Classroom Social Behavior Research Articles

Classroom Management and Facilitation Approaches That Promote School Connectedness.

When children and youth feel connected to their school, family, and others in their community, they are less likely to engage in risky behaviors and experience negative health. Disruptions to school operations during the COVID-19 pandemic have led many teachers and school administrators to prioritize finding ways to strengthen and re-establish a sense of connectedness among students and between students and adults in school. We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature that reported on US-based research and were published in English from January 2010 through December 2019 to identify classroom management approaches that have been empirically tied to school connectedness-related outcomes in K-12 school settings. Six categories of classroom management approaches were associated with improved school connectedness among students: (1) teacher caring and support, (2) peer connection and support, (3) student autonomy and empowerment, (4) management of classroom social dynamics, (5) teacher expectations, and (6) behavior management. Prioritizing classroom management approaches that emphasize positive reinforcement of behavior, restorative discipline and communication, development of strong, trusting relationships, and explicitly emphasize fairness has potential to promote equitable disciplinary practices in schools. Classroom management approaches most linked to school connectedness are those that foster student autonomy and empowerment, mitigate social hierarchies and power differentials among students, prioritize positive reinforcement of behavior and restorative disciplinary practices, and emphasize equity and fairness.

Predicting social presence in videoconference-supported LMS courses: Mediation through L2 writing and speaking strategies

The issue addressed here concerns how second language (L2) speaking strategies mediate the relationship between L2 writing strategies and the social presence component of the community of inquiry (CoI) framework within the context of fully online courses that combined learning management system (LMS) for writing tasks and videoconferencing for live classroom discussion. L2 writing strategies related to planning and reviewing contribute to composing tests that students want to upload, present, and discuss, and this sharing is expected to foster classroom social behaviors and consequent language gains. For the current study, a cross-sectional survey of 256 university students was initiated to investigate the mediating effect L2 speaking strategies have on the relationship between L2 writing strategies and social presence. The results indicated positive path coefficients between review strategies and speaking strategies, review strategies and social presence, planning strategies and speaking strategies, and speaking strategies and social presence. Further, speaking strategies explain the relationship between planning strategies and social presence, indicating full mediation. Partial mediation was found for the path between review strategies and social presence. Recognizing how L2 writing and speaking strategies relate to one another and how that relationship influences a CoI illustrates the interconnectivity between language skills. Evidently, increased attention to planning and reviewing strategies results in a final composition worth sharing and discussing, and such sharing and discussion are building blocks to a vibrant social presence.

Self‐report of emotional experience and peer nominations of expressivity: Predictability of change in teacher‐rated social behavior

AbstractWe investigated individual differences in self‐reported emotional experience and peer‐perceived expressivity among children in mid‐ to late‐elementary school years. Specifically, we examined the constructs’ correspondence and temporal stability and also compared the degree to which each predicts change in classroom social behavior over 2 years. Participants were 199 children (Mage = 10 years, Time 1) and their classroom teachers who have participated in two times of assessment. We used self‐report of emotional experience and peer nominations of expressivity regarding happiness, anger, and sadness. Teachers rated children's social skills, externalizing problems, and internalizing problems. The correspondence was generally small in magnitude between self‐reported experience and peer nominations of expressivity. The stability of peer nominations of emotional expressivity was medium and comparable to that of self‐reported experience with the exception of happiness. The predictability of change in social behavior was more robust for peer nominations of expressivity than for self‐reported experience. We discussed the relevance of different dimensions of emotionality as well as informants in understanding the predictability of social behavior from emotionality. We also discussed the role of sociodemographic variables in emotional experience and expressivity and offered practical implications of peer nominations in the assessment of children's emotionality.

Chinese kindergarten teachers’ beliefs about young children’s classroom social behavior

This study examined Chinese kindergarten teachers’ beliefs about children’s classroom social behaviors. Participants were N=672 kindergarten teachers in Shanghai, China. Teachers viewed hypothetical vignettes depicting kindergarten children (i.e., aged 4–6 years) displaying aggressive (physical/relational), socially withdrawn (shy/unsociable), exuberant, and prosocial (empathetic/sociable) behaviors and responded to questions regarding their attitudes, beliefs, and reactions. Exuberance and aggression were least tolerated and most likely to evoke anger among teachers. However, teachers reported more negative views toward physical than relational aggression, and were more worried about shy than unsociable children. Implications of the similarities and differences among teacher beliefs across cultures are considered.

