Paraeducators in the

Classroom
Neku Pogue
Director of Special Education
Community Learning Center Schools
 Paraeducator Basics
Para = alongside

Paraeducator = an
individual working
alongside a certificated
educator to assist in
providing instruction and
other services to students.
Where do Paras come from?
An IEP Team of parents, special and general education
professionals used academic and social emotional data to
decide a learner needed additional adult support:
Outside of the general education classroom – pull-out
Inside the general education classroom – push-in

Paraeducators are valuable members of the team of supports

for a learner
 Defining Roles
Facilitators: Plan
Identify learning needs
Plan lessons
Modify curriculum and instruction
Evaluate effectiveness of instruction
Facilitate parent involvement
Manage Behavior
Create a positive learning
environment
Paras: Support
Assist during facilitator-directed lessons
Redirect and guide learners during
independent or group work
Prepare curriculum materials as directed
Implement and reinforce classroom
programs
Collect data and monitor progress
Provide pre-teaching or re-teaching to
small groups or individuals
Provide behavior support
 Defining Roles (cont.)
Paras Should: Paras Should Not:
Redirect learners attention Remove a group of learners due
to behavior
Re-teach a concept with materials
and direction to groups or Be the primary teacher of a
individuals in class concept

Be considered in the planning of Be unengaged in daily class-wide

a lesson and given tasks activities and procedures

Make on the spot Make decisions for a learner when

accommodations to assignments unsure

Be communicated with in a Be ignored or not included in

respectful manner and valuable communications regarding a
team member learner
 Activity: Whose Role is it
Anyway?
Read the following tasks

Work as a group to determine if the facilitator,

paraeducator or both are responsible for the task

Place a checkmark in the correct column of the most

appropriate person(s) responsible

Discuss your choices

 Whose Role is it Anyway?
Task Facilitator Para
1 Introduce a lesson on 2-digit
addition
2 Maintaining a scheduled
meeting time
3 Taking attendance

4 Meet with parents to discuss

an incident that occurred
during math class
5 Send home notes about a
learner’s behavior

6 Chart classroom data

 Whose Role is it Anyway?
Task Facilitator Para
7 Inventory materials for an
art project
8 Assess oral reading
fluency
9 Develop a behavior plan

10 Reduce spelling
homework requirements
11 Read the test aloud to a
learner
12 Analyze the results of a
weekly quiz
Effective Para – Facilitator
Partnerships
Communicate and share information in a timely matter
Plan for para collaboration
Are specific about expectations and honest about
limitations
Seek clarification
Utilize each other’s strengths
Develop a system of nonverbal cues
Check in regularly(i.e. weekly/daily check in)
Create an atmosphere of trust, cooperation and respect
Concerns in a Facilitator-Para
Partnership?
Reach out to an Ed. Specialist or the Sped Team Lead for
support

Reach out to Neku or Site Admin for support

 Effective Para-Facilitator
Partnerships
https://youtu.be/0lNGlh8b_CE
Questions?