Using Para Support in Zoom Breakout Rooms

Christal Schneider &

Stephanie Brown

Link to original video - 8min

● Why use them?● What are they?● How to use them● Cautions● Plan to implement● Practice, Practice!

Why?

● Some special education students are feeling very disorganized in the online learning world

● Paras are ready and willing to assist, they just need a way to provide the help

For the STUDENTS!

What are Breakout Rooms?

To happen here. . .

They allow this. . .

● Way to set up a separate Zoom session with a small group

● Will only see small group● Teacher can pop in● Small group can send messages

to teacher● Small group can return when

finished

Special Education Zoom Help Sessions

● Will be offered weekly through caseload Google Classrooms: same time each MTWUF● All special ed students & parents will be sent MTWUF Zoom links each week● Will send a pdf of schedule with new Zoom links each week to all staff● Contact Licensed Staff #1 if need to set up a student with a session

Teacher Meeting Controls

SecurityManage Participants

ChatBreakout Rooms

How the teacher assigns the breakout room

● As soon as you click “Open All Rooms” those participants have to click to accept. Then they disappear into their room.

Host Controls:● Host can see who is in each room.● Host can click on a room and enter

it at any time.● Host can remove anyone from that

room at any time by clicking on their name and selecting the option you want.

● Host can send them messages, and notify them that the meeting will end soon.

More host controls

Participant Controls: They can. . . ● “Leave” a breakout room and return to

the main session at any time● click a button to get the host’s

attention● share screen in breakout rooms● chat with the people within their same

room

Note: This is what screenshare controls look like on the HOST screen. Participant controls are a little different.

Participant Controls: They can. . . ● Use the whiteboard & annotate

features to write on a whiteboard

Note: This is what screenshare controls look like on the HOST screen. Participant controls are a little different.

Zoom Control Options: Whiteboard

● Can add textboxes with “Text” or write with the “Draw”● Stamp option has some shapes and ability to add an arrow● Whiteboard can be saved

Cautions!● Must assign 2 staff members to each

breakout room. (for accountability purposes)

● Must have 2 licensed staff members + 2 paras

● Need 2 licensed for main session.○ If teacher leaves the main session to

assist a room, then the main session is unsupervised if you don’t have 2nd licensed staff member.

● Must have a certified teacher hosting the session

Cautions! #2● Teacher cannot see into or monitor

the breakout rooms all at the same time. Teacher can only see into one room at a time.

● Monitor Chat session by turning it on for you to see what is entered

○ Do not need to use- just ensure that students are appropriate in Chat session

● If issue with student, notify teacher ASAP

● Always have the students “Leave the room” FIRST

Special Education Zoom Help Sessions

● Will be offered weekly through caseload Google Classrooms: same time each MTWUF● All special ed students & parents will be sent MTWUF Zoom links each week● Will send a pdf of schedule with new Zoom links each week to all staff● Contact Licensed Staff #1 if need to set up a student with a session

Special Education Zoom Help Sessions

● May be able to set up “as needed” additional Zoom Help Sessions with regular education teacher and 2 paras

○ Contact IEP Case Manager at least 1 day in advance

○ Will need 2 licensed staff members + 2 paras■ If have other students in Zoom session and

using the Breakout Room

Ready to Practice?