Improving Instruction in Head Start Preschool Classrooms Through Feedback and Support to Teachers

Using Performance Feedback to Support Paraprofessionals in Inclusive Preschool Classrooms

“…Researchers have investigated the use of performance feedback for professional development (Barton & Wolery, 2007; Boat et al, 2009; Brown & Woods, 2011; Casey & McWilliam, 2008, 2011; Hemmeter et al, 2011). In the field of education, performance feedback is defined as the process of providing “verbal, written, or graphical feedback about [teachers’] implementation of an intervention during an observation in an effort to improve their implementation during subsequent interventions” (Casey & McWilliam, 2011, p. 1).…”

“…In the field of education, performance feedback is defined as the process of providing “verbal, written, or graphical feedback about [teachers’] implementation of an intervention during an observation in an effort to improve their implementation during subsequent interventions” (Casey & McWilliam, 2011, p. 1). The field has identified performance feedback as a means for providing ongoing support following training to promote the implementation of evidence-based classroom practices such as positive verbal behaviors such as expansions (Barton & Wolery, 2007) and descriptive praise (Hemmeter et al, 2011), instructional strategies (Boat et al, 2009), incidental teaching (Casey & McWilliam, 2008), and family-centered practices (Brown & Woods, 2011), as well as early intervention home visiting practices (Marturana & Woods, 2012).…”