It is important for paraprofessional's and students to establish a relationship. There
are times however that students do not want the help of the
paraprofessional. Discuss the best ways to handle this situation.
Small group instruction is where the majority of the paraprofessional's time is spent. Choose
one of the types of small group instruction for the classroom and
elaborate on how best to utilize this instruction with the students.
Respond to 2 people.
This is a test comment
ReplyDeleteIn this situation I just tend to back off a bit and five my student some breathing room from me. I'll walk around the room and offer help to other students who are asking for it but still stay close to my particular student. I then make my way back to that certain student and offer help again. This way the student knows I'm not giving up on them but I am giving them room to breath also. Plus older students tend to get embarrassed when a para is tending to clench right to their side and that tends to make the student push away rather than want the extra help they r provided with.
ReplyDeleteI usually have my small group instruction either n the back of the classroom or outside the classroom in another room with less distractions. This helps the student to focus better and also for me to use other ways to help the student to understand what is trying to be taught. Older students too will tend to work better with a para not being n front of their peers.
Yeah Courtney, I have the same philosophy about helping students. When they need the "breathing room" it is best to give it to them... if htye get stuck they usually let you know.
DeleteIn one of my classes for one is science and I have about four in that class I have them all sit together and work as a team to help each other and work one projects and science experiments as a group I feel though it still makes them part as the class and a group to work in the class but they still also work at a slower pace but they get the stuff done as a group it has wored very well for that class
DeleteI agree about walking around the room because in one class I may have io to 5 students and the gen ed teacher likes me to offer everyone help.its a good way to give each student some space and let them try it on their own.
DeleteI think it is a good idea to take the student out of the class room if they are having trouble. Go in to a more controled and quite environment. It helps the student consentrate more.
DeleteI do the same thing. I stay just close enough to help my student and help others at the same time.
DeleteYes Ginnette I agree with you, some students like to have their own space,so it's good just to check what they're doing once in a while so we can answer their questions.
DeleteThe way I would handle this is, in our school each student has a lab-top. So I can see everything the kids are doing, I let them do it on their own and if they seem to be having trouble I go ask them if they are getting it ok. If they say yes I leave them alown. When we pull kids out of class for tests, we have some that want to stay so I let them stay and take the others.
ReplyDeleteLast year I had a group of students that had trouble working in the classroom, so when she got done explaining the assignment we would come in our room and I would help them. This helped because I would not be disterbing the other kids in the class and it would help them finish the assignment.
Yeah Pam I have the same thing happen once in while... A student would rather stay and take the test with the other students without any help. I think this is a good indicator that they are improving their learning skills and they should be allowed to try it out.
DeleteI have to do that once n awhile too, Pam. Some students just need that different learning environment to help them focus better
DeleteI also have students that different enviorment help them focus better.
DeleteI really Ike to have the students go into a different classroom after the teacher's instructions So I can reteach them, this way they Ask me questions intend of interrupting the class.
DeleteThere are only a few times that I have had a student decline from receiving help. In those incidents I simply back off and let them continue working on their own and help other students. If they decide they need help after all then I am there for them.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a student will simply prefer to handle things on their own to prove they are able to do it. This is a good indication that he/she is improving their learning skills... so I let them go it alone and stay available if they need me.
Cooperative Learning Groups
I do not have many small group opportunities because I work individually with the students I am assigned to. However I do get to work in the classrooms at times with small groups such as when the science teacher is conducting a lab experiment. I try to keep my student involved and give assistance as needed... This helps my student feel like he "fits in" and I find that the other students apppreciate having an adult involved with them if they have any questions or need help.
We also utilize small groups learning in our reading intervention activities. This includes many of our SPED kids. It is an effective method for getting everyone involved and encourages a little friendly competition at times.
I see a lot of older students wanting this kind of help. Especially when they are n a group they do not feel they have to hesitate to ask questions. This way of learning makes a student feel more "in" with the group.
DeleteThats true a lot of older kids don't like asking for help so if you mix the,m up they don't feel like their being singled out.
DeleteThis reminds me of my first teaching assignment. I taught fourth grade general ed. and decided to do cooperative groups. They got one paper for the assignment and the four of them had to do it together and would all get the same grade. The groups were heterogeneous with one high achieving student, one low achieving student and two average achieving students. Rather than one or two students doing all of the work while the others sat and watched, the students all had their own opinion of how the paper should be completed. The lesson I learned as a new teacher was that cooperative learning works for some, but not all. Education is not a "cookie cutter" one size fits all process.