Skills for Children Entering Kindergarten

Assessing kindergarten entry skills is complex, requiring attention to skill proficiency and interactive behaviors deemed critical for learning to occur. In our analysis of a state initiative, pilot data were collected on early literacy and numeracy and 2 aspects of important student interactions in the classroom (social and task behaviors) within the first 6 weeks of kindergarten students' entry into school. Using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling, we provide initial evidence that supports a theoretical model referencing skill acquisition and classroom participation. These entry skills may be important to serve as a baseline for the beginning of students' schooling, identify students at risk of not meeting grade-level expectations, inform instruction, and document growth.

Efficacy of the Social Skills Improvement System Classwide Intervention Program (SSIS-CIP) primary version.

A multisite cluster randomized trial was conducted to examine the effects of the Social Skills Improvement System Classwide Intervention Program (SSIS-CIP; Elliott & Gresham, 2007) on students' classroom social behavior. The final sample included 432 students across 38 second grade classrooms. Social skills and problem behaviors were measured via the SSIS rating scale for all participants, and direct observations were completed for a subsample of participants within each classroom. Results indicated that the SSIS-CIP demonstrated positive effects on teacher ratings of participants' social skills and internalizing behaviors, with the greatest changes occurring in classrooms with students who exhibited lower skill proficiency prior to implementation. Statistically significant differences were not observed between treatment and control participants on teacher ratings of externalizing problem behaviors or direct observation.

Validation of the Elementary Social Behavior Assessment

We describe the psychometric evaluation of the Elementary Social Behavior Assessment (ESBA™), a 12-item scale measuring teacher-preferred, positive social skills. The ESBA was developed for use in elementary school classrooms to measure teacher perceptions of students using time-efficient, web-based data collection methods that allow quick and reliable universal screening. Results from two studies demonstrate that the ESBA has robust internal consistency, a single-dimension, and strong criterion validity. The ESBA seems suited for use within multi-tiered models that address classroom social behavior within early elementary classrooms. It enables teachers to efficiently identify and support students who need additional help learning how to ask for help, complete seatwork, get along with peers, and acquire the other skills that allow them to become successful students.

Self-awareness of peer-rated social attributes in children with traumatic brain injury.

This study investigated self-awareness of peer-rated social attributes and its relations to executive function (EF), theory of mind (TOM), and psychosocial adjustment in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Self- and peer perceptions of classroom social behavior were assessed for 87 children 8-13 years of age: 15 with severe TBI, 40 with complicated mild/moderate TBI, and 32 with orthopedic injury. Participants completed measures of EF and TOM, and parents rated children's psychosocial adjustment. Self-ratings of classroom social behavior did not differ between injury groups. Self- and peer ratings generally agreed, although children with severe TBI rated themselves as less rejected/victimized than did their peers. Higher EF predicted better self- and peer ratings and smaller self-peer discrepancies, which in turn predicted better adjustment. Children with TBI show variable social self-awareness, which relates to EF and adjustment. Future studies should identify additional factors that contribute to limited insight.

Social and Emotional Learning in Schools: From Programs to Strategies and commentaries

Social and Emotional Learning in Schools: From Programs to Strategies and commentaries

The Role of Knowledge and Skills for Managing Emotions in Adaptation to School

Students’ ability to evaluate emotionally challenging situations and identify effective strategies for managing emotions in themselves and others was negatively related to poor classroom social behavior across three studies. These studies, involving 463 students from two Spanish high schools and one American university, examined indicators of adaptation to school based on teacher ratings and official school records. Relationships between the ability to manage emotions, measured with a situational judgment test, and indicators of social adaptation to school remained significant or marginally significant after controlling for demographic factors, personality traits, and indicators of cognitive ability. These findings suggest that emotion regulation knowledge and skills that can be taught explain important aspects of socio-emotional adaptation to school over and above other relevant constructs.

CLASSROOM SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN

social adaption, long-term relationships, and the development of cognition, emotion and personality in unique and important ways. Children with hearing impairment often have some degree of language and/or speech delay, which is a major factor affecting their social interaction with peers. The present research was aimed at the study of classroom social behavior of hearing impaired children at primary level. The research was descriptive and direct observation method was used to identify the positive and negative social behavior of hearing impaired children exhibited in the classroom and at playground. 50 hearing impaired children including male and female studying in classes I to V of special education centers for children with hearing impairment at Islamabad were selected randomly. A checklist was used to identify the social behavior. The items were developed on the indicators of classroom social behavior of hearing impaired children such as respect of elders, sharing, rebel, aggressive behavior, cooperation, fighting, calm and quiet, follow the instructions, teasing others, and friendly etc.On the basis of research findings it was concluded that most of hearing impaired children respect their elders, remain calm and quite during lesson, do not share their things with other students, do not rebel during lesson. Most of them cooperate with others during group activities, stay away from fighting during group activities, and follow the rules in playing group games. Some of them get angry when other students distract them from their studies, do not tease their friends. The male children immediately become frustrated when they can’t solve a problem and become aggressive (violent) when something goes against their will.It was recommended that creating awareness of classroom social behavior in hearing impaired children can change their behavior positively. Moreover, hearing impaired children should be motivated and encouraged to move in a positive social life.

