EDUCATORS

Autism for School Personnel

Individual Student Behavior

Classroom Management

School-wide Positive Behavior

Special Education Mandated Training

PARENTS/CAREGIVERS

Workshops



Autism Workshops

 

AUTISM OVERVIEW

 

Description and Objectives:  Students with autism spectrum disorders face unique challenges, and in turn, present unique challenges.  Although their behavior appears much like behavior seen by students with other disabilities, the cognitive processes (the reasons) behind the behaviors are very different.  Typical behavior management strategies are not usually successful with these students because of these neurological differences.  In fact, behavior management strategies that are successful with others often exacerbate the difficulties of these students.  This workshop focuses on how these students process information and strategies that are more successful with this population. 

 

Target Audience:  District and campus administrators, nurses, counselors, and other staff members who require a working knowledge of this population, but are not responsible for day-to-day education or assessment of these students

 

Time:  3 hours

   


 

SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

 

Description and Objectives:  Students on the autism spectrum present unique challenges in the classroom.  Many of these students have average or above intellect and are served in the general education classroom w/supporting services such as speech, resource, and/or occupational therapy while others may not qualify for special education services at all.  Regardless of their cognitive level, however, they often demonstrate behavioral problems in the classroom. 

Individuals with ASD process information differently, causing difficulty in speech and communication, behavior, and social skills.  They display uneven skill development, often excelling in areas such as math and science and lagging behind in language arts.  Typical behavior management strategies are not usually successful with these students, and often exacerbate their difficulties. 

This workshop explains the challenges students with an autism spectrum disorder present to the classroom teacher.  Common characteristics and areas of difficulty these students experience will be explained as well as how those difficulties interfere with the student’s academic and behavioral progress.  In addition, practical strategies that can be effectively implemented in the classroom will be taught. 

 

Target Audience:  General and special education teachers, counselors, speech and language pathologists, and assessment staff for all levels of students

 

Time:  6 hours                                                        

 


 

MEETING THE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGE

OF STUDENTS WITH AUTISM

(MAKE AND TAKE)

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn practical strategies such as writing informational stories, using visual cues, and using visual schedules to help students be more successful in the classroom.  Participants will be given time during the workshop to write an informational story and have it critiqued to ensure they understand the concepts and so they have a finished product they can use the moment they get back to their classrooms.  They will also begin to make a visual schedule for one of their students.

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, Speech and Language Pathologists

Materials:  Participants will need to bring scissors, tape, glue or glue sticks, and colored markers.  (Extra materials fee will be required.)

Time:  6 hours                                                                                                   

 


 

USING INFORMATIONAL STORIES TO ADDRESS

BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN THE CLASSROOM

(MAKE AND TAKE)

 

Description and Objectives:  Provide information regarding what informational stories are, how they work, how to write them, and how to use them.  Participants will be given time during the workshop to write an informational story and have it critiqued to ensure they understand the concepts and so they have a finished product they can use the moment they get back to their classrooms.

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists, Licensed Specialists of School Psychology, Counselors, Paraprofessionals, and Administrators. 

Materials:  Participants will need a pen/pencil and paper on which to write an informational story.

For Use With:  Students who have limited understanding of behavioral expectations in various social situations (i.e., students with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Mild Mental Retardation, etc.)  Effective strategy for students who are nonverbal as well as hyper-verbal; low cognitive functioning as well as gifted intellectually; ages 3-22. 

Time:  3 hours  

                                                                                             


 

VISUAL STRATEGIES

FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM

(MAKE AND TAKE)

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn to incorporate visual cues in your classroom, the importance of visual schedules, how to create a schedule within a schedule, and how to use a visual schedule.  Participants will be given time to begin making schedules for their students.

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, Speech and Language Pathologists

Materials:  Participants will need to bring scissors, tape, glue or glue sticks, and colored markers.  (Extra materials fee will be required.)

Time:  3 hours                                                                                               

 


 

 

USING VISUAL SCHEDULES

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn the importance of visual schedules; how to create a schedule within a schedule; how to use a visual schedule. 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, Speech and Language Pathologists

Time:  1 hour                                                                                                    

 

  

 

Workshops for Individual Behavior Problems

 

 

BEHAVIOR BASICS FOR ADMINISTRATORS

Description and Objectives:  Overview of basic information administrators should know about positive behavior support in order to adequately supervise staff members who write behavior plans for students.  Information will be provided on using reinforcement and consequences, determining the function of the behavior, identifying and measuring replacement behaviors, using data to measure progress, structuring an intervention plan, and troubleshooting.

