Preparing for Success: The Importance of Training and Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year

 As the 2023-24 school year comes to a close, it's a time for reflection and preparation. At Practical Solutions for behavior and instruction LLC, it is understood that the end of one school year marks the beginning of planning for the next. Training is a crucial part of this planning process, ensuring that educators and staff are equipped with practical solutions to face new challenges head on. Using ABA strategies to build effective programs can benefit all.

• Reflection 
• Evaluate Successes and Challenges: A review of the past year will guide the plans for the next. This is a critical step for efficiency and effectiveness. 
• Identify Training Needs: Consider what didn't work and the areas where training can fill the gaps.  Also consider what did work for existing staff. New staff may require training in those areas. 

• The Value of Training-Planning for 2024-25
• Proactive Skill Development: Training from ahead/at the start of the year will ensure staff are well prepared. This will foster confidence and reduce stress levels allowing the focus to be on students. It also sets the stage for program expectations and philosophies.
• Adaptation to Change: Training in advance is important for helping educators adapt to any new policies or methods introduced in 2024-25.
• Building Confidence: Training aids in boosting the confidence of educators, enabling them to enter the new school year with a positive mindset.

• Practical Solutions Offered by Practical Solutions for behavior and instruction LLC
• Customized Training Programs
• Evidence Based Strategies
• Flexible Learning Options 

• Preparing for Behavioral Challenges
• Behavioral Interventions: As one of the leading barriers to student learning, behavioral challenges require an understanding of behavior in order to plan and respond appropriately.  This will save time, energy, and social emotional implications. 
• Reinforcement Techniques: As one of the most impactful and productive methods of addressing behavior challenges, it is more difficult that it seems. Reinforcement requires an understanding of behavior, individuals, and its counterpart- punishment. Lacking the knowledge can lead to negative environments and undesired outcomes.

• Progressive ABA *Not only for students with autism/neurodiversity
• Evidence Based Teaching Strategies: Teaching the way students learn (behaviorally: positive behavior/learning how to learn-foundational learning skills/academics).
• Classroom Management Skills: Most understand the basics but what about the rest? Critical components often missed when planning and executing.

• Real-World Success Stories
• Effective Outcomes:
• 5-day workshop: prerequisite for advanced training: overall staff rating 4.8 out of 5
• Full class take over- 3-10 days: chaos to calm
• Partial class takeover- 1 hour per day for 10 days: structure and behavior programs
• Class lab intensive training- individual programs and training model for classes

Conclusion

Training is critical for staff but often undervalued. Effective training that addresses the needs outlined above is typically a process rather than a one-time, check-the-box event. Studies suggest that didactic training alone has 0% classroom application, while training combined with coaching, consultation, and administration support boasts a 95% carryover, especially when working with motivated and reinforced trainees. 

At Practical Solutions for behavior and instruction LLC, training is customized to the wants and needs, strengths, and weaknesses of each client. With extensive experience in a progressive approach to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for school settings and staff training, the outcomes are lasting. Students learn, staff teach, and families are satisfied. The methods taught are evidence based, compassionate, fun, and practical. *sample feedback from participants of 5-day workshops.