Paraprofessional workshops are held at North Reading Middle/High School
Session 1: 8:30-10:00
PP1 Executive Functioning 101
Executive functions are skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions, and get things done. These skills can be a challenge for many students. In this workshop, we’ll learn about what the different executive functions are, discuss how they affect our students in the classroom, and share strategies for improving productivity and self-regulation.
PP2 Mindfulness in the Classroom
What is mindfulness? The history, research, evidence and neuroscience behind it. Importance of developing mindfulness practices personally as self care and in the classroom to support our students.
PP3 Transition Portfolios for Youth 14-22
In this workshop, participants will discuss how to use portfolios for different student populations. Various media and platforms will be explored. Participants are encouraged to bring their smartphones, laptops, and/or tablet devices to create their own portfolio.
PP4 FAPE and IDEA – What You Need to Know
The basics of Individuals with Disability Education Act and Free and Appropriate Public Education and how the role of the paraprofessional supports them.
PP5 Supporting Students in a Social/Emotional Setting
Participants will discuss best practice and strategies when supporting student with social/emotional disabilities in a public school classroom.
PP6 De-Escalation Strategies in the Classroom
The purpose of the workshop is to provide an overview of de-escalation, verbal de-escalation techniques, and understanding antecedents and triggers. Support staff will role play potential classroom situations, participate in group discussions of classroom management. Support staff will be given effective strategies for de-escalation, and will be able to utilize effective de-escalation strategies within their classroom environment. Verbal and non verbal de-escalation techniques will be discussed, along with preventing particular behaviors.
PP7 Supporting LGBTQ Youth
This in-service workshop will address laws, policies and best practices to create a safe and supportive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning students. This workshop, which includes stories of students, parents and school personnel, will be presented by Jeff Perrotti, Roger Bourgeois and staff from the Safe Schools Initiative.
PP8 Effects of Trauma in the Classroom
Participants will learn the effects of trauma on children, how that plays out in the classroom and what best practice is when supporting children with trauma history.
PP9 Social Skills in the Classroom
Participants will learn and discuss the ways in which social skills can be taught to students of different abilities across multi tiered systems of supports (MTSS).
PP10 Safe Schools – Supporting LGBTQ Youth in Schools
This in-service workshop will address laws, policies and best practices to create a safe and supportive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning students. This workshop will be presented by Jason Wheeler and staff from the Safe Schools Initiative.
PP11 The Importance of Recess
PP37 Do You Have TISM Anxiety?
Do you get anxious at the thought of using technology, the Internet, and social media (TISM)? Are you afraid that kids know more about tech than you do? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then this workshop is for you. Participants will explore tools and resources geared toward building skills and confidence in the use of technology.
PP38 Combating Substance Abuse
this session will focus on what to you if you suspect a student is a substance abuser, how to support them if you know they are a substance abuser and how that effects your role in the classroom.
Session 2 10:15-11:45
PP12 Executive Functioning 101
Executive functions are skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions, and get things done. These skills can be a challenge for many students. In this workshop, we’ll learn about what the different executive functions are, discuss how they affect our students in the classroom, and share strategies for improving productivity and self-regulation.
PP13 Mindfulness in the Classroom
What is mindfulness? The history, research, evidence and neuroscience behind it. Importance of developing mindfulness practices personally as self care and in the classroom to support our students.
PP14 Transition Portfolios for Youth 14-22
In this workshop, participants will discuss how to use portfolios for different student populations. Various media and platforms will be explored. Participants are encouraged to bring their smartphones, laptops, and/or tablet devices to create their own portfolio.
PP15 FAPE and IDEA – What You Need to Know
The basics of what IDEA and FAPE and what that means for paraprofessionals in the classroom.
PP16 Supporting Students in a Social/Emotional Setting
Participants will discuss best practice and strategies when supporting student with social/emotional disabilities in a public school classroom.
PP17 De Escalation Strategies in the Classroom
The purpose of the workshop is to provide an overview of de-escalation, verbal de-escalation techniques, and understanding antecedents and triggers. Support staff will role play potential classroom situations, participate in group discussions of classroom management. Support staff will be given effective strategies for de-escalation, and will be able to utilize effective de-escalation strategies within their classroom environment. Verbal and non verbal de-escalation techniques will be discussed, along with preventing particular behaviors.
