Changes in student expectations and attitudes combined with research on the positive relationship between active engagement and student learning have many college administrators and planners in higher education reconsidering classroom design. One element of classroom design that has the potential to address the unique needs of an increasingly…

We evaluate two interventions designed to improve students' postsecondary readiness, as measured by their GPA, self-reported career readiness, and self-reported social emotional constructs, in rural districts. Student Success Planning (SSP) was implemented by 17 rural districts in New York and Ohio and included quarterly meetings between students…

This brief provides an overview of the postsecondary readiness-focused interventions that districts partnering with the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks (NCRERN) implemented and evaluated through a randomized controlled trial during the 2021-22 school year. NCRERN districts piloted two interventions aimed at improving…

Much research in the field of education has been conducted on strategies to address students' academic and socioemotional needs of students experiencing trauma. The problem addressed in this study was that when students do not receive support for their socioemotional and academic needs related to trauma, they can experience low levels of academic…

This qualitative multi-case study engaged the "testimonios" of three educators who openly shared their social and emotional experiences from their middle school years. The central inquiry, "What valuable insights can you offer from your middle school experiences to help other educators recognize and respond to the social and…

Social motivation is theorized to promote Theory of Mind development in childhood, but research testing this link is scarce and largely limited to urban middle-class milieus of the Global North. Here, we investigated the link between social motivation (i.e., social reward responsivity) and Theory of Mind (i.e., false belief understanding) among…

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has become a major research trend in the fields of education and psychology. However, several risks posed by this technology concerning the cognitive and socio-emotional development of children and adolescents have been identified. While it would be highly useful to have a clear understanding of these…

This article argues for a reconceptualisation of early childhood education, where learning and development are not only valued by outcome, and aims to investigate how aesthetic processes are organised in ways for the children to be inspired, to compare, explore, and play. Inspired by a Vygotsky perspective and his theories of play, imagination,…

To address the need for interventions targeting social emotional development and mental health of young children in South Africa, the "Mazi Umntanakho" ('know your child') digital tool was co-designed, and piloted with caregivers and 3-5-year-old children involved in home visiting programmes promoting early childhood development. The aim…

Although social participation is considered a major facet of inclusion it proves to be particularly challenging for students with social, emotional or behavioural difficulties (SEBD). To avoid the latter's exclusion it is crucial to focus on possible ways of improving the school setting for such learners. Teachers are seen as key actors in…

While intellectual curiosity has been widely studied in the field of child development, interpersonal curiosity and its association with social and emotional skills and well-being has rarely been investigated. This mixed-methods study explored the dimensions of interpersonal curiosity, examined how each dimension was associated with social and…

Early childhood education (ECE) is vital for children's development, especially from birth to age five. Yet, there remains significant variation in teachers' qualifications across different settings and countries. While previous research suggests that teachers' qualifications may influence children's development outcomes in early childhood…

Risky play helps children build resilience, develop prosocial skills, and support lifelong physical, mental, and emotional well-being. However, societal overemphasis on safety often limits schools' willingness to embrace risky play. Educators' beliefs about risk, lack of training, and restrictive school policies further reduce opportunities for…

Cultural learning environments and gender roles play a key role in shaping children's development, particularly regarding their social and emotional skills. However, most work on this topic relies on methods that overlook lived experiences and assume high participant literacy, which may not apply to Majority World contexts. To address these…

While nature contact is increasingly recognized for its health benefits, its role in human development and learning remains insufficiently examined. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate (a) the extent to which nature contact predicts social functioning, cognitive functioning, and academic performance, (b) whether these associations vary…