Effects of a Manualized Teacher-Led Coaching Intervention on Paraprofessional Use of Behavior-Specific Praise

Paraprofessionals are an essential part of special education. School districts increasingly rely on paraprofessional support to meet students’ needs, but formal professional development opportunities vary. A lack of training in effective instructional strategies is potentially problematic for the efficacy of support staff. A multiple-baseline across participants single-case research design examined the effects of a manualized teacher-to-para coaching intervention to increase the rate of behavior-specific praise by paraprofessionals. Participant dyads (paraprofessionals and special education teachers) taught in a rural public elementary school serving third- through fifth-grade students. The collaborative multicomponent training program included self-monitoring, performance feedback, goal setting, modeling, and action planning. Analyses encompassed primary author visual analysis, masked visual analysis by three independent raters, and nonparametric statistical analysis. The intervention resulted in increased use of behavior-specific praise across all four paraprofessionals and participants indicated good social validity. Discussions include implications for future research and practice.

Teacher Praise and Reprimand: Examining the Generalizability and Dependability of Observational Estimates

This study examined the generalizability and dependability of observational estimates of middle and high school teachers’ use of praise and reprimand. Frequency of behavior-specific praise, general praise, and total reprimand were collected across 67, 20-min observations that took place during class-wide instruction in general education classrooms. Generalizability theory was used to determine the number of observations needed to obtain dependable estimates of teacher behavior. Behavior-specific praise rates were consistently low. General praise rates were slightly higher and reprimand rates were notably higher and slightly more variable. Total reprimands had the strongest generalizability results and general praise had the weakest. Behavior-specific praise reached an acceptable level of dependability after 15 min, whereas general praise required a 35-min observation, and reprimand only required 5 min. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Using Content Acquisition Podcasts to Improve Preservice Teacher Use of Behavior-Specific Praise

With increasing demands for teacher accountability, today’s teachers are tasked with meeting both the academic and behavioral needs of their students. Being able to efficiently manage classroom behavior can maximize classroom time for instruction. In a multiple-probe across participants design study, we investigated the effects of content acquisition podcasts (CAPs) plus video along with coaching feedback on preservice teachers’ use of behavior-specific praise statements. Preservice teachers in elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school settings participated during their final internship in a special education preparation program. Direct observations over a 9-week period showed an increase in the use of behavior-specific praise statements across participants. Implications for research and teacher education are discussed.

iCoaching Behavior-Specific Praise in a Rural Classroom

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of iCoaching to increase the use of behavior-specific praise (BSP) by three educators (one teacher, two paraprofessionals) working in a rural center–based classroom for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities using a short, focused professional development and iCoaching. Results of the single-case delayed multiple baseline design study suggest that iCoaching increased BSP delivery by participants. Furthermore, BSP rates were maintained after iCoaching was withdrawn. Implications for using iCoaching with rural educators and future research directions are discussed.

Teachers’ Use of Specific, Contingent, and Varied Praise

Behavior-specific praise is a research-based classroom management strategy that promotes appropriate student behaviors. Praise specificity, however, may not be the only characteristic of praise that enhances efficacy. The current study examined teacher’s natural use of specific, contingent, and varied praise to understand additional qualities of praise. Praise statements of inservice special education ( n = 12), inservice general education ( n = 13), and dual special education/general education preservice teachers ( n = 17) were observed in natural elementary school settings. Statistical results did not indicate differences between teacher groups and praise characteristics; however, descriptive results demonstrate all teacher groups delivered low rates of general and specific praise. Percentages of praise contingency (average range = 59%–91.2%) suggest teachers did not deliver sufficient praise statements contingent on student behavior. Furthermore, percentages of praise variety (average range = 44.5%–57.7%) show use of repetitive praise statements that may reduce efficacy on student behaviors. These findings and other implications are discussed in the context of future praise research.