Wednesday, July 26, 2017

IA Handbooks and IEP at a Glance

This year I've decided to put together handbooks for the instructional assistants in my classroom. In the past I have always just done everything verbally but I felt as if I was having to go over things at least monthly regarding expectations I had for my IA's and also for my kids. I've had long term subs come in and also have had changes in staff throughout the year. Now, all the information will be in one place. All I will have to do is hand any new aide a handbook that will have all the information they will need about my classroom and my kids. The handbook will also include my IEP at a glance form for each student in our room. It includes basic information about each student, their goals and a list of activities the IA's can work on with the kids that will help us achieve the goal (games, task box numbers, etc.).
Let me tell you what's included in the handbook.

1. Descriptions/characteristics of exceptionalities of the students you will be working with
2. Your role in the classroom
3. Expectations
4. Classroom guidelines
5. Dealing with behaviors
6. Welcome to Holland poem
7. IEP at a Glance (for each student in our room)
8. Sample - Goal Date Tracking Form
9. Student cleaning schedule for the year (by table)
10. District attendance calendar
11. Early out/late start calendar 

I am hoping the handbooks will be received well and they appreciate the information inside. I do plan on us going over it together within the first week of school. I am hoping that there will no longer be excuses of not knowing things as I will be able to refer back to the handbooks when needed. I am hoping too that they will now have more information regarding other students in our room and not just the 3 at their table who they are responsible for. 

I did run it by a good friend who is an IA at a different school (and a union rep) as well as my admin just to make sure everything in the handbook was fair of me to ask of them. I'll let you know what my aides think of their new handbooks in a few weeks.
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16 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 27, 2017 at 7:30 PM

    Hi Karen! I would just like to thank you so much for this blog. I just got hired for the same type of Transition Program in Ohio, and I am at a loss for activities. Thank you so much for all of this information. I am actually a Social Studies teacher making the tradition to special ed myself. :) I think I will be back all of the time for information.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KarenJuly 27, 2017 at 9:12 PM

    You're going to love it! Let me know if I can help out at all!

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  4. KarenAugust 4, 2017 at 9:02 PM

    I'm not going to sell it as I got all the ideas from others handbooks, but i'll send it to you if you email me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. CarolAugust 9, 2017 at 3:03 AM

    Hi,
    I am just starting a program similar to yours and have very little resources and 16 kiddos. I love your blog and find the teaching ideas incredibly helpful. I would love to use your handbook template if you are willing to share.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownAugust 22, 2017 at 2:11 PM

    I would love to use your handbook to get something similar made for my staff in my room. If you are willing, here is my email. jessica_kennedy@roseauschool.org. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. IsabellNovember 27, 2017 at 9:13 PM

    I would love to use it in my classroom. If you would be able to share it here is my email. Jackson_n@auhsd.us
    Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LizJune 3, 2018 at 6:56 AM

    Hi Karen,

    As this year comes to a close and I am getting new students next year and new aides, I'd love to make this for my IA's as you have. If you are able to, could you email the template you use? my email is: ljefferson@gnspes.ca

    Thank you for all you do and my students (and I!) LOVE the resources you make on TPT!!!!

    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  9. Melissa PorterJuly 10, 2019 at 10:54 AM

    I’m an instructional assistant in Kentucky...going on my 3rd year now. I would love to view this....May i?? Melissapporternky@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  10. StacyAugust 5, 2019 at 10:56 PM

    I would love to refer to your handbook so that I can make something similar for the staff in my classroom (I will have 6 this year). If you are willing to share, I would love to see what you have. Here is my email: smchugh@pgsd.org

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownDecember 23, 2019 at 3:10 PM

    Hello Karen,

    As you might have guessed, this is a valuable resource and I would be extremely appreciative if you could send me a copy of the handbook as well. You are an amazing person for putting this together. My email address is sheryl.brown5@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Darlene MergendahlJanuary 22, 2020 at 9:35 AM

    I really like the idea of the IA handbook for your class. I am a TA and Union president. We just got a mentoring program for our unit and one of the admin asked if we had a handbook. I would love to be able to see yours for ideas. (It sounds like it would be helpful for us too. If you are willing to share my email is mergendahld@cacsd.org
    Thanks
    Darlene

    ReplyDelete
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  14. UnknownDecember 7, 2020 at 8:43 AM

    Hi! I just stumbled across this and I am so excited! I teach Life Skills to 6-8 graders and have 3 paraprofessionals/IAs in my classroom. Please email me what you've created at aunderwood4518@pcssd.org Thanks so much!!

    ReplyDelete
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