Building Effective Teacher/ Paraeducator Teams Deanna Avis [email_address]

STUDENTS REMEMBER: 10% of what they READ 20% of what they HEAR 30% of what they SEE 50% of what they SEE and HEAR 70% of what they DISCUSS 80% of what they EXPERIENCE by DOING 95% of what they TEACH to OTHERS William Glasser

10% of what they READ

20% of what they HEAR

30% of what they SEE

50% of what they SEE and HEAR

70% of what they DISCUSS

80% of what they EXPERIENCE by DOING

95% of what they TEACH to OTHERS

William Glasser

SYNERGY “ When two or more people work together to understand something, they create a phenomenon called synergy. Synergy lets us discover jointly what we are much less likely to discover by ourselves.” Covey, 1986

ACTIVITY GOING IT ALONE OR TEAMING THINK-PAIR-SHARE

BUILDING TEAMS What makes up a team ? Leader Supporting team members

What makes up a team ?

Leader

Supporting team members

Teams An Effective Team A unified group of people who join together in a cooperative problem-solving process to reach a shared goal. Their mission is clear. An Ineffective Team Goals are unclear Members are unprepared Leadership is ineffective Commitment to task is lacking One-way communication about ideas; feelings are ignored.

An Effective Team

A unified group of people who join together in a cooperative problem-solving process to reach a shared goal.

Their mission is clear.

An Ineffective Team

Goals are unclear

Members are unprepared

Leadership is ineffective

Commitment to task is lacking

One-way communication about ideas; feelings are ignored.

What is your role? A VALUED team member: Plans for the meeting Contributes ideas to discussion Listens to the ideas of others Considers the problem(s) objectively Contributes to the orderly conduct of the meeting.

A VALUED team member:

Plans for the meeting

Contributes ideas to discussion

Listens to the ideas of others

Considers the problem(s) objectively

Contributes to the orderly conduct of the meeting.

10 Characteristics of a Well-Functioning Team Purpose Priorities Roles Decisions Conflict Risk Effectiveness Success Training Personal Traits

Purpose

Priorities

Roles

Decisions

Conflict

Risk

Effectiveness

Success

Training

Personal Traits

Team Leadership Skills Problem Solving Skills Communication Skills Stress Management Skills Evaluation and Feedback Skills Teamwork Skills Technical Skills Delegating Skills

Problem Solving Skills

Communication Skills

Stress Management Skills

Evaluation and Feedback Skills

Teamwork Skills

Technical Skills

Delegating Skills

Problems a Team Leader May Have to Address: Persons late to team meetings. One person always having trouble with students. Instructor expectations are not realistic. Person is not a “team player”. Person doesn’t pull equal weight. Person corrects papers at team meeting. Person has negative attitude. Parent complains about one person.

Persons late to team meetings.

One person always having trouble with students.

Instructor expectations are not realistic.

Person is not a “team player”.

Person doesn’t pull equal weight.

Person corrects papers at team meeting.

Person has negative attitude.

Parent complains about one person.

Problems (cont.) Lack of team activities & commitment. Complains of length & number of meetings. Kids complain about one person. Ineffective supervision of teacher and/or paraeducator. SOLUTION: As a team discuss the above prior to any problems. Source Unknown

Lack of team activities & commitment.

Complains of length & number of meetings.

Kids complain about one person.

Ineffective supervision of teacher and/or paraeducator.

SOLUTION: As a team discuss the above prior to any problems.

Source Unknown

Valued Traits & Abilities Be honest & dependable. Be reliable & punctual. Get along well with people. Cooperate with supervisors. Accept & handle responsibility Read with understanding. Possess entry level job skills & knowledge. Be willing to undergo further job skill training. Think of self as a worthy person. Communicate orally and listen effectively. Work with minimum supervision. Solve personal and professional problems.

Be honest & dependable.

Be reliable & punctual.

Get along well with people.

Cooperate with supervisors.

Accept & handle responsibility

Read with understanding.

Possess entry level job skills & knowledge.

Be willing to undergo further job skill training.

Think of self as a worthy person.

Communicate orally and listen effectively.

Work with minimum supervision.

Solve personal and professional problems.

Team Qualities Agree to work on a solution until ALL members are satisfied Listen respectfully, empathetically, and actively to other’s opinions Generate possible solutions Discuss the pros and cons of each Don’t fall into the trap of planning a rebuttal while another member is talking. Focus on their perspective and ideas .

Agree to work on a solution until ALL members are satisfied

Listen respectfully, empathetically, and actively to other’s opinions

Generate possible solutions

Discuss the pros and cons of each

Don’t fall into the trap of planning a rebuttal while another member is talking. Focus on their perspective and ideas .

Communication Styles Passive/non assertive Aggressive Assertive/Positive

Passive/non assertive

Aggressive

Assertive/Positive

Strategies for Effective Communication Be receptive to the ideas & concerns of others. Encourage others to ask for clarification and instructions, and to ask for assistance when needed. Develop a shared vocabulary & system of non-verbal cues Work together to create a climate of cooperation, trust , and loyalty. Respect individuality & differences in backgrounds, values, & experiences.

Be receptive to the ideas & concerns of others.

Encourage others to ask for clarification and instructions, and to ask for assistance when needed.

