DIRECTORS' MESSAGE

Welcome to the February edition of TA Talk. We hope that you are well settled into the school year.

At ATA, we know we are in 'full swing' when we host our first live web event for the year! Last week, we presented an Introduction to Functional Behaviour Assessment, and although it was held on Valentine’s Day, we had a terrific turnout! Thanks to Claire, our amazing in-house video editor, the recording is already in our Professional Development library.

We are excited to announce a newly published web event in June on the Australian Standards for Paraprofessional Educators in Schools, where we will be unpacking the career stages and expectations. The Standards are 'history in the making' and we hope you will be able to join us, hear where we are at, and share your feedback.

We continue our commitment to make our resources more accessible to people with hearing impairment, and have now added closed captions to all of our 2021 and 2022 video resources, as well as our evidence based series, Effective Teacher Aide Practices for Schools. You can use our Professional Development Planner to see which resources are captioned.  

So far this year, 15 new schools have participated in orientations with ATA. These 40 minute sessions are a great way to become familiar with our member portal, and from your comments we know you find them of value to your performance and development planning. These sessions are not only for new member schools, so if you have had staff changes, or you would like a refresher orientation, please get in touch.

Lastly, have you heard about our new live Q&A sessions? Each Wednesday and Friday, you can meet with our team to ask questions and receive assistance on using the ATA professional learning resources and member portal. Let's chat online soon!

Warm regards

Stella and Mandy

NEW LIVE Q&A SUPPORT 

Do you need help to navigate your way around the member portal, find resources, create CPD Diary entries, or create a membership?

No problem! Simply join one of our live Q&A support sessions on Wednesday or Friday, each week, and get your questions answered directly by one of our friendly team.

And if that doesn't suit, use our Contact Us form, email us info@australianteacheraide.com.au or pick up the phone 07 52111556. We are here to help you with your professional learning goals!

UPCOMING EVENT

STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE OR DIALECT

Join Dr. Jane Wenlock, Learning Support Coordinator at Kolbe Catholic College in Victoria, to learn: 

• What is a second language learner
• The difficulties English language learners face
• The journey students may have had in learning English.

Jane will also share practical strategies and resources for students who are learning English as an additional language or dialect.

Join us on Tuesday 14 March at 3.30pm AEST. Please check times for your State.

 NEW RESOURCE

INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOUR ASSESSMENT

Learn about functional behaviour assessment (FBA), an evidence-based approach used in PBL schools to identify and understand challenging behaviours, and come up with possible solutions.

This is what Anita from Victoria said about the presentation by John Mayes: I'm just super keen to share this knowledge with my teacher back in the classroom and the other support staff that I work with. We have many complex behavioural issues within our school (special school) so lots of great ideas. We use the PBS system so this training today complements this system very well. 

AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS FOR PARAPROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS

The IRG working group met this month to continue work on the expectations.

Each Standard will have a set of expectations that describe what paraprofessional educators know and do, at each of the four career stages: Early Career, Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead.

To ensure the expectations are relevant to paraprofessional educators, we plan to make the expectations available for feedback, over the coming months.

In June you will also have a final opportunity to provide feedback, at a live web event, when we will be unpacking the career stages, and expectations.

WHAT'S TRENDING ON THE ATA FACEBOOK PAGE

A wish for the week ahead

21,567 views
950 reactions, comments and shares

We posted this on a Sunday to help you along with an awesome start to the week. And according to your comments, it certainly did! 

Leaders in Professional Learning for Schools

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