Mary Amoson
CEPD 8101
Community Service Presentation
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Dinosaur Program
Base school- Welch Elementary
240 Mary Freeman Road
 770-254-2597
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Staff-2
Teacher- Jena Hamilton- contact person
 TA- Shannon Schmieder
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Supervisors-2
Pre K and Federal Program DirectorDr. David Gregory- 770-254-2810
 Elementary Curriculum DirectorDr. Karen Barker- 770- 254-2810
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The purpose of this program is to modify the
behavior of Pre K and K students.
The goal is to meet the needs of regular
students so they do not have to be served
through Special Education.
The goals are met through whole group, small
group, and individual lesson taught from
August to December. In January, the program
offers a self-contained, yet collaborative
Kindergarten class to continue assistance.
Jena Hamilton
Teacher
Shannon
Schmieder
Teaching Assistant
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The program starts each school year by teaching whole
group lessons to interested Pre-K and K classroom.
The topics vary as the needs of the classroom teacher
vary; listening skills, following rules in the classroom,
doing your best and lunchroom manners.
The program then started to pullout students to teach
lessons dealing with anger, being a good friend, and
other specific topics as teachers have needs.
Next, the program begins intensive one-on-one lessons
to help modify very specific and inappropriate
behaviors.
In January, they start a self contained classroom for
students who are still displaying behaviors that are
keeping them from being able to learn and participate
and prohibiting learning of others.
*Jena Hamilton is also used to observe students and
help with SST strategies for individual students,
conduct teacher training and parent meetings.
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In the 2007-2008 school year, 198 students were
served through the Dinosaur Program.
This year the numbers are not available yet
because it is just too early in the year.
All clients must be Pre-K or Kindergarten
students in Coweta County Schools who need
behavioral assistance.
Most of the clients seen are bright and capable
but have never been taught vital behavioral
strategies before entering school.
Jena Hamilton is using puppets to teach this small group about
good and bad choices to students.
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Base School- Welch Elementary
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Must be a Title I school
Must be on the Needs Improvement List
Schools Served- 16 elementary schools are
currently being served out of 17.
Work in any open area with pullout students
from all schools served.
Self contained classroom is at Welch starting in
January.
Type of
Service
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My volunteer hours were
spent working with students
with behavioral issues in PreK and K .
I observed the lessons and
dynamics of the students,
along with the behavioral
modifications.
I helped to teach the lessons
and talk with student about
modifying their behaviors.
I also helped by interacting
with students in the “Dina
Den.”
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“An increasing number of children who enter the doors of
preschools and kindergarten classrooms lack the basic social
skills to interact positively with others, to solve problems, to
follow directions, and to participate in preacademic and
social learning.” McGinnis and Goldstien, 2003)
“It is difficult if not impossible to teach a child who lacks the
basic social skills, especially with the increasing demand of
academics we require.“ (McGinnis and Goldstien, 2003)
McGinnis, E, & Goldstein, A (2003). Skillstreaming In early childhood; new strategies and perspectives for
teaching prosocial skills .New York: Research Press.
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Piaget’s pre-operational stage is from ages two to seven.
According to Piaget’s Theory, this age of students “contemplate
action and become increasing aware of how their behavior brings
either desired rewards, smiles, hugs, or words of praise, or
undesired punishments, frown, reprimand, or loss of privileges.”
(McGinnis and Goldstein, 2003)
Bandura has taught the importance of modeling, rehearsing, and
social reinforcement. The Dina Program uses
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Modeling-situations are acted out
Rehearsing- practice making good choices and correct behaviors
Social reinforcement- positive behaviors are rewarded and negative
behaviors are not
McGinnis, E, & Goldstein, A (2003). Skillstreaming In early childhood; new strategies and perspectives for
teaching prosocial skills .New York: Research Press.
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In the 2007-2008 school year, 198 students were
served through this program. Only 9 students
ended up in a self-contained classroom.
I had a student, KA, who was greatly helped for
extreme behaviors last school year. He was placed
in the self-contained classroom for 6 weeks, but
was able to return to a regular education room. He
was tested into the Gifted Program and remains in
a regular education first grade classroom today.
I also learned strategies to help with others who
may exhibit extreme behaviors and help modify
them before they get out of control.