Lesson 6: Monitoring Students' Performance and Providing Feedback

Frequently paraeducators are asked to provide assistance to students as they have questions and to monitor them as they work. This lesson discusses strategies for monitoring the performance of students and providing feedback as students work.

Assisting Students During Seatwork

The following strategies may be used to increase student independence and on-task behavior:

• Move randomly around the room (or in an unpredictable pattern);
• Start with students most likely to need assistance;
• Stop to correct errors;
• Stop only a short time and;
• Monitor other students when you stop.

Correcting Student Work

At times it may be appropriate to circulate among students and make corrections as they are working. This provides the opportunity for more immediate feedback and keeps students from repeating errors throughout the assignment.

• Give feedback as soon as possible;
• Circulate among students;
• Begin with lowest performing students or those asking for help, and Then go to each of the remaining students;
• Correct at least two problems each time you stop;
• When you stop, continue to scan the classroom and praise other students who are working;
• Mark correct answers with a "C";
• Mark incorrect answers marked with a small dot. This may be changed to a "C" when the answer is corrected;
• Stop and tutor as necessary and;
• Determine why errors occur.

Recording Student Performance

Unit 6: Observing and Recording Student Performance

Reporting Progress to Students

One way to provide students with feedback on their progress is to supply them with individual student progress folders. These folders would contain performance charts for specific subjects, such as weekly spelling tests or timed tests for math facts. Students would self-record their own scores on these charts which would enable them to monitor their individual progress. The paraeducator would assist students in maintaining and properly recording scores in these folders.

It is important to grade and return students' work as quickly as possible. The paraeducator is a valuable link in this process. Helping the teacher keep up with grading of objective tests and independent work could be a part of the daily schedule of the paraeducator. For an examples of how students might be provided information on their daily progress check out this sample form intended for placement in the student's folder.

Further information related to charting student progress may be found in Unit 6: Observing and Recording Student Performance.

Additional Thoughts

Keep the following in mind when monitoring performance and providing feedback to students:

• Respect the privacy and dignity of students
• Students should compete against themselves rather than other students.