ReplyDeleteAmbermi, I know what you mean, some of the kids at the school I am at know who to get with when they are doing group work. They always pick the smarter student so they can just sit there and do nothing, but coppie off of their paper.Most of the teachers pick the group the student is going to be in, if I see them not helping I go over and ask them to start helping.
DeleteI had this situation come up last Thursday. I was to help a student in the classroom and I needed to let him know I was there. I sat in class watching & working. I finally walked up to his desk and asked if he wanted any help? He nodded "no". I expected that. I told him that I am here for any help and I will be in the classroom if he needs any. I did what I thought was appropraite, and my main objective was not to embrass him.
ReplyDeleteCooperative learning groups seem to be the popular type of classroom instruction, I'm not convinced that this is the best method for learning. From what I have seen, usually one person does the work for the other 2 or 3. I have had the opportunity to witness the Mulitlevel Instruction and the students seem to freeze up because they simply can not think outside the learning block. I feel as if we as educator need to introduce more learning styles. I didn't realize what kind of learner i was until I had to get creative!
I believe there are many different ways to group learning it depends on the student, how many students you have in that class, and as for one doing the work and the other problem and so on where everybody has a chance and doesn't just copy and one persons just doing the work.
DeleteI believe this is true for older students especially. I was a para in the middle school last year and I felt the student was embarrassed because she was the one that need help. But I just backed away and gave her space and she would try it on her own and if I was needed fine.
DeleteI have had a student say 'no' to my help before as well. I stepped back & let them get help from fellow students. It was a good thing. I could see where the student was finding other sources for help & I think it helped him feel more a part of the class.
DeleteI also don't want them to get embarrassed by me helping them. I try to be discreet when asking if they need help. I've noticed that in our middle school they really don't do much for group activities. Just a lot of whole class interaction.
DeleteI like mastery learning the best because although cooperative is very popular, the kids I work with usually have the same issue with the same skill and if I can get them to master one skill at a time together and than they are all on the same page. If one doesn't understand what is going on, than the other students that have mastered it I have them teach it to that student.
DeleteThe way I Handel.the student not wanting the paras assistance is to let them know I'm available if they need my help, let the gen ed that the student is not wanting my assistance, and visit with the TOR and most of the time the TOR will try to incourage the.student kn accepting my help expecially if such student has a low grade in the class.
ReplyDeleteThe students and I will go to a classroom that is not in use and disscuss the question on the assignment and let them brainstorm on ideas for the answer.
Going to another class room is a good idea and just letting them brainstorm. I believe you would get better participation from ALL the kids in the group besides just one or two.
DeleteI have a 4th grader who is very stubborn at times and wants to do her own thing. I step away letting her do it on her own but also stay near by so she knows I there to help if she needs extra assistance.
ReplyDeleteSometimes or most of the time in small groups working together you have one or two students that are doing all the work and the other students just copy what has already been done. This does not work for a lot of students, I feel they learn more if they work on their own or with the assistance of a para.
That is a hard thing at times to step aside & let a strong willed student go on their own. I do the same thing to let them try it on their own first then just be there if they need me.
DeleteDeb,
DeleteThe thing with small groups we need to make sure everyone has their own job but do the actual assignment themselves. The work needs to be turned in by the student with his own words and own work. Not because is a group project the student gets the work from the other student. The group experience helps student get thing together, get ideas that makes it easier for the student, look at things from a different angle, different opinions, it makes it for a more interesting report or assignment.
Deb,
DeleteI agree with you that when students work in groups, many times they just copy off of the one or two who did the work. What I read in the text, and what I have seen done in the classroom here where I work, is that each person in the group has a job they perform within the group. Dividing the duties up and making each person responsible for thier part is a good way for students (even ours) to be helpd accountable to their peers so the group can do its work.
Strong willed students are very hard to help at times, but I have noticed if you let them do it and than just let know you are there if need anything and than sometimes they do turn around and finally ask for help.
DeleteSometimes going to another location is easier for the students so they can focus on the task at hand.
