Includes references.

"What does a great paraprofessional need to know and do?" Find out in this survival guide, equally useful for the brand-new paraprofessional or the 20-year classroom veteran. Packed with friendly guidance, practical tips, and relatable first-person stories, this book reveals the best ways to provide effective, respectful services to students in inclusive classrooms. The author, a teacher, professor, and educational consultant with more than 10 years of experience as a paraprofessional instructor, knows exactly how to help readers stop feeling overwhelmed so they can start making a difference. She answers all the urgent questions paraprofessionals have as they navigate their complex job in the inclusive classroom, showing readers how to: (1) provide skillful and subtle support to students while encouraging their independence; (2) resolve challenging behavior in gentle and positive ways; (3) find students' strengths and match support practices to them; (4) fade their support; (5) make informed decisions about content-specific accommodations, modifications, and adaptations; (6) presume competence and keep expectations high; (7) facilitate peer supports and friendships; (8) partner with teachers, SLPs, psychologists, families, and other members of the educational team; and (9) relieve their own stress and avoid burnout. To help them master the daily ups and downs of the inclusive classroom, paraprofessionals will get ready-to-use practical content: tips for supporting students with specific disabilities, helpful question-and-answer sections, examples of successful problem-solving, a quick-guide to acronyms in education, easy ideas for improving teamwork, and more. The essential guide for every paraprofessional--and a must-have for the educators and other professionals who support them--this empowering book takes the guesswork out of a critical classroom role and helps students with disabilities reach their full potential. Following About the Author, a Foreword: (Paula Kluth), a Preface, and Acknowledgments, this book presents: (1) The Paraprofessional; (2) Special Education; (3) Inclusive Education; (4) Collaborating with Others: Working within a Team; (5) Rethinking Students: Presuming Competence; (6) Providing Social Supports: Standing Back; (7) Providing Academic Support; (8) Providing Behavioral Supports; and (9) Supporting You Supporting Them: Self-Care. Appendices, references, and index are also included.