Supporting students with special needs is some of the most rewarding work you can do—and it requires a special skillset achieved though paraeducator training. Kelly Education hires thousands of paraeducators and substitute paraeducators across the country and we believe that dedicated paraeducator training and continuous professional development is the key to successfully improving student outcomes. Dr. Kathleen Adolt-Silva, Director of Special Education at Kelly Education, is a leading expert on paraeducator training. She provides our employees with current webinars and resources, so they are always prepared and growing in their work. In this article, we share her guidance on best practices in paraeducator training using the GREATSTART method.
Note: Employees can register for the full free online webinar training in the events section of our website.
Paraeducators support students as they work toward their Individual Education Program (IEP) goals. These goals drive your teaching, so it's important to familiarize yourself with the academic and developmental objectives on which your student is working. These tips will help you stay goal-oriented:
Responsive paraeducators know their student. They proactively anticipate needs and watch for triggers. You’ll also want to understand some parts of their IEP. Look at their present levels of academic achievement and functional performance to learn:
The IEP may also include details about the following:
As a paraeducator, you are part of a larger team dedicated to the success of your student. These tips can help you foster a collaborative culture among team members:
Paraeducators must be adaptable. You may need to mix things up on the fly to keep your student engaged. Let’s look at three areas of adaptability, along with some examples:
Self-assessments can help you improve as a paraeducator. If you’re an employee, the Kelly Education Learning Center (KELC) provides a checklist of important paraeducator skills to help you grow. You can use the results of your self-assessment to target your training. Look for courses and webinars that cover the areas you need the most.
Scaffolding helps your student learn better. It builds on their existing knowledge to help them master a new task. Here are some examples of scaffolds:
As a paraeducator, you can teach your student to identify and manage their emotions. Here are some practical ways to cover this topic:
Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) can help you work with your students. This model divides tasks into three different categories:
Use this info to select scaffolds to support your student in their learning zone.
Applied Behavior Analysis is a science-based approach to understanding behavior. You’ll want to research these techniques to see how they can facilitate learning. At Kelly Education, we provide more online training modules for paraeducators on ABA.
As a paraeducator, data is your friend. It lets you monitor progress and look for patterns. Follow these tips to collect ABA data effectively:
Want to go deeper into best practices for paraeducators? We have an entire library of helpful articles for substitute teachers and paraeducators. To get started, check these out:
Considering work in schools as a substitute teacher, tutor, or paraeducator? Fill out our brief interest form. One of our recruiters will contact you to share more about the requirements and process to work at one of our partner schools.