Para Training PD: Calm Moves for Paras, 20-Minute De-escalation Module, High School

A ready to run 20 minute deescalation training for paraprofessionals. It gives paras a short set of everyday calm moves they can use in the classroom, the hallway, at lunch, and at arrival, without a half day binder.

Who it is for: special education teachers, case managers, and coordinators who supervise paras, plus principals and coaches who need a short para PD that fits in one staff huddle. It is written for secondary teams but works at any grade.

Why I made this: I have more than 20 years in education, mostly with secondary students in special education, and a lot of that time side by side with paras. I have trained teachers in crisis prevention and deescalation for 15 years. Paras are often the closest adult when a student starts to heat up, and they rarely get training that fits their day. This module does.

What's included (18 slides plus 9 PDF pages):

• Start Here page with a 3 step run plan, 1 page

• Facilitator notes: a 20 minute run of show, what to say, and a timing cheat sheet, 3 pages

• 18 slides with speaker notes on every slide, editable PowerPoint plus an 18 page PDF copy

• Say This, Not That handout, 1 page per para

• Module 1 Check, 10 questions, 2 pages, with a 1 page answer key

• Certificate of Completion, 1 page

How I use it: Print the handout and the check. Open the slides. Run it in a staff huddle or PD block in about 20 minutes and hand out certificates at the end. I like to run it at the start of the year and again after winter break, then follow up with one calm move per week in huddles. The everyday moments it covers are things like a student shutting down at a work station, pacing in the hallway, or getting loud at lunch.

What you download: one zip with 8 files in one folder: 7 PDFs and an editable PowerPoint. The slides open in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Keynote. Pages are US Letter.

Scope: the adult is the key to a calm room. This module is everyday calm support, not emergency or restraint protocol training. Follow your district's crisis procedures.

If you want the full staff version, the Calm the Room Method Staff PD Kit in my shop covers the whole four step method for all staff.

Made by Jeremy D. Gooch, special education teacher and transition coordinator. Drafting and layout had AI assistance; every page was checked by me.