Roles, Responsibilities, & Trainings
Peer partners
Roles and Responsibilities
Arrive on time
Exhibit respect, trust, patience, and courtesy towards others
Assist classmates
Walk to and from class together
Visit/check-in with classmates before/after class.
Help classmates improve physical and social skills.
Adapt/modify activities when appropriate for classmates.
Assist teacher
Help set up and take down equipment
Lead warm up/cool down activities
Repeat directions and/or demonstrate skills for classmates
Notify teacher or paraprofessional of any concerns
Partner Training
Model desired behavior
Provide both general and specific feedback
Provide intentional choices
Use picture schedules specific to student needs. Ex: First/then board
Keep verbal communication brief and specific
Demonstrate motor skills
Break down into individual steps
Use both visual and verbal cues
Allow processing time
React to negative behavior in a neutral voice
Allow classmates to attempt a task before providing help
Ask classmate if they want help
Have empathy, not sympathy
Additional Resources:
Peer-to-Peer Mentor Training Powerpoint
Paraprofessionals
Teachers should take the initiative to build positive relationships with the paraprofessionals they work with. Meet with the classroom teacher or case manager so you know how many paraprofessionals will be accompanying the students to class. The support of a paraprofessional is not only beneficial, but it may be written into the student’s IEP making it a legal requirement as well.
Roles and Responsibilities
Help maintain a safe environment for all students
Provide support but refrain from doing the physical tasks for students
Provide tips, strategies, or cue words to the partners
Check in with the teacher on arrival to discuss any behavior or physical concerns that should be monitored or addressed in class
Communicate back to case manager or classroom teacher after class
Use of proximity control - be near students to help improve behavior
Advise on and manage behaviors
Help with bathroom or health needs
Assist with transitions between activities
Assist with transitions before and after class
Provide support for social interactions for all students
Paraprofessionals Training
Meet with the paraprofessionals prior to the first day of class to train about the scope and sequence for the course, goals and overall procedures
Ensure they know they are welcome and invaluable members of the team
Be specific in describing how and when you would like paraprofessionals to intervene with behavior issues
Address types of feedback to use, tone and person first language
Discuss confidentiality and any specific safety or behavior concerns
Keep the lines of communication open to make adaptations
Provide upcoming lesson or unit plans and activities to help them prepare for ways they can assist in class
Additional Resources:
Paraprofessionals in Physical Education power point
Related Service Providers (RSP)
Case Manager
Speech Language Pathologist
School Psychologists
Social Worker
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
School Nurse
Considerations
Consult to review any needs for students (behavior, health, physical, language, etc)
Set the standard that there needs to be a collaborative effort; they are not to provide their individual service time during this course
Discuss roles of peer partners and how to keep the partner engaged with the student while the RSP is working on a specific skill
Examples of positive and meaningful interactions
School Psychologist leading a mini lesson on how to deal with frustrations in sport. That could lead to the class working on strategies like stopping to take a deep breath after a disappointing result. Peer partners, teachers and paraprofessionals can model this skill throughout the class.
Speech Language Pathologists working on “turn taking” vocabulary with a particular student. The SLP could model this vocabulary for the peer partner working with the classmate. The peer partner can then model and reinforce this concept throughout the class.
