Working Effectively & Collaborating with Paraprofessionals!

A great parapro can save you time, help increase student
learning, and basically be your right hand. On the other hand a bad parapro can
make your life harder in many ways. A good parapro is worth their weight in
gold. I’ve had the privileged to work with some amazing Para’s and also was
unlucky to work with a few who were less than stellar.

So what is the secret to having a great working
relationship with your parapro’s? Well, I don’t know the exact recipe, but I’ve
figured out a few things that can help you and head your parapro/teacher
working relationship in the right direction.

1. Knowing Personalities are Pertinent
It’s important to know your
paraprofessionals personality, as well as your own.
To accomplish this, I had ALL my parapro’s and teachers
take a personality test this past
school year. They thought I was crazy I am sure, but the insight
they are able to give them
into what makes each person tick, allowed me to help motivate them, and
give them
constructive criticism in a way that won’t step on toes or hurt their feelings. You can
find the
personality test I used HERE. I like the break down of how a person is to work with. I’ll use
own personality as an example for you. The test told me I was an ESFJ. According to the
work habits section of the profile, my personality type is sensitive to criticism. And to be
honest with you,
that’s accurate. I do take criticism to heart. No matter how nicely it is done.
So if my boss wanted to
give me constructive criticism, I respond best to being to the desired
behavior, and then I will
typically change my behaviors to align with what is desired. This is
much nicer to me than to say, hey, you
are really lacking here, and I think you need to do
this. I focus on what I am lacking in, and it
takes me much longer to change things.
To me, understanding your co-workers
habits and preferences go a long way to make a great
collaboration.
#FunFact: 8 of the 10
teachers I had take this had the same personality type. Of the
paraprofessionals I had take the quiz,
they all fell within 3 different personality types. 
I thought that was telling!

2. When in Doubt Spell It Out!

Make sure that everyone’s roles and
responsibilities are explicitly spelled out.

Communication is key. Make sure you sit down with your
parapro’s at the beginning of the

year and spell out their responsibilities to them. On the flip
side, let them know what your

responsibilities are as well. This helps you to hold each other
accountable.

3. Give them support.

Parapro’s need feedback. You like the
work they are doing with so and so, let them know. If

you don’t. who will. Ask them if they have
any questions, EVEN if you are sure they couldn’t

possibly have questions, they might. Give them
encouragement, and try to see their

attributes and use those attributes to your benefit.

4. Help Them Learn

I’ve worked with parapro’s who have
bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, high school

diploma’s and even one with a master’s degree.
Parapro’s all have different levels of

education. Some may have a stronger background than others
in working with special needs.

Don’t forget to give them some on-the-job training. Additionally,
if there is an online class

you think a parapro could benefit from, let them know about it. I’ve had
some parapro’s use

the Vanderbilt IRIS Modules, OCALI Autism Modules, and even the AFFIRM
Modules. My

para’s are thrilled to learn more
information. Now, not all are willing to go the extra
steps, so

it may help to ask them to work on it during their prep period, etc. especially if there is one

area that you feel like they lack in.

5. Collaborative Schedules

Your typical school day can be hectic.
Getting to actually talk your parapro is sometimes

near impossible. To help, use a
collaborative Google Document. Google Docs let you real

time communicate using the same document. If something
changes, or you know that a

surprise fire drill is coming up, you can give the para a head’s up
too!  Like wise, a parapro

can let
you know data from an inclusion class, or write a reminder to talk to
you about

something specific.

What are your best tips for working and collaborating with Paraprofessionals? I’d love to

hear from you in the comments below! 

Happy Teaching!