Alana Schnitz

The purpose of this project is to develop Para-Impact, a professional development package to train supervising teachers to utilize practice-based coaching (PBC) to improve paraprofessionals' implementation of systematic instruction for elementary students with moderate to severe developmental disabilities (MSDD). Students with MSDD - including those with autism, significant intellectual disabilities, and multiple disabilities - typically require frequent and intense exposure to evidence-base...

The goal of this project is to validate a classroom observational measure that can be used to assist preschool teachers in revising and implementing interventions for children who are identified as unresponsive to existing classroom learning contexts (e.g., classroom activity structure such as small groups, academic content such as literacy). When a child's behavior is not responsive to the instruction provided, intervention adjustments are necessary. The Classroom Code for Interactive Recor...

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the fully developed Literacy 3D (Data-Driven Decision Making) intervention which was developed to increase and sustain prekindergarten teacher's literacy focus by enhancing instruction through professional development combined with ongoing practice-based coaching, data-based feedback, and 10 evidence-based teaching strategies. Preliminary findings from a development project funded by the Office of Special Education Programs showed that...

This postdoctoral program provided four postdoctoral fellows with research training focused on a response-to-intervention (RTI) approach to early intervention and early childhood special education. The program was housed at Juniper Gardens Children's Project, with training opportunities available through the multi-site Center for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood.