OPEPP Spring 2023 Workshop Flier
The Ohio Partnership for Excellence in Paraprofessional Preparation (OPEPP) is pleased to offer workshops to assist school districts in more effectively using paraprofessional services to support student learning. Paraprofessionals, teacher-para teams, and other district, school, and agency personnel are invited to participate. All workshops offer a combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Contact hours are provided for participants who attend Zoom sessions and complete workshop assignments.
Registration: Information and registration contacts for each workshop are provided below. Registration for each workshop closes 5 business days before the workshop begins.
Cost: Workshops are an OPEPP resource free of cost to both partner and non-partner districts. Individuals may also register free of charge.
Questions?
For questions about workshops or to register, contact Renee Mattson at mattsorr@ucmail.uc.edu
Workshop Details
Paraprofessionals who Work as Interveners
Workshop Description:
Interveners are support professionals who provide consistent one-to-one support throughout the instructional day to students with combined hearing-vision loss (dual sensory impairment). This workshop is designed to equip the practicing paraprofessional with the knowledge and skills needed to provide support to children with dual sensory impairment, better enabling them to meet their learning goals.
This workshop is best suited for educational teams who support one or more children with combined hearing-vision loss. Paraprofessionals who work as interveners – and the team members who also educate the child – should register and complete the workshop together.
By participating in this workshop, educators will:
- Describe deafblindness and its impact on access for children with combined hearing-vision loss;
- Demonstrate an understand the role of the intervener as part of the educational team for children with combined hearing-vision loss;
- Describe and use intervener support strategies; and,
- Identify how to obtain resources and training opportunities for interveners.
Participants will complete online learning activities in Moodle from February 1 – 25 and will participate in four live Zoom sessions facilitated by Drs. Karen Koehler & Doug Sturgeon. Live sessions occur from 4:00 – 5:00 pm on the following Wednesdays in February: 1, 8, 15, and 22.
Participants who complete workshop assignments and attend Zoom sessions receive up to 10 contact hours for participation.
To register for this workshop: Registration Link for PWI
If you have questions, please email Renee Mattson: mattsorr@ucmail.uc.edu
What Do You Sense? An Overview of the Seven Primary Senses
Workshop Description:
This flipped-style training is designed to support early intervention service providers, paraprofessionals, intervention specialists, general education teachers, and parents in understanding the senses. The content will provide a basic overview of how the seven senses function to inform the brain. The content will explore the major functions the senses provide on an everyday basis and provide examples of atypical behaviors indicating sensory dysfunction.
This workshop is best suited for teams interested in learning together and using the live sessions as opportunities to collaborate to support the sensory systems of their children.
By participating in this workshop, individuals will:
- Gain a basic understanding of the Distance senses: Vision and Hearing; Gain a basic understanding of the Contact senses: Touch, Taste and Smell;
- Gain a basic understanding of the Power senses: Vestibular and Proprioception Identify indicators and behaviors of atypical sensory systems;
- Practice observing and documenting atypical behaviors to share with the educational team; and,
- Collaborate with educational teams to support sensory systems of all learners.
Participants will complete online learning activities in Moodle from March 2 – 30 and will participate in five live Zoom sessions facilitated by Linda Bass-Johnoff. Live sessions occur from 4:00 – 5:00 pm on the following dates in March: 2, 8, 16, 23, & 30.
Participants who complete workshop assignments and attend Zoom sessions receive up to 8 contact hours for participation.
To register for this workshop: Registration Link for WDYS
Please email Renee Mattson with questions or concerns: mattsorr@ucmail.uc.edu
Supporting Paraprofessionals Through Mentoring
Workshop Description:
This flipped-style professional learning workshop explores best practices for mentoring paraprofessionals and the practical application of strategies that provide effective support to them. This workshop is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to support paraprofessionals, to better enable them to meet the instructional and behavioral needs of all children.
This workshop is best suited for educational team members who have a mentor – mentee relationship. Paraprofessionals – and the team members who mentor them – should register and complete the workshop together.
By participating in this workshop, educators will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role mentors play in supporting paraprofessionals in different contexts;
- Describe and use a variety of effective communication strategies with your mentor/mentee;
- Describe the importance of using good professional judgment and demonstrating professional attitudes and behaviors in mentoring relationships; and,
- Commit to personal professional growth to build the district’s capacity to meet the needs of all learners.
Participants will complete online learning activities in Moodle from April 10 – 29 and will participate in three live Zoom sessions facilitated by Kathleen Scott & LaTaunya Dunn. Live sessions occur from 4:30 – 5:30 pm on the following Thursdays in April: 20 and 27.
Participants who complete workshop assignments and attend Zoom sessions receive up to 10 contact hours for participation.
To register for this workshop: Registration Link for SPTM
Please email Renee Mattson with questions or concerns: mattsorr@ucmail.uc.edu
Behavior Management
Workshop Description:
This flipped-style training is designed to support early intervention service providers, paraprofessionals, intervention specialists, general education teachers, and parents in understanding how behavior is a form of communication; evidence-based practices for addressing social, emotional, and behavioral needs; and, how to use data to inform decisions about interacting with and instructing children.
This workshop is best suited for teams seeking to understand how to effectively address the social-emotional and behavioral needs of the children they serve. Teams can use the live sessions to problem-solve with other team members about effective strategies to address challenging behaviors they’re observing.
By participating in this workshop, individuals will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind effective methods for managing student behavior;
- Identify and use individual, classroom, and/or school-level strategies for helping students develop behavior awareness and management skills;
- Describe how classroom behavior management methods can align with more comprehensive systems of behavior management; and,
- Demonstrate an understanding about how to collect and make use of student data to inform and improve behavior management strategies and plans.
Participants will complete online learning activities in Moodle from May 3 – June 28 and will participate in five live Zoom sessions facilitated by Renee Mattson. Live sessions occur from 4:00 – 5:00 pm on the following dates: May 3, 17, 31 & June 14, 28.
Participants who complete workshop assignments and attend Zoom sessions receive up to 30 contact hours for participation.
Compensation can be provided for PD that extends into the summer.
To register for this workshop: Registration Link for Behavior Management
Please email Renee Mattson with questions or concerns: mattsorr@ucmail.uc.edu