Developing Social Skills Training and Literacy Instruction Pedagogy Through Service Learning: An Integrated Model of Teacher Preparation

This exploratory study examined the impact of tutoring programs on preservice teachers (PSTs) and tutees. The PSTs are assigned to either the Tutor-Assisted Intensive Learning Strategies (TAILS) or Book Partners (BP) service-learning tutoring program and work with identified kindergarten or first-grade struggling readers. Three questions are addressed: 1) what impact does the social skills training have on the PSTs' ability to understand the connection between social skills and literacy development; 2) what social skills do PSTs model, label, or scaffold in their classrooms; and 3) what effect does service-learning tutoring have on tutees? Participants include 27 PSTs and 27 children. Findings reveal that the TAILS PSTs are more informative in their biweekly reflections, provide specific social skills details, and report twice as many classroom social behaviors as the BP PSTs. The tutees demonstrated progress in both social and literacy skills, or they continued to struggle socially and not improve in the area of literacy. These findings suggest that most PSTs' knowledge of the connection between social skills and literacy development increased due to their participation in the service-learning tutoring programs and highlight the need to include this connection in teacher education programs and P–12 classrooms.

The Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Education Program on Pre- and Early Adolescents’ Well-Being and Social and Emotional Competence

We report the results of a quasi-experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of the Mindfulness Education (ME) program. ME is a theoretically derived, teacher-taught universal preventive intervention that focuses on facilitating the development of social and emotional competence and positive emotions, and has as its cornerstone daily lessons in which students engage in mindful attention training (three times a day). Pre- and early adolescent students in the 4th to 7th grades (N = 246) drawn from six ME program classrooms and six comparison classrooms (wait-list controls) completed pretest and posttest self-report measures assessing optimism, general and school self-concept, and positive and negative affect. Teachers rated pre- and early adolescents on dimensions of classroom social and emotional competence. Results revealed that pre- and early adolescents who participated in the ME program, compared to those who did not, showed significant increases in optimism from pretest to posttest. Similarly, improvements on dimensions of teacher-rated classroom social competent behaviors were found favoring ME program students. Program effects also were found for self-concept, although the ME program demonstrated more positive benefits for preadolescents than for early adolescents. Teacher reports of implementation fidelity and dosage for the mindfulness activities were high and teachers reported that they were easily able to integrate the mindful attention exercises within their classrooms. Theoretical issues linking mindful attention awareness to social and emotional competence and implications for the development of school-based interventions are discussed.

The Relation Between Emotion Production Behavior and Preschool Social Behavior: In the Eye of the Beholder

Abstract Two questions were examined with a sample of preschool children: (a) What is the relation between emotion production behavior and classroom social behavior?; and (b) Does familiarity with a child affect the perception of emotion expressions and the relations between emotion expressions and social behavior? Two theoretical perspectives on the ‘eye of the beholder’ (familiarity) were evaluated: reputation bias and generalized effects. Sixty‐eight (55% female) children were photographed posing emotion expressions (e.g., happy, sad, and angry). Expressions were rated by classmates, peer strangers, and adults. Classmates and teachers evaluated social behavior. Analyses indicated that children who were more negative and dependent had angry production biases and were likely to display happy expressions instead of sad. Results support the reputation bias and generalized familiarity theories.

Classroom Behavior and the Ability to Decode Nonverbal Cues in Boys With Severe Emotional Disturbance

Nonverbal decoding skills are important for successful social functioning, particularly for emotionally disturbed children. Boys with severe emotional disturbance (n = 25) and a control group of boys (n = 22) were compared regarding the relationship between ratings of classroom social behaviors and nonverbal decoding skills. Participants were predominantly African American. The Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy (Nowicki, 2001; Nowicki & Duke, 1994) was administered individually to the boys while teachers completed ratings of their social behavior in the classroom. The 2 groups of boys did not differ in nonverbal skills. However, aggressive classroom behaviors were associated with specific nonverbal skills only for the boys with severe emotional disturbance. These findings suggest that nonverbal abilities may have a greater impact on the social behavior of emotionally disturbed boys. Future research is needed to better understand the social difficulties of boys with severe emotional disturbance.