PP18 Navigating the Cyber World
PP19 Effects of Trauma in the Classroom
Participants will learn the effects of trauma on children, how that plays out in the classroom and what best practice is when supporting children with trauma history.
PP20 Social Skills in the Classroom
Participants will learn and discuss the ways in which social skills can be taught to students of different abilities across multi tiered systems of supports (MTSS).
PP21 Safe Schools – Supporting LGBTQ Youth in Schools
This in-service workshop will address laws, policies and best practices to create a safe and supportive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning students. This workshop will be presented by Jason Wheeler and staff from the Safe Schools Initiative.
PP22 The Importance of Recess
PP36 Do You Have TISM Anxiety?
Do you get anxious at the thought of using technology, the Internet, and social media (TISM)? Are you afraid that kids know more about tech than you do? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then this workshop is for you. Participants will explore tools and resources geared toward building skills and confidence in the use of technology.
PP39 Combating Substance Abuse
this session will focus on what to you if you suspect a student is a substance abuser, how to support them if you know they are a substance abuser and how that effects your role in the classroom.
Session 3: 12:30-2:00
PP23 Executive Functioning 101
Executive functions are skills that help us plan, organize, manage time, regulate emotions, and get things done. These skills can be a challenge for many students. In this workshop, we’ll learn about what the different executive functions are, discuss how they affect our students in the classroom, and share strategies for improving productivity and self-regulation.
PP24 Mindfulness in the Classroom
What is mindfulness? The history, research, evidence and neuroscience behind it. Importance of developing mindfulness practices personally as self care and in the classroom to support our students.
PP25 Transition Portfolios for Youth 14-22
In this workshop, participants will discuss how to use portfolios for different student populations. Various media and platforms will be explored. Participants are encouraged to bring their smartphones, laptops, and/or tablet devices to create their own portfolio.
PP26 FAPE and IDEA – What You Need to Know
The basics of what IDEA and FAPE and what that means for paraprofessionals in the classroom.
PP27 Supporting Students in a Social/Emotional Setting
Participants will discuss best practice and strategies when supporting student with social/emotional disabilities in a public school classroom.
PP28 De Escalation Strategies in the Classroom
The purpose of the workshop is to provide an overview of de-escalation, verbal de-escalation techniques, and understanding antecedents and triggers. Support staff will role play potential classroom situations, participate in group discussions of classroom management. Support staff will be given effective strategies for de-escalation, and will be able to utilize effective de-escalation strategies within their classroom environment. Verbal and non verbal de-escalation techniques will be discussed, along with preventing particular behaviors.
PP29 Inclusive Practices
Best practices in inclusion will be explored including PBIS, UDL and SEL.
PP30 Effects of Trauma in the Classroom
Participants will learn the effects of trauma on children, how that plays out in the classroom and what best practice is when supporting children with trauma history.
PP31 Social Skills in the Classroom
Participants will learn and discuss the ways in which social skills can be taught to students of different abilities across multi tiered systems of supports (MTSS).
PP32 Safe Schools – Supporting LGBTQ Youth in Schools
This in-service workshop will address laws, policies and best practices to create a safe and supportive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning students. This workshop will be presented by Jason Wheeler and staff from the Safe Schools Initiative.
PP33 Educational Equity
PP34 Google, Chromebooks, Chrome, and the Alphabet?
What do all of these things have in common? How are they different? How do they fit in classrooms? You’ll find out in this hands-on workshop. Come join the fun!
PP35 Creating with Technology
Visit our 3 centers to learn more about some of the creation apps/Chromebook tools we use in the classrooms. Everyone will get a chance to try all 3, and have a finished product when they’re done. We will show you how to save the products to your google drives (or email it to yourself) Possible topics to explore include Scratch, Tagul, Greenscreen technology, and more!
PP40 Combating Substance Abuse
this session will focus on what to you if you suspect a student is a substance abuser, how to support them if you know they are a substance abuser and how that effects your role in the classroom.