A cross-lag analysis of longitudinal associations between preschool teachers' instructional support identification skills and observed behavior

Robert C. Pianta*, Margaret Burchinal, Faiza M. Jamil, Terri Sabol, Kevin Grimm, Bridget K. Hamre, Jason Downer, Jennifer LoCasale-Crouch, Carollee Howes

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study examined the pattern of association(s) over time between (a) knowledge of and observational skills in identifying teacher-child interactions, and (b) observed behavior in the domain of instructional interaction for 405 preschool teachers enrolled in a professional development study. Teacher's knowledge/observational skills and observed instructional support behaviors with children were assessed in the fall and spring over a two-year period. During this time, the teachers were also randomized into a college course focused on interactions, then re-randomized into a coaching intervention, also focused on instructional interaction. Cross-lagged analyses suggest that prior observed behavior was the stronger predictor of change in both knowledge/observation skills and in later observed behavior, and that both the course and the coaching interventions contributed to improvements in teachers observed instructional support behavior. Mediational analyses of the course effects indicated longer-term impact on observed instructional behavior were through immediate impacts on those same behaviors, whereas long-term impacts on knowledge were through immediate impacts on both observed instructional behavior and knowledge. The results have implications for the design, delivery, and focus of professional development for early childhood educators.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)144-154
Number of pages11
JournalEarly Childhood Research Quarterly
Volume29
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Behavior
  • Interactions
  • Knowledge
  • Preschool
  • Teachers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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