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Project Para Practicum Activities

Activity 1 - Job Description (Unit 1)

Option 1 - Review the job description for your current or prospective position with the supervising teacher. Complete a job description analysis sheet (attached).

Option 2 - In cooperation with the supervising teacher to write a job description specifically for the classroom or learning situation where you work. Complete a job description analysis sheet (attached).

Activity 2 - Ethical Issues / Confidentiality (Unit 2)

Locate and review with the supervising teacher and/or administrator the schools policies concerning the handling of confidential student information.

Activity 3 - Classroom Orientation (Unit 3)

Use the classroom orientation checklist provided to review and discuss basic information about the classroom and your role (attached).

Activity 4 - Classroom Schedule (Unit 3)

Outline a typical daily schedule of classroom activities. Identify how the paraeducator contributes to each of the activities.

Activity 5 - Classroom Rules (Unit 3 and Unit 5)

Identify the rules identified for your classroom and obtain a copy. Discuss with the teacher how the rules were established, how following the rules is encouraged and what is to be done when the rules are not followed.

Demonstrate to the teacher that you can use at least one of the rules to "catch" students following the rules and provide appropriate praise or recognition a minimum of five times during one day.

Activity 6 - Management of Classroom Materials (Unit 3)

Work with the supervising teacher to establish a system for managing instructional materials in the classroom. This might include preparation of learning materials for upcoming lessons. It also should include a system for collecting and managing student work. Try out the plan for one week. Review its effectiveness with the teacher and revise the plan as necessary. Summarize your reactions.

Activity 7 - Conducting a Learning Activity (Unit 4)

Using a lesson plan developed by the teacher complete an individual or small group lesson with students. Complete a self evaluation of the lesson. Discuss the lesson with the teacher and review the teacher's evaluation of the lesson (see attached evaluation form).

Activity 8 - Management of Behavior (Unit 5)

Following a behavior management plan, carry out activities designed to help one or more students learn to work effectively. After implementing the plan for one week discuss the effectiveness of the activities. Write a short summary of the plan, the activities and your reaction to their effectiveness.

Activity 9 - Observation and Recording of Student Performance (Unit 6)

Working with the teacher, identify a specific behavior and record its occurrence using one of the methods discussed in the unit on observing and recording student performance (frequency, duration, percentage, etc.). Conduct this observation over at least five days or sessions. Record the occurrences of the behavior and create a chart which displays the observations for all of the observation sessions.

Activity 10 - Special Education Programs (Unit 8)

In your own words develop a statement about special education programs in your school. You can use resources in the self-study unit and discuss the issues with the supervising teacher or other school staff. It should contain information about the following:

(1) Why education is important for all students?
(2) Why parents should be involved in education?
(3) What benefits do individual education plans provide?
(4) What does the school do to protect the rights of students with disabilities?
(5) How do students become eligible for special education programs?
(6) How are individual education plans written?
(7) How are parents kept informed?

Project PARA 311 Barkley Center Lincoln, NE 68583-0738 (402) 472-8737 para@para.unl.edu