Internships are central to teacher preparation, but many novice teachers do not feel such student teaching experiences prepared them for teaching realities. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to understand the effects of guiding teacher candidates through common video-recording and self-reflection activities during student teaching internships to determine whether such activities improve teacher candidates’ reflective abilities and instructional skills. Thirty-six teacher candidates with similar prior experience were divided into two groups. Both groups participated in semester long internships where candidates video-recorded their instruction 4 times and wrote four corresponding reflections. Treatment group candidates ( n = 17) also received directed guidance and feedback to supplement video analysis procedures. Both groups self-reported significant improvements in their teaching ability, but only the treatment group demonstrated significant growth in reflective ability and instructional skills over time. Addressing challenges in special education teacher preparation research as well as possible future directions are discussed.

Performance feedback is commonly used during field experiences to improve desired teaching behaviors in preservice teachers. The authors identify eight single-subject studies examining the effects of performance feedback in preservice teachers to determine the evidence base for this practice. These eight studies are reviewed using quality indicators specific to single subject. Positive findings are shown across seven of the eight studies. Targeted behaviors showing the most change are those focused on implementation fidelity of evidence-based instructional strategies. Teacher-specific behaviors do improve after receiving performance feedback. However, the change in these behaviors was not consistent across all studies. Five studies met all rigorous standards of quality research and surpass additional requirements pertaining to evaluating single-subject research. The authors conclude that performance feedback is an evidence-based practice when used to increase implementation fidelity of instructional practices. Implications to the field of special education teacher preparation are discussed.

We used a multiple-probe single-case research design to examine the effect of a professional development package that included real-time technology-enhanced performance-based feedback and video analysis on three preschool teachers’ use of naturalistic instruction targeting children’s communication and child responses. We also measured the quality of the teachers’ naturalistic instruction targeting children’s communication. The professional development package was effective in enhancing teachers’ use of naturalistic instruction targeting children’s communication. In addition, children responded and teachers enhanced the quality of naturalistic instruction targeting children’s communication. Teachers maintained their use of naturalistic instruction targeting children’s communication upon removal of the intervention condition.

A convergent parallel mixed methods study investigated the potential of one teacher preparation approach for promoting candidate reflection. Thirteen candidates participated in clinical field experiences and four corresponding seminar classes with guided video analysis activities. Candidates were systematically guided through focusing on others before focusing on self and explicitly learned about a reflection continuum using an instructional framework to build prerequisite skills and ultimately improve reflective abilities. Results of paired-sample t tests indicated candidates demonstrated significantly higher reflective ability scores over time as measured by a reflection checklist. Qualitative analysis of structured interviews revealed candidates felt activities were (a) a systematic approach to authentic growth, (b) a challenging approach to necessary self-confrontation, and (c) allowed for connections between self and other. Methodological triangulation was used to validate the findings. Implications for teacher preparation research and practice are discussed.

Teacher success is critical to student success, yet teachers are challenged daily to meet their students’ diverse learning and behavioral needs. Of major concern is the time many teachers spend managing student behaviors, which takes time away from instruction. One way to reduce time spent managing student behavior and increase student engagement is to use proactive classroom management strategies. Teachers can embed proactive research-based strategies within their lesson plans to reduce behavior problems and improve achievement for all students, including students with disabilities. This article highlights four research-based proactive strategy categories including whole-group response systems, movement integration, visual supports, and student choice. This article illustrates how teachers can embed strategies from these categories in their lesson planning and includes a lesson plan template with teacher-created examples.