Target Audience:  District and campus administrators

Time:  3 hours


 

BEHAVIOR BASICS

Description and Objectives:  Gain a clear understanding of how reinforcement, punishment, and function are related and how they can be manipulated to effect behavioral change.  Basic behavior principles are explained in simple language using real-life examples.  Good prerequisite for other more advanced classes.

Target Audience:  Anyone who desires a better understanding or good review of behavior principles

Time:  3 hours


 

DATA COLLECTION MADE BEARABLE

Description and Objectives:  Decisions should be based on reliable data, but who has time to take data?  You will if you follow the tips presented in this class.  Reliable data is essential for setting goals, gaining a better understanding of specific behaviors, and documenting progress.  Class also targets writing measurable behavioral goals and objectives.

Collecting accurate data can be quick and easy!  Reproducible charts and graphs are included in the hand-out.  Good companion class to Behavior 101.

Target Audience:  General and special education teachers and paraprofessionals of all levels

Time:  3 hours


THE ABCs OF FBAs, IEPs, AND BIPs

Description and Objectives:  Participants will gain a better understanding of basic behavior principles and how they can be used to change student behavior.  They will learn how to:

·        use reinforcement and punishment to shape more adaptive behavior

·        determine the probable purpose of the misbehavior (FBA – functional behavior assessment)

·        collect and analyze data to determine the success of interventions

·        write measurable behavior goals and objectives (IEP – individualized education plan)

·        modify the conditions that perpetuate misbehavior

·        integrate all the factors into a practical, manageable behavior intervention plan (BIP)

The strategies and techniques presented in this workshop are appropriate for general education or special education students of any age, any cognitive level, and any classroom size.  This workshop focuses on individual student behavior, but the principles can also be used to develop classroom management plans.

Target Audience:   General and special education teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, and assessment staff

Time:  6 hours                                 

 

 

Classroom Management

 

 

TEACHING HUCK FINN

HOW TO REACH AT-RISK STUDENTS

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn the importance of the teacher-student relationship, the need for more positive behavior management techniques, the connection between academics and behavior, important classroom management techniques that work, effective motivation strategies, and the significance of ratio of interactions.

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers

Time:  3 hours                                                                                              

 


 

HOW TO GET WHAT YOU EXPECT

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn the importance of teaching your behavioral expectations and establishing routines; how to determine your expectations, and how and when to teach your expectations.  Participants will be given the time to begin the process of identifying expectations.  (Taken from CHAMPs: A Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management by Randall Sprick, et al. Ms. Kling has attended Dr. Sprick’s “Train the Trainer” workshop for CHAMPs.) 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers

Time:  3 hours

                                                                                               


 

IF YOU EXPECT IT, TEACH IT!

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn the importance of teaching your behavioral expectations and establishing routines; how to determine your expectations, and how and when to teach your expectations.  Participants will be given the time to identify their activities and transitions, determine their expectations for at least one activity and one transition, and begin to write a lesson plan to teach their expectations.  (Taken from CHAMPs: A Proactive and Positive Approach to Classroom Management by Randall Sprick, et al. Ms. Kling has attended Dr. Sprick’s “Train the Trainer” workshop for CHAMPs.) 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers

Time:  6 hours

                                                                                                  


 

CHANGING BEHAVIOR; CHANGING LIVES

 

Description and Objectives:  Overview of basic behavior principles and how to use them to help your students make more adaptive behavioral choices.  Includes information regarding different types of classroom behavior management plans and several samples of both classroom and individual plans you can use in your classroom tomorrow.  Hand-outs include reproducible charts and diagrams. 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers, Paraprofessionals

Time:  6 hours                                                                                                   

 


 

TEACHING TECHNIQUES FOR NEW SKILL ACQUISITION

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn how to use various techniques such as chaining, backward chaining, precision commands, and shaping to teach new skills to students.  This workshop also focuses on collecting and using data, the importance of immediate reinforcement and punishment, the importance of consistency, and how to determine the function of the maladaptive behavior. 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals

Time:  6 hours                                                                                                   

 


 

PARAPRO: SUPPORTING THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESS

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn basic behavior management skills, the importance of confidentiality, how to take data, the importance of working as a team with the teacher, how to supervise students, and how to work with small groups and with individual students.  (This course is taken from ParaPro:  Supporting the Instructional Process written by Randy Sprick, et al.) 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Paraprofessionals

Time:  6 hours                                                                                                   

 


 

CHAMPs:  A Proactive and Positive Approach

to Classroom Management

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn how to organize your physical space and your daily schedule in the most effective manner possible; establish positive contacts with your students’ families; set long-range academic and behavioral goals for your students; define and teach behavioral expectations; set and teach classroom rules and routines; use behavior management principles effectively; conduct yourself as a professional; increase student motivation; and correct misbehavior.  This training program was written by Randy Sprick, et al.  Ms. Kling has attended Dr. Sprick’s “Train the Trainer” workshop for this program. 