The way I like to establish a ralationship with my students is by being involved with them, they know they can trust me, I give them their space so when they want to try an assigment on their own they know they can tell me and I back off, always keeping an eye on them in case they struggle with it Im there to help them.
ReplyDeleteWhen I take students to work in small group is usually for math so I use a withboard or do one or two problems so they can use for reference.
In this situation I let them try it on there own but I remeber if you need help you can ask me thats what I'm here to help you.
ReplyDeleteGather is what helps me out because then all we as para's do is help our kids . If If there hand over hand it work good when our matrials our gathered for us.
I am in a setting where the students don't know how to tell me that they don't want my help (Kindergarten). So, if it appears to me that they don't need my help, I just sit back and wait for signals or cues that they need assistance.
DeleteI think the best way to handle this situation is to just be in the classroom ready & avaliable to help your student without hovering over their shoulder. Waiting for them to figure it out on their own & letting them come to you if they can't is important in the Student/Para relationship. We are allowing them to try for themselves first then be available if they need help.
ReplyDeleteI have seen my language challenged student become more communicative in a positive way by having her involved in group learning. She is learning from her peers the appropriate way to express what she wants to say. It's exciting to see & has really helped with her social skills.
Denise,
DeleteI also think the group learning for an ESL student is important. It kind of gets them in a smaller group to be more comfortable to express herself and be more confident. This is important to any student. Expressing themselves is hard for some students and a smaller group is the answer for some.
I agree with you Denise, letting them try first by themselves gives them a feeling of accomplishment as well.
DeleteDenise,
DeleteI agree with you on your classroom behavior. The kids do not like to be singled out or hovered over. I find that as long as they know we are there to help, then they know where to go when they need help. I also try to help others in the classroom and I feel this makes my student(s) feel more comfortable because they are not the only one with questions.
Yes I agree with you on the beginning part. I do the same thing I let them come to me if they really need my help, after they tryed
DeleteAs far as some of the kids I work with not wanting help, I tend to let work on the assignment by themselves and I'll walk around the room to see how the other kids are doing and if they need help. I'll go back to my assigned kids to see if they need help.
ReplyDeleteLately I've been pulling some of the kids I work with out in the hall or at a different location in the building to help keep them focused and not distracted. They get one on one help and can get the assignment done faster with some more detailed instruction about how to do the assignment.
I agree that sometimes we need to just let them try the assignments on their own. They always know we are there if needed. I have also found that taking them to a quiet place helps not to get distracted as easily. They also get more done.
DeleteI agree, giving the student some control of them doing on their own I think helps their confidence and also shows that they are capable of doing some things by them self. Growth in the SPED world is an great accomplishment in my book!
Delete***Last year, I was working in the fifth grade Language Arts class and I practiced the following:
ReplyDeleteI would wait to make sure he took his seat.
Then I would stand behind the student to make sure he would have everything he needed. Talked to him a little bit about what all he needed.
Once the teacher was working on the listen I made sure the student followed the instructions.
If, he was ready, I would go to the side of the room on the other side of the table in front of him and waited for him to ask for help. When he needed help he would let me know with his hand to come help.
Once everyone was working, I would help all the students on the table but concentrated on his needs. Sometimes the other students asked questions that actually would help the student in need. So this small group truly would help each other more than they realized. The small group can benefit all students in some way.
The Language Arts teacher used the Cooperative Learning Groups instruction for the whole class.
She had some students give out the books.
Some of the students give out the new worksheets or the once they are working on.
She gave all students in the class a chance to read a paragraph and work on the bulletin board writing. This gives all the students an opportunity to get out of their eggshell.
The only thing that changed was when it was time for spelling test, I did pull out. The students that needed less spelling words went with me to another room.
The relationships that we, as paras, form with the students are so important. When the time does come when our student doesn't want our help, I feel that the para should back off some and allow the student the freedom to do the assignment by themselves. I would stay just close enough so if the student does have questions or needs something you are there. Otherwise, walk around the room and see if there are others that might need some assistance. Its okay that the student would not want my help all the time. I think it gives the student the opportunity to prove to themselves that they can do it on their own. I would check the work before the assignment is turned in just to make sure the student understood the assignment and to give the student a chance to make corrections if needed.
