Paraprofessionals

This Page is designed as a location where kindergarten teachers can share successful ideas for sharing paraprofessionals.
==// We recognize that sharing pararprofessionals is a new structure for many of us and that with change comes challenges. No one expects that this change will move forward perfectly from the first day. You may start with one schedule and realize after a few days or weeks that the schedule is just not working and the team needs to go back to the drawingboard and redesign the structure. Listed below are a few thoughts of your fellow teachers who have already been working in this structure. //==
 * ** Be flexible, the schedule you normally follow may have to look different. Some teachers may have to start with small groups. **
 * ** At the beginning of the year, expect to move slowly so that procedures can be put in place. **
 * ** It is ok to stop and do the nuturing your young students need. **


 * **Elk Neck divided the day into three sections with each teacher having a paraprofessional during two of the three sessions. See attached schedule**
 * ** Use a timer. In order to follow a schedule, paraprofessionals need to move at the apointed time to their new location. ﻿ **
 * ** Remember, classes without a paraprofessional do not just have to do "Whole Group." Open center time can provide you with opportunities to work one-on-one and provide students with the opportunity for independent learning and practice of skills. A well designed center can be as powerful as whole/ small group instruction. **
 * ** Think about ways to provide extra assistance in the beginning of the year. Could parent volunteers be pulled into help? Are there other people in the school that might be able to help the first few days? **
 * ** Think about ways to provide extra assistance throughout the year: parent volunteers; senior citizens; high school volunteers; students in higher grades; business partners; etc. **
 * ** Work as a team to complete clerical duties. Some of the clerical duties once completed by paraprofessionals will not be able to be completed as they once were. Can some things be sent home to a volunteer parent to complete? Are there older students in the school who could help prepare some items? Could a volunteer workshop be set up during which volunteers prepare monthly activities? Could a volunteer come in each week to run paper work for all classes? **


 * ** Rotating Centers between classrooms. One classroom uses a set of centers for two weeks and then passes the center materials to another classroom to use. This cuts down on preparation time. **
 * ** Plan 5 independent activities for the week. Each teacher prepares one of the activities for the entire kindergarten team and independent activities are rotated through classes throughout the week. **
 * ** Teaching the same thing on the same day, helps the para know what to do when they switch classes. **
 * ** Planning more hands-on activities cut down on the need to run paper work. **
 * ** Rather than thinking of "My Class," think of all of the kindergarten students as the kindergarten group of students and all adults working with kindergarten students as the kindergarten team. This will allow you to move students in and out of flex groups that meet individual needs. **
 * ** In order to address individual needs, some students may only work with a teacher during small group instruction, where as other students may work with both a teacher and paraprofessional. This could be true for children at risk or children in need of a challenge. **
 * ** Think about some long term activities, that involve problem solving, that students could be working on during independent or center time. **