I am taking a summer college course that surveys behavioral disorders. I’m looking for a paraprofessional who works (or has worked) in a classroom for students with emotional/behavioral disorders: What are your major responsibilities? What do you most value when interacting with the teachers in your school? Thank you.
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I don’t know if I am qualified to answer your questions, so I will let you decide. I have a BA in business administration, para pro training, and work as the Least Restrictive para pro in a K-3 (soon to be K-4) elementary. I have worked in an inclusive EMI class with EMI, TMI, and POHI labeled students. This past school year I did work with inclusive EI (Emotionally Impaired)students, not in the classroom.
I like working with teachers that are consistent and don’t try to undermine your authority with the students. They may not agree with your decision, but they will stand by you and then discuss it. They may not understand the entire event that happened, but are willing to listen and allow you document your own information. What drives me crazy is when I get “I am the teacher.” Yeah, and I am here to help you or do it yourself. My LRE position it is hard to have a teacher give work then take it away. It gives the students the impression that if I hide it or ignore it long enough it will go away.
I think the best way to work at any position is through communication. I have worked with some of the best communicators who can tell me how to handle a situation or if “in the moment” let me know if I am handling it correctly by body language, smiles, a look, etc., You need to know who your students are and feel their behaviors. You need to know the staff your are working with, I can tell by a look when I need to pick up kids to go for a walk to have them calm down or just give teachers a break. Yep. their human too. You can have all the patience in the world until someone figures out how to push your buttons.
Hope this helps.