We investigated growth trajectories for classroom performance goal practices and for student behavioral engagement across grades 2 to 5 for 497 academically at-risk elementary students. This study is the first longitudinal investigation of performance goal practices in the early elementary years. On average, teacher use of performance goal…

Teacher, peer, and student reports of the quality of the teacher-student relationship were obtained for an ethnically diverse and academically at-risk sample of 706 second- and third-grade students. Cluster analysis identified four types of relationships based on the consistency of child reports of support and conflict in the relationship with…

We investigated the effects of grade retention in first grade on the growth of the Woodcock-Johnson broad mathematics and reading scores over three years using linear growth curve modeling on an academically at-risk sample. A large sample (n=784) of first grade children who were at risk for retention was initially identified based on low literacy…

This study investigated a measurement model of personality resilience and the contribution of personality resilience to lower achieving first grade students' academic achievement. Participants were 445 ethnically diverse children who at entrance to first grade scored below their school district median on a test of literacy. Participants were…

A sample of 283 Hispanic children with literacy performance at entrance to first grade below the median for their school district was studied as part of a larger research project on the predictors of grade retention in grade 1. Following retention decisions, 51 Hispanic students were retained in first grade. Low literacy skills, being young at…

This study used hierarchical linear modeling to predict first grade students' peer acceptance, classroom engagement, and sense of school belonging from measures of normative classroom teacher-student support and individual teacher-student support. Participants were 509 (54.4% male) ethnically diverse, first grade children attending one of three…

Participants were 360 (52.2% male) ethnically diverse and academically at-risk first-grade children attending one of three school districts in southeast and central Texas. Using latent variable structural equation modeling, we tested a theoretical model positing that the quality of the teacher-student relationship in first grade predicts…

This study examined the associations among child demographic variables, teacher perceptions of parent-teacher and student-teacher relationship quality, and teacher perceptions of children's academic abilities in an ethnically diverse sample of 607 academically at-risk first grade children. Relative to relationships with African American children…

Presents evidence supportive of the conclusion that teacher and classroom practices can over-ride the effect of the "input mix"--the social and academic backgrounds of one's fellow students. Reviews evidence that teacher practices moderate the impact of the input mix on student learning and behavior and presents evidence that authoritative…

Assesses peers' perceptions of supportive and conflicted teacher student relationships; evaluations of children's positive and negative attributes; and peer-rated liking. Both Teacher Support and Teacher Conflict made independent contributions to peer evaluations of children's competencies and acceptance of children. Discusses implications of…

Uses longitudinal data to determine whether a positive view of perceived peer acceptance is a risk factor for continued aggression and social rejection for aggressive children. Results indicate that perceived peer acceptance did not predict aggression. However, children who reported higher levels of perceived peer acceptance received lower actual…

Investigates differences in social cognitive processing between two sub-types of aggressive children in grades two through four: those rejected by their peers and those not rejected. Descriptive discriminant analysis reveals that aggressive nonrejected children were more likely to believe that aggression leads to positive outcomes, and were more…

Compares the efficacy of PrimeTime interventions (therapeutic mentoring, training in problem-solving skills, consultation with parents) with standard mentoring for teacher-identified aggressive children (N=62). Outcome analyses revealed small gains for both treatments and provided only partial support for the efficacy of the PrimeTime…

Article discusses how theory plays an essential role in the development and evaluation of interventions for children's psychosocial problems; and applies principles of developmental psychopathology to the treatment of dysfunction in children. It delineates the benefits of incorporating theoretical and empirical findings from developmental…

Points out differences between target article and commentaries comprising special issue on role of theory in the science of treating children. All acknowledge the value of theory for psychosocial intervention, although some approach theory from different epistemologies. Argues that it is essential to the vitality of school psychology for…