The Prompt Hierarchy
This is the most intrusive type of prompt, where you physically guide a student's hand to complete a task.
What is a full physical prompt? (Hand-over-hand)
This tool uses pictures to show a student exactly what task they need to complete first before they can earn a preferred choice or break.
What is a "First-Then" board?
Discussing a student's behavior or progress with a neighborhood friend or a teacher who doesn't work with that student is a violation of this federal law.
What is FERPA? (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
This is the person who is ultimately responsible for designing lesson plans, setting behavioral interventions, and communicating directly with parents.
Who is the supervising classroom teacher?
This acronym stands for the device or system a non-verbal student uses to communicate, such as an iPad with a speech app or a picture book.
What is AAC? (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Pointing to a visual schedule or tapping the desk next to a worksheet are examples of this type of prompt.
What is a visual or gestural prompt?
These are the four primary functions of behavior, often remembered by the acronym E.A.T.S.
What are Escape, Attention, Tangible, and Sensory?
This is the acronym for the legally binding document that outlines a student's specialized goals, accommodations, and services.
What is an IEP? (Individualized Education Program)
This quick, non-verbal classroom tool helps a paraprofessional track how often a specific behavior occurs over a set period.
What is a data sheet or tally counter?
This acronym refers to a detailed plan created by a team to specifically target, track, and reduce a student's challenging behaviors while teaching replacement skills.
What is a BIP? (Behavior Intervention Plan)
This is the practice of waiting a set number of seconds (usually 3 to 5) before providing a prompt, giving the student a chance to answer independently.
What is time delay?
This term refers to what happens immediately before a behavior occurs, which often serves as the trigger.
What is an antecedent?
Changes to how a student accesses the curriculum—such as getting extra time, frequent breaks, or a visual schedule—are known by this term.
What are accommodations?
To build a strong partnership, paras and teachers should establish this at the start of the year regarding when and how to step in during a lesson.
What are classroom expectations or boundaries?
Special education law mandates that students must be educated in the LRE, which stands for this.
What is Least Restrictive Environment?
If you say, "What comes next?" or "Look at your paper," you are using this type of prompt, which can be hard for students to fade away from.
What is a verbal prompt?
When a student is in a high-escalation or crisis state, you should stop teaching new demands, maximize safety, and do this to your own verbal communication.
What is minimize it? (Keep words short, neutral, and to a minimum)
True or False: Paraprofessionals are legally allowed to attend IEP meetings or sign off on official adjustments without the supervising teacher present.
This term describes the optimal physical position a para should take during independent work time to prevent a student from becoming dependent on their presence.
What is keeping a physical distance or proximity fade?
This acronym describes a highly structured behavioral framework often used in classrooms, focusing on reinforcing positive student actions rather than just punishing negative ones.
What is PBIS? (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)
This term describes the ultimate goal of prompt hierarchy, where support is gradually removed so the student can perform the skill on their own.
What is prompt fading?
This strategy involves reinforcing a student for doing something that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior, like giving a high-five so they can't hit.
What is DRI? (Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior)
If a parent asks you in the hallway or grocery store how their child's behavior evaluation is going, this is the best, most professional response.
What is directing them to the case manager or supervising teacher?
This is the most professional way to handle a disagreement or communication issue regarding classroom management with your lead teacher.
What is discussing it privately outside of instructional time?
This acronym refers to the formal evaluation process used to determine why a student is engaging in a specific interfering behavior.
What is an FBA? (Functional Behavior Assessment)