Empowering Paraprofessionals: The Key to Effective Reading Interventions in Schools

As educators, we often search for the next big solution to improve reading outcomes, overlooking a valuable resource already present in our schools—our paraprofessionals. These dedicated individuals play a vital role in supporting students across various capacities, yet they are frequently underutilized in one of the most critical areas: reading intervention.

The Untapped Potential of Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals are the unsung heroes of education. They provide invaluable support as special education aides, one-on-one assistants, classroom aides, after-school tutors, and more.   They work, oftentimes, out of the kindness of their hearts for very little pay and recognition. While some are given the responsibility of working with small groups in literacy support, they are often left without the proper training or resources to feel confident and effective in these roles.

In so many situations well-intentioned administrators and teachers ask the impossible of these wonderful people.  The request comes across as... “Here… do this job that I don’t want to do, and figure it out as you go.  No, there is no handbook or training that comes with your new position.  We believe in a sink or swim model of professional development.  If you make it past your first year, then we’ll talk.”  

We need to stop this nonsense immediately!   

This sink-or-swim approach leaves them frustrated and underprepared, despite their willingness to support students. It's time to recognize that paraprofessionals, when properly trained and supported, can be the key to boosting reading achievement for many students.

Why Well-Trained Paraprofessionals Matter in Reading Intervention

Paras (under the direction of a lead teacher) can make a significant impact on reading intervention programs when given the right tools and training. Here’s how schools can leverage their potential:

1. Reorganize and Maximize Resources:
   Take inventory of your current staff and determine how paraprofessionals can be more strategically placed to support reading interventions.

2. Develop a Student-Centered Intervention Model:
   Shift the focus from program labels to the specific needs of each student. Create flexible, needs-based interventions that allow paraprofessionals to address skill deficits effectively.

3. Provide Comprehensive Training in Reading Instruction:
   Equip paraprofessionals with knowledge in the five pillars of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This foundational training ensures they understand how to support each component.

4. Use Effective Scheduling and Assessment Protocols:
   Ensure that intervention sessions do not pull students away from core instruction. Implement a school-wide assessment protocol for regular screening and progress monitoring, and train paraprofessionals to use these assessments.

5. Invest in Targeted, Evidence-Based Curricula:
   Select evidence-based, skill-specific curricula that focus on the areas where students need the most help. Provide paraprofessionals with thorough training on how to use these resources to deliver direct, explicit instruction.

6. Cultivate Continuous Professional Growth:
   Continue to invest in paraprofessionals by providing ongoing professional development opportunities. Encourage them to build their toolkit and expand their instructional repertoire.

Paraeducators can be nurtured and trained to take on much of these intervention responsibilities at a fraction of the cost of multiple credentialed teachers.  Investing in paraprofessionals pays off in many ways. As they gain confidence and expertise, they become more self-sufficient and less reliant on constant guidance from lead teachers. They feel more valued as part of the educational team, and their increased competence directly benefits the students they serve.

So where do you start?   

If you are an administrator or teacher leader, look at your data.  Do you have a drop in reading scores in your school?  Do you have a current plan or approach that you use?  Is that approach working?  If not - CHANGE IT.  Get rid of the mindset...“We’ve always done it this way.”  That is a limiting belief.  It doesn’t belong in school where kids still need help.  

Do you truly value your paras?  Do you invest in their professional development so they can be most effective?  Have you asked them what they need?  

If you are a paraeducator, know your worth. Advocate for yourself and your students. Start a conversation with your colleagues and administrators about the support and training you need. Share this post and envision how things could be. Your impact is immense, and you deserve the resources to maximize it!

I have seen firsthand the transformative power of well-trained paraprofessionals in reading intervention programs. With the right support, they can help lift students out of reading slumps and onto the path of success. It requires commitment, time, and effort, but the rewards are invaluable—for our paraprofessionals, for our schools, and, most importantly, for our students. 

Our paraeducators are worth it.  And our kids are worth it.

Much love to you,

Emily Muccianti

Reading Specialist, 

Interventionist & Coach

Reading Diva