Behavior Support Strategies for Education Paraprofessionals

Unsure what to expect, but when reading it, well purfect for my new job. I am happy!

I've handled severely delayed and psychotic kids as a nurse. Now I'm going back to school to be a paraprofessional. Whole different world. I don't need a Crisis Response Team, I just need to convince a little girl that four pencil sharpening journeys per class are sufficient, without humiliating her or making her the star in Room 3's version of "Let's Make a Deal." I ask a little boy what's happening that he didn't do his homework. "My dad is always yelling and throwing **** and I can't do anything at my house. Can I just do it on lunch? Please?" He's trying not to cry and shredding his spelling book cover. I'm desperately looking around for Mrs. Room 3, a counselor, someone...else. It's just me and this kid who has bigger problems than a missing worksheet. Now what?Henson has some good answers. This book is short but he makes his points, gives examples and prods you to think about applying his general advice to specific situations. I especially liked the discussion about why the "good old days" when kids could be physically disciplined really weren't so good in terms of shaping long term behaviors and being inclusive. The section on student/para relationships also hit home. He gives an example of a student asking about a medical problem the para has perfectly accurate information about -- but shouldn't be discussing. Healthy boundaries are explored, not just the popular topics of favorites and appropriate personal contact, but some aspects I hadn't really thought about. This book also makes you explore your personal triggers, asking yourself if, in the words of one teacher, "it's the principle of the thing" or whether you can put your sense of what's fair aside for the sake of finding a solution that keeps everyone on track and learning.As short as it is, I've reread this book a few times because I really want to internalize Henson's suggestions, even when they made me uncomfortable. Well worth the price for all the personal exploration it has sparked. Not that I was ever that kid tapping on the desk while coloring a map of South America :) Throughout the book the emphasis is on the parapro as a team member, and it reminds us in the end the goal is learning; teacher, para and student are on the same side no matter what is going on. A certified teacher or a parapro with a lot of classroom experience might find many of the suggestions obvious, but as someone just starting out in early childhood education, I highly recommend this book.

This book summarizes information about behavior in a way that makes it easy to think what you could do with students who are misbehaving. It is very handy. It is positive and helps to clarify how to stay positive, build relationships with students, and still be effective in handling misbehavior. I think it should be on the bookshelf of every teacher or staff who use paraeducators, to either share or to help train them. It is easy to read and understandable, yet it is profound and full of ideas that really work and that lead to more positive interactions between adults and students.

great...actually for Paras.

This worked well as a general guide for our 1:1 behavior aides, as we had not done much training. Readable, covers many topics with examples, and easy to go back to find a certain bit of information because of simple graphics.

Very practical advice, along with the why's, presented in a story-specific way. Having come from an authoritarian background (50's and 60's) and gradually moved away from that with my own children, I wanted real, concrete ways to deal with difficult behavior, in my future work, possibly as a papapro, or in whatever way I may work with children in the future. This writer has it right on!

Bought this for class. Easy read. Helpful

I really love to read this book very helpful.

Amazing book ! Recommend for parents too not just students taking the CEA course.

It came fast. I love it.