Develop a shared vocabulary & system of non-verbal cues

Work together to create a climate of cooperation, trust , and loyalty.

Respect individuality & differences in backgrounds, values, & experiences.

Listening Skills Do Be Receptive Concentrate Become Involved Ask Questions Don’t Be a Mind Reader Be a D erailer Immediately Belittle or Discount Be a Placater

Do

Be Receptive

Concentrate

Become Involved

Ask Questions

Don’t

Be a Mind Reader

Be a D erailer

Immediately Belittle or Discount

Be a Placater

Five things a winning team member needs to know: Tell me what you want from me. Give me the opportunity to perform. Let me know how I am getting along. Give me guidance when I need it. Reward me according to my contribution . Paul Bear Bryant University of Alabama

Tell me what you want from me.

Give me the opportunity to perform.

Let me know how I am getting along.

Give me guidance when I need it.

Reward me according to my contribution .

Paul Bear Bryant

University of Alabama

Maintaining Ethical Standards Accepting Responsibilities Recognize that the supervisor has the ultimate responsibility… Engage only in activities for which you are qualified or trained. Communicate progress to parents as directed to do so by your supervisor. Refer concerns to the supervising teacher

Accepting Responsibilities

Recognize that the supervisor has the ultimate responsibility…

Engage only in activities for which you are qualified or trained.

Communicate progress to parents as directed to do so by your supervisor.

Refer concerns to the supervising teacher

Maintaining Ethical Standards Relationships with Students & Parents Discuss child’s progress with the supervising teacher in the appropriate setting. Represent yourself, the school, and your district in a positive and professional manner. Respect the dignity, individuality, and privacy of all students, parents, and staff. Treat each student fairly to ensure that all students have maximum opportunities to learn. Be a positive role model.

Relationships with Students & Parents

Discuss child’s progress with the supervising teacher in the appropriate setting.

Represent yourself, the school, and your district in a positive and professional manner.

Respect the dignity, individuality, and privacy of all students, parents, and staff.

Treat each student fairly to ensure that all students have maximum opportunities to learn.

Be a positive role model.

Maintaining Ethical Standards Relationship with your Supervisor. Recognize the teacher as your supervisor and team leader. Establish and maintain a positive relationship with your supervisor. When problems cannot be resolved, contact the principal for assistance. Discuss concerns about the teacher or teaching methods with the teacher first.

Relationship with your Supervisor.

Recognize the teacher as your supervisor and team leader.

Establish and maintain a positive relationship with your supervisor.

When problems cannot be resolved, contact the principal for assistance.

Discuss concerns about the teacher or teaching methods with the teacher first.

COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Collaborative Problem Solving Define the problem Determine the needs/desired outcomes Brainstorm solutions Select solution that best meets needs Develop a plan of action Implement the plan Evaluate the solution and the process

Define the problem

Determine the needs/desired outcomes

Brainstorm solutions

Select solution that best meets needs

Develop a plan of action

Implement the plan

Evaluate the solution and the process

Define the Problem What is not working? What factors are contributing to the problem? Who is involved? Who is affected and how?

What is not working?

What factors are contributing to the problem?

Who is involved?

Who is affected and how?

Determine the needs & desired outcomes What do we want to have happen? What do students need that they are currently not getting? What is needed to improve our communication? What is the overall desired outcome?

What do we want to have happen?

What do students need that they are currently not getting?

What is needed to improve our communication?

What is the overall desired outcome?

Brainstorm Solutions Establish a time frame. Assign a note taker. Generate and accept all ideas—do not evaluate! Make sure everyone participates. Take more time if creativity is high or more ideas are needed.

Establish a time frame.

Assign a note taker.

Generate and accept all ideas—do not evaluate!

Make sure everyone participates.

Take more time if creativity is high or more ideas are needed.

Select the Solution Which solution is the: Easiest to implement Within the team’s control Least disruptive Meets the needs and achieves desired outcomes

Which solution is the:

Easiest to implement

Within the team’s control

Least disruptive

Meets the needs and achieves desired outcomes

Develop an Action Plan Who What When Where

Who

What

When

Where

Implement the Plan What resources are needed? Who should know about the plan? Does the daily schedule need to change? When will the team review the plan and results?

What resources are needed?

Who should know about the plan?

Does the daily schedule need to change?

When will the team review the plan and results?

Evaluate how well the plan worked…. What has been accomplished? Are there any unexpected outcomes? Does the plan need to be revised? Is the original problem solved? Have any new problems developed?

What has been accomplished?

Are there any unexpected outcomes?

Does the plan need to be revised?

Is the original problem solved?

Have any new problems developed?

TIPS FOR SUCCESS!!! GROUP ACTIVITY

Other helpful ideas……. Daily schedule (shared) Basic classroom information Mentoring

Daily schedule (shared)

Basic classroom information

Mentoring

Ongoing Assessment and Evaluation

Some Things to Consider Who benefits? What does it look like? How often does it happen? Is it based on standards? Outcomes? Are changes made based on results?

Who benefits?

What does it look like?

How often does it happen?

Is it based on standards?

Outcomes?

Are changes made based on results?

IMPORTANT WEBSITES WWW.NRCPARA.ORG WWW.UTAHPARAS.ORG

WWW.NRCPARA.ORG

WWW.UTAHPARAS.ORG