Reply to I'm a new Para. What do you want me to know?

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Reply to "I'm a new Para. What do you want me to know?"

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[quote=Anonymous]The most important message, the key message you should keep in mind every day is that you can and do make a difference - often huge difference - in the lives of every child that you help!

Being lucky enough to have support from a good paraeducator can make the difference between a good year or a bad year.

General education, especially in FCPS or MCPS where class sizes are often huge, can be very overwhelming for children with disabilities. Many of the children who have behaviors like the ones you are describing have probably been written off as a "problem" at some point in their schooling. Previous teachers might have punished and humiliated them for those behaviors and they be very traumatized by these experiences. This is especially true of bright children with ADHD or on the spectrum who otherwise appear "normal." Even good teachers are guilty of this as they are busy with other students and often don't get the support they need from the administration.

Keep the child's best interests at the forefront of your work. Keep in mind that often times the goals of special needs administrators and principals to keep budgets down by denying supports or moving the child along to another school do not often align with what's best for the child.

Be kind. Be patient. Compassionate.

Set high expectations and continue to encourage them even when they don't meet these expectations. The school systems tend to think it's okay for special needs kids to just pass or "meet expectations." Many are capable of so much more.

Remember that all kids are good kids even when they are defiant or upset. It's our job as adults to teach them how to act. Kids grow in different ways and sometimes it just takes them more time to learn these things.

Don't be discouraged by a bad day. Begin each day with a clean slate.

The fact that you took the time to post your message on this board makes it clear to me you are a good person who cares about children.

Our family has been through a very difficult year and knowing that there are educators like you with such dedication really made my day.

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