Emotions Matter: Making the Case for the Role of Young Children's Emotional Development for Early School Readiness

This Social Policy Report considers the importance of young children’s emotional development for their school readiness, suggesting that social scientists can provide policy makers with concrete ways to conceptualize, measure and target young children’s emotional adjustment in early educational and child care settings. This Report then reviews a recent and persuasive body of rigorous research, to determine whether children’s emotional adjustment can be significantly affected by interventions implemented in the preschool and early school years. Results of this review suggest that family early educational, and clinical interventions offer policy makers a wide array of choices in ways that they can make sound investments in young children’s emotional development and school readiness. This research suggests that, while young children’s emotional and behavioral problems are costly to their chances of school success, these problems are identifiable early, are amenable to change, and can be reduced over time. What kinds of investments should policy makers be advised to make, at what point in young children’s development, and in what settings? While modest investments in low-cost interventions initially may seem appealing, this report suggests that there are few bargains to be had when investing in young children’s emotional adjustment. With this caveat in mind, the findings of this report suggest that policy makers should broaden early elementary educational mandates for school readiness to include children’s emotional and behavioral adjustments as key programmatic goals. Policy makers should consider targeting young children’s emotional adjustment prior to school entry, in diverse settings such as Head Start, child care settings, as well as in the first few years of school. Finally, young children’s emotional adjustment can serve as an important benchmark of programmatic success in other policy arenas focusing on child welfare, family support, and economic self-sufficiency, as well as in education.

Classroom Behavior of Elementary School-Age Boys with Fragile X Syndrome

Despite reports suggesting numerous academic and social behavior deficits in boys with fragile X syndrome (FXS), little information is available concerning their actual classroom academic and social behavior. In this study, direct observational data were collected on the behavior of 26 elementary school-age boys with FXS during classroom academic activities in primarily self-contained special education classrooms. Results indicated moderate levels of academic engagement during periods of academic instruction, comparable to that of their classroom peers. Classroom engagement was not related to intrasubject variables such as severity of delay, autism status, or medication usage. A general measure of classroom quality and instruction was significantly correlated with engagement. Relatively low levels of stereotypic or self-injurious behavior were observed. These findings are discussed in relation to the existing engagement literature for school-age individuals with disabilities and issues concerning syndrome specific behaviors.

Analyzing the Classroom Social Behavior of Students with EBD

Research using new direct observation procedures to analyze classroom social behavior of children with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD) is reviewed.These observation systems are complex but allow a sequential analysis of social interaction sequences that should prove helpful in understanding the social behavior of children with EBD. The research supports at least one major conclusion—that teachers seldom provide praise or other forms of potential social reinforcement. It also suggests that teachers may engage in behavior to escape or avoid social contact with many of these difficult-to-teach children. Issues regarding reliability of the procedures are discussed, and the authors also suggest some directions for future research.

Classroom Behaviors of Students with Disabilities in Rural Inclusive Classrooms: An Observational Study

Observational data were collected to compare classroom academic and social behaviors of 71 students with mild-moderate disabilities to those of their normative peers in 48 elementary inclusive classrooms. Fifteen categories of observed behaviors were recorded in six-second intervals that alternated with the recording of observed behaviors of normative peers in each classroom using the Classroom Behavior Record (CBR). Analyses indicated students with disabilities did not differ from their normative peers on fourteen measures of social and academic classroom behaviors. Students with disabilities were observed as significantly less attentive than their normative peers and they were even less attentive if more than one adult was in the classroom. Implications for rural inclusive special education service delivery are discussed.

ADHD boys' behavior during structured classroom social activities: Effects of social demands, teacher proximity, and methylphenidate

Examined effects of contextual factors on classroom social behaviors of 26 boys with attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) vs. 23 normal peers, ages 6-13. Also explored methylphenidate dosage effects (placebo, 0.3 mg/kg, 0.6 mg/kg) using alternate forms of a group project task at each dosage. Degree of social challenge was varied systematically in an embedded 2 x 2 design by crossing social demands (independent vs. mutual) with teacher availability (proximal vs. distal). Findings revealed (a) medication-related improvement in appropriate, noncompliant, and aggressive behaviors; (b) a subtle, age-related disengagement in some ADHD boys at the higher dosage; (c) complex interactions between context, age, and aggressive-nonaggressive subtype; (d) negative social catalytic effects on normal peers; and (e) partial behavioral normalization when boys with ADHD take medication.