Paraprofessionals are often tasked with providing instruction to students with severe disabilities despite little or no training in evidence-based practices. Previous studies have demonstrated that specific strategies (i.e., didactic instruction, modeling, and immediate performance feedback) in a 1-to-1 format can enable paraprofessionals to…

In this investigation, we surveyed 51 faculty members who were involved in teacher preparation programs in the area of extensive support needs (ESN) across a range of institutions of higher education. We asked participants to respond to questions related to the quality and quantity of program content focused on communication instruction and…

Teachers in inclusive preschool classrooms are required to provide supports and instruction to children with and without developmental delays. In addition, teachers are required to use research and evidence-based practices, such as naturistic instructional procedures. Despite a plethora of research on the effectiveness and utility of naturalistic…

The purpose of teacher preparation programs is to ensure that teachers are adequately equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to support the various educational needs of their students. Nevertheless, a call for a uniform process through which teacher candidates can demonstrate their ability to meet their students' educational needs using…

A multicomponent training package (live training, video modeling, role playing, and feedback) was used to train teachers to conduct assessment and to instruct students with profound multiple disabilities. Phase 1 of the study involved training seven teachers to conduct assessment in three areas: (a) preference assessment (i.e., identification of…

The authors conducted a comprehensive review of research to identify the impact of coaching on changes in preservice and in-service teachers' implementation of evidence-based practices. They identified a total of 13 studies from the 20 years of literature they searched. In general, coaching improved the extent to which teachers accurately…

A study evaluated the Research Lead Teacher (RLT) model in providing follow-up support to 18 general elementary education teachers who were learning and implementing a strategy instruction process. Data indicate it took between 3-9 weeks of the RLT model for teachers to consistently implement all the steps of strategy instruction. (Contains…

This article provides guidelines for effectively implementing the case method of instruction (CMI) in special education teacher preparation programs. Information is provided on how to write cases, how to access (and assess) commercially available cases, and how to present a case. Examples of inservice applications of CMI are provided. (Contains…

The article highlights the results of a Riverside County, California, project to assist special education teachers to develop expertise in strategy instruction. It describes efforts to overcome school/district obstacles to change, establish teacher support groups, and facilitate a reorientation in basic special education philosophy. (JDD)