Extended school year (ESY) is a summer program available for students with disabilities who meet specific qualifying criteria. Teachers are often hesitant to accept the position of the ESY teacher due to the ambiguities and demands of the position. The purpose of this article is to briefly share the impetus and focus of ESY and give special…

Inclusive classrooms are now the norm in many K-12 public schools across the United States. General education teachers have a difficult job making sure all their students are meeting state standards. With the addition of special education students in the classroom, their job becomes even more difficult due to meeting the needs of the general…

The DVD, a key component of the "Autism in the Schoolhouse" initiative, is designed to provide general education teachers with strategies for supporting their middle and high school students with autism. It was produced by the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) in collaboration with Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools, and made possible by…

The national shortage and exceptionally high attrition rate of special education teachers are impediments to serving students with special needs. Given that only 64 percent of special education teachers have access to a mentor compared with 86 percent of general education teachers, this book meets an essential need for attracting, retaining, and…

Throughout the day, students interact with and receive a myriad of services from librarians, school secretaries, custodians, school nurses and security personnel. Everyone inside and outside the building has a role to play in ensuring that students are safe and ready to learn. In many schools, paraprofessionals assist teachers and students in the…

This guide summarizes "Effective Programs for Struggling Readers: A Best Evidence Synthesis," a research review conducted by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Research and Reform in Education. The purpose of the review was to evaluate the achievement outcomes of alternative approaches for struggling readers in grade K-5: (1) one-to-one…

"What does a great paraprofessional need to know and do?" Find out in this survival guide, equally useful for the brand-new paraprofessional or the 20-year classroom veteran. Packed with friendly guidance, practical tips, and relatable first-person stories, this book reveals the best ways to provide effective, respectful services to students in…

This publication, the third in a series of modules designed for paraprofessionals working with handicapped children, presents objectives and related activities for three competencies in behavior management. The first competency, on the definition and underlying concepts of behavior management, focuses on the application of behavior management…

The article examines the differing roles of the teacher and paraprofessional in the instructional process and suggests specific ways in which the paraprofessional can assist with instruction of special needs children. (SB)

This trainer's guide is intended for use in conjunction with a companion videotape, "Focus on Questioning." It includes an overview of the video for the trainer and a master copy of the handout to be used by paraprofessionals. The videotape is designed to be viewed either individually or in groups. The tape and the handout present the…

Teachers working with paraprofessionals should evaluate their effectiveness in promoting a comfortable and productive working climate for the paraprofessional A self-evaluation of their competence in defining responsibilities, creating a positive atmosphere, and providing training and recognition for the paraprofessional can be a helpful process.…

This facilitator's manual goes with a training module for inexperienced elementary classroom assistant teachers, which provides information on what their job consists of, what is occurring in American elementary schools, and possibilities for paraeducators. Part 1, "Preparing for Training," includes a checklist for paraeducator training, morning…

Communication between the teacher and paraprofessional who implement the handicapped child's individualized education program can be enhanced through preacademic year planning (of classroom arrangement and the assignment of responsibilities, the holding of regularly scheduled meetings, on the spot communication, and written communication (such as…

This trainer's guide is intended for use in conjunction with a companion videotape, "Focus on Listening." It includes an overview of the video for the trainer and master copies of the handouts to be used by paraprofessionals. The videotape is designed to be viewed either individually or in groups. The tape and the handouts present a listening…

This two-day institute examines the basic concepts of effective classroom management techniques as well as the use of effective instructional strategies for all students that will help paraeducators to support effective learning and teaching environment. This module addresses two goals: (1) to provide participants with an awareness of basic…