The primary-secondary transition presents both opportunities and challenges for children. For some, it may represent a 'critical period' which impacts their future mental health and well-being. This article focuses on identifying the affordances and constraints of a group-work approach to support children with social, emotional and behavioural…

The transition from 8th to 9th grade, from middle school to high school, is considered one of the most challenging experiences in an adolescent's life. Ninth-grade transition programs, often referred to as freshman academies, have been developed and implemented over the last decade to address the needs of 9th grade students. The purpose of this…

There is a growing consensus amongst policy makers, education professionals, researchers, and the public that a modern education system should develop a 'whole child' providing a balanced set of cognitive, social and emotional skills to face the challenges of an increasingly uncertain and volatile world. Social and emotional development are…

Multiage programming is a school reform option used throughout the United States. Much of the current literature focuses on the short-term benefits of multiage programs, particularly at the elementary level, with little consideration for long-term effects or for what might happen to students once they leave the multiage classroom and enter middle…

Ninth grade is a pivotal year for students. Numerous studies find that academic performance in 9th grade often sets the student's trajectory throughout the high school years, as well as the probability of graduation. The Building Assets Reducing Risks (BARR) model is a comprehensive approach that addresses developmental, academic, and school…

This study describes pre-kindergarten teachers' use of kindergarten transition practices and examined the extent to which these practices were associated with kindergarten teachers' judgments of children's social, self-regulatory, and academic skills upon their entry into kindergarten. Participants were 722 children from 214 pre-kindergarten…

This report summarizes results of a 2007-2008 survey of AISD parents, students and staff about how well students are prepared for transitions to middle and high school.

The transition to primary school is one of the greatest challenges of early childhood. Handled well, it can set children into virtuous cycle of learning. But how can transitions be made more effective? Based on a background paper for UNESCO's Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2007, this paper assesses the literature and draws lessons…

Rates of change in behaviors in relation to community adjustment were examined for 292 participants in the 7-year longitudinal National Adolescent and Child Treatment Study (NACTS) as they transitioned to the adult world. Participants with initially higher social-adaptive behavior and whose behavior improved over time attained higher adjustment…

Comprised of excerpts from the Responsive Classroom Newsletter, this book details practices for use during the beginning of the elementary school year to build a foundation for a successful school year. Chapter 1, "The First Six Weeks of School: Building the Foundation for a Successful Year" (Ruth Charney and Marlynn Clayton) introduces…

Kindergarten marks a new beginning for parents and their children, and presents challenges for parents as their child makes the transition between home and school. This handbook describes what parents can expect from their child's Catholic kindergarten program in Alberta, Canada. The handbook describes how young children learn, how their learning…

Kindergarten marks a new beginning for parents and their children, and presents challenges for parents as their child makes the transition between home and school. This handbook describes what parents can expect from their child's Catholic kindergarten program in Alberta, Canada. The handbook describes how young children learn, how their learning…

Kindergarten marks a new beginning for parents and their children, and presents challenges for parents as their child makes the transition between home and school. This handbook describes what parents can expect from their child's Catholic kindergarten program in Alberta, Canada. The handbook describes how young children learn, how their learning…

Kindergarten marks a new beginning for parents and their children, and presents challenges for parents as their child makes the transition between home and school. This handbook describes what parents can expect from their child's Catholic kindergarten program in Alberta, Canada. The handbook describes how young children learn, how their learning…