presented by: allegheny intermediate unit (adapted from pattan training series) ”i have come to...

Presented by:Allegheny Intermediate Unit(Adapted from Pattan Training Series)

”I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is

my personal approach that creates the climate.” Hiam Ginott

Local Policy

Your local school district, IU, preschool or employing agency’s policies regarding paraeducator job descriptions, duties, and responsibilities provide the final word!

Learner OutcomesParticipants will:

Describe characteristics of a positive work environment.

List ways individuals support and maintain a positive atmosphere in their workplace.

Learner Outcomes (cont.)

Participants will:

Discuss specific ways to respond to difficult people and situations within the work setting.

IntroductionWhy a Positive Work Climate is Important

What Makes a Good DayGood Weather Starts With You!

How to Change the ClimateWith StudentsWith Other Adults in the Classroom

In the School

When a Positive Attitude Isn’t EnoughDealing with Difficult BehaviorsResolving Conflict

Why a Positive Work Climate is Important

Better place to workBetter place to be a studentBetter for the educational team

What Makes a Good Day?Think about one especially good day at work…

In a small group…Share your good day story with your

groupIdentify the characteristics that made

that a good dayHave a volunteer list your responsesShare out

Good Weather Starts With You!

Why a positive attitude is important

How to get and keep a positive attitude

Why a Positive Attitude Is Important

What is a positive attitude?Good for you

PhysicallyMentally

Good for your students

Good

Weath

er

Starts

With

You!

Why a Positive Attitude

Is ImportantWhat is a positive attitude?Good for you

PhysicallyMentally

Good for your students

Good

Weath

er

Starts

With

You!

Why a Positive Attitude

Is ImportantWhat is a positive attitude?Good for you

PhysicallyMentally

Good for your students

Good

Weath

er

Starts

With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude

Choose your attitudePlayFocus on the positiveMake someone’s day

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude

Choose Your AttitudeSmileBe polite, friendly, helpfulPractice “positive self-talk”

Activity about recognizing “negative self-talk”

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude

Choose Your AttitudeSmileBe polite, friendly, helpfulPractice “positive self-talk”

Activity about recognizing “negative self-talk”

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude (cont.)

PlaySee the humorLaughPlan for funReward yourself

Turn to a neighbor and think of three ways to make your workplace more fun.

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude (cont.)

Be focused on the positive

Keep a record of positive thingsShare positive thoughtsChange your vocabularySTOP negative thoughts

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude (cont.)

Make Someone’s Day!Another adult at schoolA student

Turn to a neighbor and think of three ways you can improve the day of someone you work with and three ways you can “make the day” for a student.

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Get and Keep A Positive Attitude (cont.)

Make Someone’s Day!Another adult at schoolA student

Turn to a neighbor and think of three ways you can improve the day of someone you work with and three ways you can “make the day” for a student.

Good

Weather

Starts With

You!

How to Change the Workplace Climate

With StudentsWith Other Adults in the Classroom

In the Entire School

With StudentsTreat students with respectLook for opportunities to praise studentsTurn a negative into a positiveMake their day

How to

Change the

Climate

With StudentsTreat students with respectLook for opportunities to praise studentsTurn a negative into a positiveMake their day

How to

Change the

Climate

With Students (cont.)How to

Change the

Climate

•Respond to negative student behaviors in a professional manner

•Don’t take it personally

•View as a teaching opportunity

With Students (cont.)

How to

Change the

Climate

•Respond to negative student behaviors in a professional manner

•Don’t take it personally

•View as a teaching opportunity

With Students (cont.)

Avoid Management TrapsPassionate disciplinePreachingQuestioning

How to

Change the

Climate

With Other Adults In the Class

Use effective communication strategies

Active listenerObjective reportingBe aware of “filters”

How to

Change the

Climate

With Other Adults In the Class

Be responsible, honest, loyal and show integrity

How to

Change the

Climate

With Other Adults In the Class

Learn to give and receive compliments

How to

Change the

Climate

With Other Adults In the Class

Learn to give and receive compliments

How to

Change the

Climate

In the Entire School

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Treat others with respectRecognize the levels of authority and sphere of influence

Obey school rules

How to

Change the

Climate

In the Entire School

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Treat others with respectRecognize the levels of authority and sphere of influence

Obey school rules

How to

Change the

Climate

When a Positive Attitude Isn’t Enough

Dealing with Negativity and Other Difficult Behaviors

Resolving Conflicts

Dealing with Negativity and Other Difficult Behaviors

Physical

Symptom

s

Feel like

quitting

Want

revenge

Can’t function

Make

mistakes

Short-tempered

Irritable

Hold back ideas

Is it getting to you?

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Dealing with Negativity and Other Difficult Behaviors

What you can do about negativity

Get specificLet it goChoose to be positive

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Dealing with Negativity and Other Difficult Behaviors

What you can do about verbal assault

Silent refocusCaring comebackWrite it down

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Resolving ConflictsHow do you respond to conflict?

Think of your work setting and people with whom you occasionally may have conflict

Place a check in the box next to each statement on the form that best describes how you respond when conflicts arise

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Resolving Conflicts (cont.)

Use “I” messagesthe feelingthe situation the reason

“I feel__________when________ because____________.”

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Resolving Conflicts (cont.)

With Adults

Find a good time to talkListen carefully, speak carefullyTake the time to get at the real problemFocus on what you can do to solve the

conflictTake action and evaluate the situation over

time

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Resolving Conflicts (cont.)

With Students

Give clear directionsDo not argue with a studentBring concerns about non-compliance to your

partner teacher or supervisor

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Resolving Conflicts (cont.)

Once an issue has been resolved

LET IT GO

And help things get back to normal

When a Positive

Attitude Isn

’t

Enough

Resources and ReferencesLundin, S., Paul, H. & Christensen, J. Fish: A

Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results. New York: Hyperion, 2000.

Project Para. University of Nevada Las Vegas:http://para.unl.edu

Sprick, R. Garrison, M. & Howard, L. ParaPro: Supporting the Instructional Process. Longmont, CO: Sopris West, 2000.

Learner OutcomesParticipants will:Describe characteristics of a positive work environment.

List ways individuals support and maintain a positive atmosphere in their work.

Learner Outcomes (cont.)

Participants will:

Discuss specific ways to respond to difficult people and situations within the work setting.

Questions

para@pattan.net