The Paraprofessional's Handbook for Effective Support in Inclusive Classrooms

What does a great paraprofessional need to know and do? You'll find real-world answers from two experts in the second edition of this bestselling guidebook. Passionate inclusion advocates Julie Causton and Kate MacLeod bring you a supremely practical guide to surviving and thriving as an integral part of your school's inclusive team. You'll get immediately applicable strategies for mastering every facet of your complex role: collaborating with other team members, selecting accommodations and modifications, facilitating peer connections, fading your support, and much more. And you'll find a treasure trove of tools--including activities, learning checks, reproducible templates, FAQs, and short to-do lists--to help you reflect on your practice and strengthen your daily work.

An essential hands-on guide for new and seasoned paraprofessionals--and a must-have for the educators and other professionals who support them--this empowering book takes the guesswork out of this critical classroom role so you can help students with disabilities reach their full potential.

WHAT'S NEW:

• New chapter on Respectful Support for Developing Student Independence
• More on key topics such as collaboration, presuming competence, and supporting social and academic success for students with diverse abilities
• New and updated research, practices, digital tools, resources, examples, quiz questions, and reflection activities throughout the book
• Package of online materials, including printable activities, forms, and worksheets

Julie Causton, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of Inclusive Schooling. She is a former Professor in the Inclusive and Special Education Program in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University. She has spent the past 20 years studying and creating best practices for inclusive education, with a specific focus on supporting students whose behavior challenges the educational system. As a former special education teacher herself, she knows firsthand how belonging leads to better outcomes for students. She works with administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, and families across the country to help them create inclusive experiences. Dr. Causton is the author of seven books about inclusive education and she has published articles in over thirty educational research and practitioner journals. She also hosts The Inclusion Podcast on iTunes. Dr. Causton lives in Manlius, NY with her wife, two adorable teenagers, dog, and three cats.

Kate MacLeod, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at the University of Maine at Farmington and founder and consultant at Inclusive Schooling. Her teaching, research, writing, and consulting are guided by a passion for inclusive education and social justice. Kate is a former high school special education teacher in New York City and now works with administrators, educators, and families around the country to create more inclusive practices for all students. Kate's research and writing are focused on understanding the culture of inclusive schools, inclusive school reform, and best teaching practices for supporting students with diverse and complex support needs. She is the author of two books about inclusive education and she has published articles in educational research and practitioner journals. Kate lives in Maine with her husband, two dogs, a cat, and a flock of chickens.