ReplyDeleteCooperative Learning Groups
I personally like the Real-Life Learning style. I think the older kiddos would find this most beneficial. I think this style gives the students a chance to take what they are learning and be able to put it into practice in their lives outside of school. The more hands-on experience they can get, the better. Let them get their hands dirty and try different things, so to speak. The more activities they can do, the better. It will also show if the student really understands the concepts being taught by how they use the information given. I believe it will also prepare them for the future. I like this style because it gives the students a different way to learn besides sitting at a desk and listening to the teacher lecture at them.
If I ask a student if they need help and they refuse, then I back off and let them do it on their own. They always know that I am there if they do need help.
ReplyDeleteI have taken a small group of students to the library and read together as a group while the teacher has the other half and reads with them. I think that it helps to have more of a discussion with fewer students in a group.
Yes i agree fewer in a group so they don't get distracted.
DeleteYes its very easy to for kids to get distracted just by little things, so fewer kids is better.
DeleteWhen forming a relationship with students, I try very hard to be honest and straight forward in all of my encounters with them. I feel that this lets them know that if I have something to say, I will say it. I alswys say things in love and not anger. As far as helping the student during class; each student is different. I will ask the student what they are comfortable with. I try not to sit next to the student all of the time unless they request for me to. I tell the student to raise their hand if they need help, and they also have the option of having me to help them or the classroom teacher help them. I believe that for high school students, giving them this space helps them to understand when they need help and gives them the positive tools to attain this help.
ReplyDeleteThere are three types of group learning discussed in the text: Cooperative Learning Groups, Mastery Learning, and Multilevel Instuction. I really like the Group Learning approach. I have noticed and I think that students with learning disabilites do well in the group situation and they feel like part of a whole. In the group, when given a specific task, the student with LD can find success and accomplishment, thereby raising their self confidence level. Students with Emotional Disturbances or Behavioral Issues may not do as well in the group setting. That would have to be determined on a case by case basis.
Yes i agree to be honest and straight forward is the best way.
DeleteI think it is important to have a relationship with your students so they will trust you, feel safe, and be comfortable with you. When times my student don't want to work i will pause for awhile till they are ready. I have a lot of small groups for language, so i would choose following directions which is great. We use objects so our lower students and some wkshts for the older. But being in small groups your working on more like social skills and being with other peers.
ReplyDeleteI think just waiting on the student to be ready instead of pushing or grilling a child to do their work is more beneficial. It lets them feel like they are in control of what they are doing.
DeleteI have not had a student come right out and tell me that they do not want my help. I have been able to read their body language, so when they are having a difficult time with me, I will either sit back and wait or we will leave the classroom and walk the halls until I get the cues or body language that the student is ready to go back to class.
ReplyDeleteI really do not do any kind of small group instruction. I service to children, both inclusions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I think that cooperative learning groups is the most logical small group technique to use in the grade level that I am in. This allows all students to participate some way or another. This is extremely important in Kindergarten. It's always a big deal if one student gets to do a task, while the next doesn't.
I get behavior students all the time and so I have dealt with students that don't want help a lot and I pretty much let them do their thing unless it is an issue with the work they are doing. For example: If I see my student doing just fine on their own, than I am going to help someone else and check on them sparatically, but if they are having difficulties and don't want my help than I sometimes find them a student that they love to work with and have them teach one another. This works some of the time, but the others times you just have to sit them down and give them choices and usually they pick the choice that is best for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI love to watch students work on one skill in a small group and master it and just keep on going from there. So I would have to say I like mastery learning, but I do a lot of different small groups in the classroom and I emjoy all of them.
I had an experience; a student of mine was in a science fair project. That year she decided to do all the work by herself. So I just stayed in the same room with her helping other students. Once in a while I would come back and check up on her and she'd ask questions. At the end she did a great job, she placed 2nd in her science fair project.
ReplyDeleteI have the opportunity to work with a small group of students. I work with two students in math class, after the general teacher's instructions we go back to the R.R. and reteach them the same stuff. These students like to work in the R.R because they feel comfortable asking questions in a small group instead in front of the whole class. These students have the opportunity to finish their assignment and ask any questions.
I work with 7 different kids. I haven't had that kind of trouble with them yet. The way I wouldjhandle this is to stand near by so they no I'm there if they need me. Its always better to let them try their own their own first to see what they no.
ReplyDelete