While the world of education has changed, the need for effective training around student behavior has not. In fact, recent events have impacted students (and adults) in unprecedented ways, and the need for training on how to best support students is more important than ever. Paraeducators often support students with the most challenging behaviors, yet they frequently receive little to no training in best practices for behavior support or guidance in clarifying professional roles and boundaries. ParaSharp helps proactively prepare your paras with the mindset and actionable skills to address the most challenging behaviors and situations, including avoiding power struggles, developing positive relationships, teaching SEL and academic skills, and more. ParaSharp is easy to implement, available anywhere-anytime, and is effective for training both in-person and virtually.
ParaSharp Series Overview
ParaSharp Series Survey Results
PARASHARP SERIES TRAINING TOPICS
PARASHARP SERIES FEATURES
- 3-13 minute engaging and easily digestible best practice videos
- Summaries, discussion guides, and facilitator guides for every video
- Planning tools to support paraeducators in working with students
- Data tracking tools
- Insight Sheet reference guides for anytime reminders
Sample Training Video
PARASHARP
– THE BIG PICTURE
Introducing fundamental concepts and strategies that run throughout our video series. These core elements provide all educators with a foundation of information that can lead to best practice interventions and support.
Download Sample Study Material
“321insight is such a fantastic model because it gives information in very short bites. Using 321insight and their tools doesn’t take away time and service to students—in fact it enhances it, and we really liked that.”
ELAINE FOX
Executive Director of Student Services
Hillsboro School District, Oregon
“321insight’s videos and discussion guides have given our Classified staff access to quality PD that they have never received before. The handouts made for each specific classified role have great information and tips. It’s clear that 321insight values classified staff, knows they have difficult jobs, and believes that they deserve quality PD just like their certified counterparts.”
ANGELA HEALOW
Beaverton School District, Oregon
“I think this program is great…very informative, yet user friendly and engaging.”
LORI TAN
Salem-Keizer School District, Oregon
Concise and relevant on-demand training for paraeducators
Oregon School District uses 321insight’s research-based videos promoting best practices to inform important daily decisions
Facing state budget cuts, Hillsboro School District in Oregon was searching for a cost-efficient way to offer training to its paraprofessional staff (paraeducators, educational assistants, instructional aides, etc.), who work with more than 20,000 students across 35 schools.
“We have paraprofessionals in all of our buildings,” says Elaine Fox, who is executive director of student services. “Our traditional way of training was to send district office staff to schools and pay extended contract to paraprofessionals and teachers to stay for training. We just couldn’t do that any longer with the state of the budget in Oregon.”
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“321insight is such a fantastic model because it gives information in very short bites,” Fox says. “Using 321insight doesn’t take away time and service to students, in fact it enhances it, and we really liked that.”
Training and implementation
Parasharp™ provides paraeducators with training and resources to understand and manage student behavior or specific disabilities, and to gain insight into their roles as educators. Paraeducators also gain a toolbox of skills to use in challenging situations and learn to effectively support students using inclusive practices.
Fox says paraprofessionals were “thrilled” with 321insight because it would not “take up massive amounts of their time” and because it pertained directly and practically to their work. In addition to Parasharp™ there are also diversity and trauma-informed learning series that offer practical advice and solutions that paraprofessionals and teachers can immediately put to use in the classroom.
Positive feedback and results
Fox says that some of the most positive feedback for 321insight has come from the unions that represent paraprofessionals and teachers. Fox says the paraprofessionals’ union was an advocate of more training for its members, which it now has through on-demand access. The teachers’ union says it gave their members additional professional development in a more efficient and time-saving manner, on relevant topics such as professional roles and responsibilities, avoiding power struggles with students, and more.
In addition, Fox says, general education teachers don’t engage naturally in a lot of special education training, so this had been a great way for them to learn about some of the issues that students are dealing with. Fox adds that it is important for teachers to have awareness and understanding of not only special education, but concepts associated with trauma informed care and diversity work in the district as well.
“For the district, 321insight provides an efficient and practical training model that is not overwhelming to staff nor super expensive to implement,” Fox says. “Our paraprofessionals receive their training in a timely manner and will come much more prepared into their daily situations with students.”
– Published in District Administration Magazine – January 2018
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