(Columbia, MO) — University of Missouri researchers have received a nearly $4 million grant to provide free classroom management training to more than 100 middle school teachers in rural Missouri.
Professor Keith Herman is the grant’s primary investigator. He told Missourinet that it’s a repeat of a previous study that focused on urban Missouri.
“In that study, we found, in fact, not only did this curriculum improve practices, it led to higher achievement scores on state tests,” said Herman. “So that was exciting to see. And then this current study, we’re being funded to do the same project, essentially, but in more rural settings.”
A secondary goal is to test the results of delivering the curriculum virtually, given rural settings do not have the same access to professional development as urban ones.
“Having clear structures in place in the classroom where students know what the expectations are of them. How to get resources when they need them,” said Herman. “What the conversation level should be in a classroom. Are you allowed to talk? Are you expected to raise your hand? Those sorts of things. So, clear expectations. We also emphasize teachers having more positive than negative interactions with students.”
The project is an extension of a previous study, which showed that teachers in urban areas had better interactions with students if they offered positive encouragement rather than negative reprimands.
The training is designed to prevent problem behaviors before they start.
Herman said that the federal funding will be used to create a safer learning environment by equipping teachers with skills to prevent and de-escalate disruptive behaviors.
“It’s not enough just to do a professional development day to change behaviors,” he said. “Really, what teachers and actually all adults need to change complicated behaviors is some ongoing feedback about how well they’re doing and some ongoing coaching.”
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