Training Needs and Applications for Special Educators with Paraeducator Supervision Responsibilities
Date of Award
12-2022
Degree Type
Creative Project
Degree Name
Master of Education (MEd)
Department
Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling
Committee Chair(s)
Kaitlin Bundock
Committee
Kaitlin Bundock
Committee
Stephen Kwiatek
Committee
Heather Weese
Abstract
This project highlights the need for training for paraeducators working in Special Education settings. Duties performed by paraeducators often overlap with teacher duties and much of the direct instruction provided to students in self-contained classrooms is delivered by paraeducators. The tasks of training and supervising paraeducators often falls on the special education teacher, who may not have received training in supervision. The project includes a brief review of the literature on this topic and two project reports. I designed my project with the objective of improving the quality of instruction being delivered to students in my classroom through training of the paraeducators who deliver much of the instruction.
Project reports describe (1) training provided by a teacher to paraeducators who work in a special education post-high classroom; and (2) an application of this training in the form of a curriculum adaptation designed to be implemented by paraeducators to support student IEP goals. Sample lesson plans were designed for a target student and included research-based instructional strategies for supporting a multi-language learning student in a post-high classroom. Report 1 focuses on the preparation and training sessions for paraeducators and Report 2 is a curriculum adaptation designed for paraeducator use with a multi-language learning student.
Products from this project include a set of training materials for use with paraeducators and an adapted curriculum and lesson plan ready for paraeducator use. Based on feedback and personal reflections, outcomes of the project include increased preparedness of paraeducators to work with students with disabilities in a post-high setting, in particular students who are culturally and linguistically diverse students with disabilities and multi-language learners with disabilities. The project concludes with reflections on each paraeducator training and on the curriculum adaptation process and implementation.
Recommended Citation
Cornejo, Joanna M., "Training Needs and Applications for Special Educators with Paraeducator Supervision Responsibilities" (2022). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023. 1680.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1680
Included in
Other Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Special Education and Teaching Commons
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