Assisting Students with Disabilities: A Training Program for Paraeducators

1
Assisting Students with DisabilitiesA Training
Program for Paraeducators

• Module 1, Unit 2
• Communication
• Teamwork Skills

2
Unit TwoInstructional Objectives

• Participants will
• Understand the role of communication teamwork
  skills
• Describe the skills taught in this unit
• Assess own skills
• Set personal goals make progress toward
  improving skills

3
Unit Overview

1. Introduction
2. Interpersonal Skills
3. Problem-Solving Skills
4. General Communication Skills
5. Communication Skills for Paraeducators
6. Closing

4
Interpersonal Skills

• Knowledge behavior that helps us relate well to
  others
• Examples
• Making introductions
• Starting a conversation
• Expressing feelings clearly
• Making appropriate complaints
• Dealing with group pressure

5
Interpersonal Skills (cont.)

• Appreciating Diversity openness toward people
  who are different from you
• People of different . . .
• Age, gender, ethnicity
• Ability level (for example, students with
  disabilities)
• Treat them as you treat others
• Person First language
• Value systems
• Learning styles

6
Problem-Solving Skills

• Systematic approach to resolving interpersonal
  conflicts
• 5-step process
• Describe the problem
• Determine the causes of the problem
• Decide on a goal brainstorm solutions
• Decide on a solution
• Try it see if it works

7
General Communication Skills

• Two main components
• Clearly-stated messages about your thoughts
  feelings
• Accurately received messages from others
• Three general categories of communication
• Non-Assertive (Passive)
• Aggressive
• Positive/Assertive

8
General Communication Skills (cont.)

• You Messages
• Deny responsibility
• Give over control
• Elicit negative reactions
• Alternative I Messages
• Three Parts to an I Message
• Feeling
• Situation
• Reason

9
General Communication Skills (cont.)

• Being receptive to others Active listening
• Three suggestions
• Keep an open mind Dont let personal biases
  distort speakers message
• Concentrate ignore distractions pay full
  attention
• Become involved Ask questions, summarize, add
  information

10
Communication Skills for Paraeducators

• Specific communication issues for school staff
• Importance of communication teamwork in
  education
• Valuable role played by paraeducators
• Accepting the teachers leadership

11
Communication Skills for Paraeducators (cont.)

• Teacher para should learn about one another
• Teaching style
• Use of teaching materials
• Supervisory style
• Behavior management strategies
• Learn about the other members of your team
• Develop effective working relationships with your
  team members

12
Communication Skills for Paraeducators (cont.)

• Teachers paras should try to build a good
  working relationship
• Meet regularly
• Discuss attitudes feelings
• Understand your tasks
• Appreciate diversity
• Develop a shared vocabulary
• Develop non-verbal cues
• Work at having a positive climate

13
Communication Skills for Paraeducators (cont.)

• Problematic ways to communicate with students
• Ordering, commanding
• Warning, threatening
• Moralizing, preaching
• Advising
• Lecturing
• Judging, criticizing
• Name-calling
• Analyzing

14
Communication Skills for Paraeducators (cont.)

• Positive ways to communicate with students
• Active Listening
• Good Non-Verbals
• Posture
• Eye contact
• Facial expression
• Distance
• Distracting behaviors
• Voice quality
• Convey Acceptance

15
Communication Skills for Paraeducators (cont.)

• Talking with students about individual
  differences
• Dont
• Scold
• Ignore
• Deny/evade
• Do
• Understand the question
• Correct any misinformation
• Give appropriate amount of concise, accurate
  information

16
Communication Skills for Paraeducators (cont.)

• Build effective relationships with students
• Teach them interpersonal, problem-solving,
  communication skills by
• SHOWING (example)
• TELLING (describing/discussing)
• REINFORCING (noticing/rewarding them)