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Through the looking glass: Can classroom observation and coaching improve teacher performance in Brazil?

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  • Bruns, Barbara
  • Costa, Leandro
  • Cunha, Nina

Abstract

We conducted a randomized evaluation of a program in Brazil that provided secondary schools with classroom observation feedback and access to expert coaching. Coaching content was based on Teach Like A Champion, by Douglas Lemov, which imparts practical strategies to increase teachers’ effectiveness by maximizing time on instruction and student engagement. In treatment schools, the program raised the skills of pedagogical coordinators tasked with supporting teachers to improve instruction, increased teachers’ time on instruction, raised student engagement and produced statistically significant student learning gains. Program schools performed 0.05–0.09 SD higher in 10th grade math and Portuguese on a state test and 0.06 SD higher in Portuguese on a national high school leaving test (12th grade). High quality coaching delivered to the coordinators via Skype kept costs at $2.40 per student, making the program a cost-effective and promising strategy for school-based efforts to raise teachers’ classroom effectiveness. (I21, I25, I28, J18, O15)

Suggested Citation

  • Bruns, Barbara & Costa, Leandro & Cunha, Nina, 2018. "Through the looking glass: Can classroom observation and coaching improve teacher performance in Brazil?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 214-250.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:64:y:2018:i:c:p:214-250
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2018.03.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Blimpo, Moussa P. & Pugatch, Todd, 2023. "Unintended Consequences of Youth Entrepreneurship Programs: Experimental Evidence from Rwanda," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1332, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    3. Juan F. Castro & Paul Glewwe & Ricardo Montero, 2019. "Work With What You’ve Got: Improving Teachers’ Pedagogical Skills at Scale in Rural Peru," Working Papers 158, Peruvian Economic Association.
    4. Cilliers, Jacobus & Fleisch, Brahm & Kotze, Janeli & Mohohlwane, Nompumelelo & Taylor, Stephen & Thulare, Tsegofatso, 2022. "Can virtual replace in-person coaching? Experimental evidence on teacher professional development and student learning," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    5. Schaffner, Julie & Glewwe, Paul & Sharma, Uttam, 2021. "Why Programs Fail: Lessons for Improving Public Service Quality from a Mixed-Methods Evaluation of an Unsuccessful Teacher Training Program in Nepal," Staff Papers 316663, University of Minnesota, Department of Applied Economics.

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