 
2. The Special Education System
Student Placement

 
What Are Handicapping Conditions?

 
Classroom Implications

 
Conclusion

 
 
3. The Special Education Team
 
4. Confidentiality and Special Education
Mandated Reporting

 
Confidentiality Related to Students

 
Activities

 
Guidelines for Confidentiality

 
 
5. Getting Started
Learning About Policies and Procedures

 
The Paraprofessional's Role

 
Role Delineation

 
Developing a Schedule

 
Scheduling for a Substitute

 
Effective Communication Strategies

 
Observations and Evaluations

 
Breakdown in Communication

 
Conclusion

 
 
6. The Paraprofessional and the General Education Teacher
Working in the Classroom Environment

 
Working With Students

 
Types of Classroom Instruction

 
Activity

 
Peer Tutoring and Leadership Opportunities

 
Skill Reinforcement

 
Assistive Technology

 
 
7. Accommodations and Modifications
What Is the Difference?

 
Levels of Change

 
Getting Organized

 
Frequently Asked Questions

 
 
8. Helping All Students Learn
Prereading Stage

 
Creating Audiotapes

 
Previewing or Preteaching Materials

 
On-the-Spot Changes

 
Novels, Free-Choice, and Silent Reading

 
Tracking Difficulties

 
Students With Hearing Impairments

 
Students With Vision Impairments

 
 
9. Support Across the Curriculum
Daily Assignments

 
Activities

 
Following Directions

 
Large-Group Instruction

 
Note-Taking Skills

 
Organizational Skills

 
 
10. Reading
Strategies for Struggling Readers

 
Reading Decoding

 
Reading Comprehension

 
Vocabulary Development

 
Students With Visual Difficulties

 
 
11. Written Language
Prewriting Stage

 
One Word at a Time

 
Generating Ideas

 
The Writing Process

 
Spelling in the Context of Written Language Assignments

 
 
12. Spelling
Grade-Level Spelling Lists

 
Parallel Spelling Activities

 
Drill and Practice Activities

 
Study Methods for Spelling

 
Spelling Tests

 
Grading

 
 
13. Mathematics
General Teaching Strategies

 
Parallel Math Activities

 
Modifying Math Assignments

 
Student Aids

 
 
14. Classroom Assessments
General Strategies

 
Types of Assessments

 
 
15. Behavior Management
Behavior Strategy Tips

 
Reinforcement and Discipline

 
ADD/ADHD

 
Providing Structure for Students

 
Working With Students

 
Working With Impulsive and Easily Distracted Students

 
 
A Final Note From the Author
 
Resources: Reproducible Forms
Form 1. Contact List

 
Form 2. Discussion Activities for Paraprofessionals

 
Form 3. Job Description

 
Form 4. General Responsibilities

 
Form 5. Roles and Responsibilities

 
Form 6. Daily Schedule

 
Form 7. Special Education Acronyms

 
Form 8. Daily Log

 
Form 9. Daily Communication

 
Form 10. Alternate Plan

 
Form 11. Medical Alert Form

 
Form 12. Classroom Information

 
Form 13. Goal Worksheet

 
Form 14. Instructional Changes

 
Form 15. Curriculum

 
Form 16. Textbooks

 
Form 17. Daily Assignments

 
Form 18. Assessments

 
Form 19. Volunteer List

 
Form 20. Daily Assignment Log

 
Form 21. Weekly Assignments

 
Form 22. Common Abbreviations for Note Taking

 
Form 23. Chapter Outline

 
Form 24. Compare and Contrast

 
Form 25. Weekly Study Schedule

 
Form 26. Priority Assignment Sheet

 
Form 27. My To-Do List

 
Form 28. Checklist: Materials to Take Home

 
Form 29. Alphabet Activities

 
Form 30. Alphabet Cards

 
Form 31. Common Word Families

 
Form 32. Basic Phonics Rules

 
Form 33. Dolch Word List

 
Form 34. Instant Words

 
Form 35. Bingo Game Grid

 
Form 36. Tic-Tac-Toe Grid

 
Form 37. Word List

 
Form 38. Story Organizer

 
Form 39. Common Prefixes and Suffixes

 
Form 40. Charting New Vocabulary

 
Form 41. Story Starters

 
Form 42. Story Planner

 
Form 43. Story Outline

 
Form 44. Proofreading Checklists

 
Form 45. Paragraph Sequencing Activity

 
Form 46. Study Methods for Spelling

 
Form 47. "What Do I Do if. . .?"

 
Form 48. Behavior Change Plan

 
Form 49. Tally Sheet

 
Form 50. Sample Reinforcement Charts

 
Form 51. Positive Reinforcement Phrases

 
Form 52. Point Sheet

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

"A well-designed reference and learning tool for paraprofessionals. Many of the suggestions, examples, and vignettes could be applied to general educations students as well as those with disabilities. The valuable templates can easily be reproduced and used with students."

Renee Bernhardt, Special Education Teacher
Johnston Elementary School, Woodstock, GA

“This is a great guide. I have already used excerpts for an informal paraprofessional workshop in my school. The paraeducators thought that it covered all the areas of concern that they have. They couldn’t believe how many ready-to-use ideas it had and felt that the appendix alone was worth the price.”

Dawne Dragonetti, Special Education Teacher and Instructional Coach
Center School, Stow, MA

"Hammeken has provided an invaluable tool for paraprofessionals, school administrators, and teachers, both general and special. This book is a goldmine of information."

Esther Eacho, Learning Disabilities Resource Teacher
Aldrin Elementary School, Reston, VA

"I highly recommend this for paraeducators, special and general education teachers, and problem-solving teams looking for things to try for students. Get many copies!"

Beverly Plagge, Paraprofessional Educator
Area Education Agency, Latimer, IA
Key features
  • Over 400 strategies for working with students with special needs in an inclusive classroom or resource room setting

  • A brand-new chapter on reading with specific strategies and material to enhance student support in the areas of decoding, comprehension, and vocabulary development, along with new supplemental forms.

  • Updated discussion of special education legislation

  • Appendix and CD includes over 50 reproducible forms to help with communication, planning, documentation, supplemental student aids, and more!

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1: Building Background