Target Audience:  General and Special Education Teachers

Materials:  Participants may want to purchase the CHAMPs book

Time:  Three 6-hour sessions to be scheduled consecutively or over the course of the year.

 

 

 

School-wide Positive Behavior Support

 

 

FOUNDATIONS: 

ESTABLISHING POSITIVE DISCIPLINE POLICIES

 

Description and Objectives:  Provide training for a campus team in the process of using an on-going “improvement cycle” to lead the full campus staff in (1) using campus data to identify areas of strength and concern regarding the campus’s safety, civility, and productivity; (2) prioritizing areas of concern; (3) submitting proposals for improvement to the full staff for adoption; and (4) implementing adopted procedures.  This training program was written by Randy Sprick, et al.  Ms. Kling has attended Dr. Sprick’s “Train the Trainer” workshop for this program. 

Target Audience:  Campuses interested in improving the safety, civility, and productivity of their staff and students

Materials:  Campus will find it helpful to purchase the Foundations multi-media modules

Time:  Twelve 2-day in-services a year for the campus team of 5-8 members (depending on the size of the campus) which must include one building administrator. 

 

Special Education Mandated

 

 

TEXAS BEHAVIOR SUPPORT INITIATIVE

 

Description and Objectives:  State-mandated training on positive behavior support at the school-wide level, the classroom level, and the individual level. 

Target Audience:  All General and Special Education staff assigned to the campus core team for behavioral crisis, any staff member working with special education students who have a behavior intervention plan that specifies time-out as a strategy to be used, and all staff who work with special education students who are likely to require restraint.

Materials:  School district is required to purchase TBSI Binder for each participant. 

Time:  12 hours (Two 6-hour sessions)    

 

 

Parent/Caregiver Workshops

 

 

BEHAVIOR 101 FOR PARENTS

 

Description and Objectives:  Overview of basic behavioral principles such as using reinforcement and punishment, determining why your child demonstrates the behavior (the function of the behavior), how to select a replacement behavior, the importance of consistency, and setting realistic goals for your child’s behavior.    

Time:  2 hours

                                                                                                


 

BEHAVIOR   A,  B,  Cs FOR PARENTS

 

Description and Objectives:  Provide information regarding how antecedents, behavior, and punishment are interrelated; how to use the ABC relationship to effect behavioral change; and effective interventions to use at each part of the relationship.

Time:  2 hours                                                                                                  

 


 

AUTISM 101

 

Description and Objectives:  Provide basic, honest information about autism, some of the challenges these children face, and the delights they often are. 

Time:  2 hours                                                                                                  

 


 

AUTISM IN THE HOME

 

Description and Objectives:  Students with autism process information differently causing differences in communication skills, their reactions to sensory input, their social perceptions, and their unique view of the world – all which translate into behavioral challenges at home and in the community.  Learn practical strategies that will help your child with autism be more successful in the world in which we live. 

Time:  2 hours                                                                                                  

 


 

USING INFORMATIONAL STORIES TO ADDRESS

BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY

 

Description and Objectives:  Provide information regarding what informational stories are, how they work, how to write them, and how to use them.  Time will be given for participants to write an informational story to ensure they understand the concepts and to have a finished product they can use the moment they get home.

For Use With:  Students who have limited understanding of behavioral expectations in various social situations (i.e., students with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Mild Mental Retardation, etc.)  Effective strategy for students who are nonverbal as well as hyper-verbal; low cognitive functioning as well as gifted intellectually; ages 3-22. 

Time:  2 hours                                                                                                  

 


 

GOAL-SETTING BASICS FOR PARENTS

 

Description and Objectives:    Provide rationale for setting long-term and short-term goals for your children; how to use these goals to guide your parenting efforts; how to identify and analyze the skills your child will need to reach those goals; how to prioritize the skills your child needs; and how to teach the skills.

Time:  2 hours                                                                                                  

 


 

RAISING CHILDREN TO MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS

 

Description and Objectives:  Learn how to identify your expectations for your child, how to teach your child those expectations, and how to use positive and corrective feedback with your child to ensure the new behaviors are learned and demonstrated.

Time:  2 hours                                                                                                  

 


 

MISSION POSSIBLE:  RAISING

COMPETENT, RESPONSIBLE ADULTS

 

Description and Objectives:  Explains how your goals effect your parenting decisions, the importance of a solid positive relationship between parent and child, the importance of being consistent, understanding motivation concepts, and practical ways to improve your child’s self-management skills (executive functioning skills).

Time:  2 hours