Is Positive Feedback a Forgotten Classroom Practice? Findings and Implications for At-Risk Students

Abstract

Although using higher rates of positive to negative feedback is one best practice often recommended to teachers, particularly when it comes to students experiencing behavioral problems in classroom settings, research on the use of positive feedback in classroom teaching practice has revealed inconsistent results. Research has documented fluctuations in trends of teachers’ use of positive feedback strategies, justifying further inquiry into the current state of classroom practice. This study aimed to examine the current state of classroom feedback practices among teachers of a district who were asked to rate their students' risk levels for developing emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The researchers found that students identified as high risk and low risk for EBD received teacher feedback at a significantly different rate. Students identified as high risk for EBD received negative feedback at a higher rate than their same-setting peers. Implications for teachers on the use of feedback for students at-risk for EBD are presented.

Keywords:

• at-risk
• emotional and behavioral disorders
• feedback
• negative feedback
• positive feedback

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katie Sprouls

Katie Sprouls is the chief executive officer of Eleutheria Special Education Services and PBIS Arizona. Her interests are schoolwide positive behavior interventions and supports and implementation of positive strategies for behavior modification.

Sarup R. Mathur

Sarup R. Mathur is an associate professor in the Division of Educational Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University. Her current research interests include emotional and behavioral disorders, at-risk students, juvenile delinquency, and teacher education.

Gita Upreti

Gita Upreti is an assistant professor of special education at The University of Texas at El Paso. Her interests are teacher preparation, schoolwide positive behavior interventions and supports and data-based decision making.