[Pibe-division] paraprofessionals

[Zephyr]

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mary jo hartle" <mjhartle23 at gmail.com>
To: "'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'" 
<pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 6:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] paraprofessionals


> HI,
> Ideally, I would argue that paras are mostly there to assist you as the
> certified teacher of blind students or TVI with things like transcribing,
> preparing materials, assisting a child in class, etc.  .  Since you are 
> the
> one with the specialization, degree, and or certification to teach blind
> students, ideally you should be providing the bulk of the Braille
> instruction to your students.  I would recommend generally that paras be
> used as back ups when you as the TBS cannot provide the Braille 
> instruction
> yourself due to other priority duties, high case loads, etc.  However, I
> recognize that we don't live in an idea leducational world, so if a para 
> is
> going to assist in teaching Braille, I would recommend that these
> individuals be fluent in both contracted and uncontracted Braille, know 
> how
> to use a Braille writer and slate so that they can also teach these tools,
> and know basic Braille rules, i.e, when certain signs take precedence, 
> when
> you use certain signs like where syllables might divide a word in the 
> middle
> of a contraction--know what the rule is for these kinds of words, etc. 
> (e.g.
> you don't use the ea sign in writing the word east).  I would also 
> recommend
> that if paras are going to teach Braille, they also have knowledge in 
> nemoth
> code--at least the basics so that this is also taught along side literary
> Braille as it corresponds to the child's math learning. (e.g. a
> kindergartener should be learning nemoth numbers at the same time their
> peers are learning numbers, and function signs like plus, minus, divide, 
> and
> multiply should be introduced in nemoth at the same time the student is
> learning them in class.)
> With respect to teaching other skills, I would apply the same
> philosophy.  You are the certified teacher and therefore ideally should be
> providing the direct instruction,  and the paras should be there to assist
> you--help prepare the materials and transcribe so that your time is more
> free to provide such instruction,  help make your job easier, and to help
> reinforce the skills you are teaching when you are not with that student.
> Just my thoughts.
> Mary Jo Hartle, Med, NOMC
> Certified Teacher of Blind Students
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf of
> Marianne Denning
> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:59 PM
> To: aernet; Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
> Subject: [Pibe-division] paraprofessionals
>
> I am giving a presentation to parents about the parts of the IEP that
> are specific to visually impaired students.  I have a question for
> anyone who wishes to answer.  Many TVI's use paras to teach braille
> and other skills.  When would you use a para for this and what should
> that individual's qualifications be?  Thanks in advance for any ideas.
>
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