1.9 Feedback and Acknowledgement

Resource: Tiered Fidelity Inventory Version 2.1

1.9 Feedback and Acknowledgement

A formal system (i.e., written set of procedures for specific behavior feedback that is (a) linked to school-wide expectations and (b) used across settings and within classrooms) is in place and used by at least 90% of a sample of staff and received by at least 50% of a sample of students.

Date Sources

  • TFI Walkthrough Tool
  • Tally of Acknowledgement System by staff and student

Scoring Criteria

0 = No formal system for acknowledging students

1 = Formal system is in place and is used by at least 90% of staff or received by at least 50% of students

2 = Formal system for acknowledging student behavior is used by at least 90% of staff AND received by at least 50% of students

Main Idea

Students will sustain positive behavior only if there are regular strategies for continuous re-teaching and rewarding appropriate behavior. Formal systems are easier for teachers/staff to implement.

Guiding Questions

  1. Is there a system of acknowledgements with elements that are implemented consistently across campus?
    • For elementary schools, do Pre-K and K students only receive group contingency acknowledgements and/or individual verbal praise?
  2. Are there a variety of methods used to reward students?
  3. Are acknowledgements linked to expectations and rules?
  4. Are acknowledgements varied to maintain student interest?
  5. Are ratios of acknowledgement to corrections are high?
  6. Are students involved in identifying/developing incentives?
  7. Does the system include incentives for staff/faculty?

Surface Level to meet criteria

  • Are students and staff interviewed at least once per year to see if they are receiving and distributing acknowledgements?
  • Are those acknowledgements linked to school-wide expectations?
  • Are they distributed across school settings?
  • Do at least 50% of students interviewed report receiving them?

Deeper Level for a stronger program

  • School has intermittent acknowledgements and recognition of students linked to school-wide behavior expectations (weekly or monthly).
    • Rationale: While immediate and high frequency acknowledgements are important students need to work towards longer term goals.
  • School has long term acknowledgements and recognition of students linked to school-wide behavior expectations (quarterly, semester, yearly).
    • Rationale: While immediate and high frequency acknowledgements are important students need to work towards longer term goals.
  • Staff and/or administration has a system to recognize each other.
    • Rationale: For a process to be fully part of the culture all stakeholders should participate.
  • The school has a system to recognize parents and volunteers linked to school-wide expectations.
    • Rationale: For a process to be fully part of the culture all stakeholders should participate.

Resource: How to Receive Feedback Better

Resource: 10 Ways to Give Better Feedback

Resource: Sentence Stems for delivering Acknowledgement