Week 13 Reflection

Posted on April 27, 2008

I don't remember being provided any training back in grad school about the use of paraprofessionals. I guess my training was being a para myself and working with an excellent special educator who respected me and treated me as a colleague. This unit has helped me to examine my schools and my own use of paraprofessionals. I will look at this material regularly to access my practices and to hopefully improve my colleagues practices also.
It is important that we keep the student's needs in mind, not ours, when deciding the need for a para. We want all student to be able to navigate their world as independently as possible and not to be afraid of being a member of their community. This can't be accomplished if we have a para chained to the ankle of each special needs student!
This unit has made it even more apparent of the need for a Peer Buddy Program. I want every student to have opportunities to interact with their peers throughout the school and into their community.