This thesis examines the effects of a Bibliotherapy based intervention on literacy, behaviour, and self-efficacy of disaffected adolescents. This exploratory study sought to understand how the intervention was experienced by disaffected adolescents (RQ1/RQ2) and whether it revealed any changes in their responses to the texts (RQ3). It contributes to the existing knowledge and literature by demonstrating how Bibliotherapy, implemented in an educational context, can be a useful tool in designing an intervention for disaffected students at the secondary level by linking emotional development to development in literacy and overall learning. To begin, the purpose and study aims were to develop an intervention based on the principles of Bibliotherapy in order to address the challenges of literacy and behaviour among disaffected adolescents; to evaluate the various outcomes, which may influence the design or effective implementation of the programme; to revise and make changes based on the evaluation to produce a usable programme. From this, the study aimed to answer the following research questions: how useful is Bibliotherapy and/or its principles as a tool in designing a literacy programme for re-engaging disaffected adolescents? What is the perspective of the students in undertaking the programme in means of the process involved? What changes follow this programme in regards to the improvement of literacy and enhancement of attitude and interest in reading amongst disaffected adolescents? This study used a longitudinal mixed methods approach, taking place over three cohorts (school terms), and involving thirty two Year 9 students from five secondary schools in the United Kingdom. The design and evaluation of the Bibliotherapy intervention was underpinned by both a concurrent triangulation model and action research. The evaluation of the programme involved the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data; therefore, a pragmatic stance to the research was adopted that was positioned as mixed-methods. Qualitative data was analysed using a thematic approach and merged to complement the Quantitative findings offering a more thorough and valid interpretation. The qualitative analysis revealed four overarching themes from the participation in the programme: positive developments in Power Over Learning, Emotional Intelligence, Peer Impact to Learning, and New Reader Identities. The quantitative findings, for the most part, did not reveal any statistically significant changes in reading, self-efficacy, or behaviour; however, there were isolated cases among individual cohorts where the findings did reveal significant changes in fluency, reading, reading difficulty perception, behaviour, and with personal resiliency such as increased optimism, tolerance, and adaptability. This study supports findings from earlier studies suggesting that disaffected adolescents at secondary school levels can benefit from reading and behavioural intervention. It offers new knowledge regarding the effectiveness and use of Bibliotherapy as a tool to design an intervention for re-engagement, social and emotional growth through peer support, development of a deeper understanding of self, and reinforcement of reading skills necessary to achieve literacy.

Social and emotional competencies have received increased attention as important components of school readiness for young children. Universal programs incorporating social and emotional learning (SEL) instruction for all preschool students are needed given the relation between social and emotional competencies in early childhood and later developmental outcomes. The Strong Start: Pre-K program is a low-cost, developmentally tailored educational curriculum targeting important social and emotional knowledge and skills. Although this program is part of an evidence-based SEL curriculum (Strong Kids), the preschool component lacks empirical investigation. This pilot study used a single group pre-post within-subjects design to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of implementation of Strong Start: Pre-K and the impact of the curriculum on social and emotional knowledge and skills of 39 students in two preschool classrooms. Feasibility and acceptability were evaluated through descriptive data on social validity and treatment integrity. In addition, preliminary evidence of effects was established through analysis of observed child and teacher behavior. Results suggest that teachers and students find the Strong Start: Pre-K curriculum to be highly acceptable and that teachers are able to implement the curriculum with moderate to high levels of fidelity with limited training. Preliminary evidence of effects suggests that children who participated in the Strong Start: Pre-K curriculum demonstrated increases in social and emotional strengths and resiliencies as well as increases in social and emotional knowledge following exposure to the Strong Start: Pre-K curriculum. Direct observations of child behavior also demonstrated increases in pro-social behavior and decreases in disruptive behavior.

The Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) initiative for secondary schools was launched in England in 2007 as part of the Secondary National Strategy for School Improvement. Designed as a universal, whole-school approach for the development of key social and emotional skills, SEAL was expected to improve behaviour, attendance, attainment and the emotional health and well-being of all members of the school community (DfES, 2007a). Research studies examining the implementation of school-based interventions have revealed, however, that they are rarely implemented as intended by the programme developers (Berman and McLaughlin, 1976) and that this is likely to negatively impact upon the achievement of the expected outcomes (Durlak and DuPre, 2008). Implementation is typically variable between settings due to local adaptations or modifications (Blakely et al, 1987) and challenges to implementation at a range of levels, including programme, classroom and school (Greenberg et al, 2005).This longitudinal study examined the processes of implementation of SEAL in five case study schools in the north-west of England. The primary aims were to: (i) identify both positive and negative factors affecting implementation so that any necessary improvements to SEAL may be made prior to its broader dissemination; (ii) support future practitioners in the implementation of SEAL by highlighting effective strategies and potential challenges; (iii) expand understanding of the processes of implementation of school-based interventions in English educational contexts. Schools were visited five times during the first two years of the implementation of SEAL; lessons were observed, relevant documents reviewed and interviews conducted with a range of staff, pupils and Local Education Authority representatives. Data was analysed thematically using a combination of a priori and emergent themes. As anticipated, implementation was variable between schools; this was in the detail of implementation, however, and broader convergences were seen in the barriers presented and the non-implementation of key processes and elements. None of the schools were able to fully implement SEAL. Challenges to implementation were identified at all levels examined (programme, classroom and school) and included programme characteristics, staff resistance, insufficient training, lack of time and competing initiatives. The interaction of negative and positive factors both within and between levels suggested, however, that no one factor may be considered dominant. This study concluded that until programme level issues and shared contextual factors such as initiative overload are addressed, then the full implementation of SEAL in secondary schools is unlikely to be achieved.

The problem in a suburban school district in a northwestern state is that fewer socioeconomic disadvantaged and minority students are graduating high school and attending post-secondary education than their White and economic middle-class counterparts. The disparity continues to expand the achievement gap between minorities and Whites within the education system and continues a cycle of poverty for the poorest and minority students. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided the study. The purpose of this bounded qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the advancement via individual determination (AVID) instructional strategies high school graduates used in their transition to post-secondary education. The research questions addressed which instructional strategies the AVID graduates learned and how they used the strategies in post-secondary education. The participants were 13 AVID high school graduates from a suburban northwestern school district who entered post-secondary education in 2014–2018. Data collected through one-on-one interviews were analyzed thematically using descriptive and axial coding to allow themes to emerge using the constructs of the framework. AVID students suggested that focused notetaking, collaboration, and self-regulatory behaviors assisted them in their academic success. Based on the findings, a 3-day professional development was created for high school teachers to design content area lessons featuring student collaborative groups, self-reflection, and notetaking strategies. This endeavor may contribute to positive social change when administrators provide teachers with grouping, social emotional, and instructional strategies for AVID enrollees, which may result in increased AVID graduates and post-secondary students.

Ninth grade year is the most important challenging year of high school. Many students struggle adjusting to the transition to high school. If supports are not in place, many ninth-grade students are at-risk of dropping out of school. The purpose of this study was to identify and examine the social emotional learning supports in Freshman Academy that assist in the transition to High School. A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore these social emotional supports. This study used a phenomenological methodology, enabling the researcher to gather information from a purposeful selection of educators directly identified by their Academy Principals. This study employed processes of data collection that included the use of individual interviews found in qualitative design. Analysis of data happened in several steps: (a) transcribing all interviews that were recorded, (b) coding, (c) examining the themes of the codes, and (d) relating the themes to the research questions. The credibility of the analysis was supported by triangulation, member checks, and thick descriptions. The results revealed that seven themes emerged as identified supports which included: (a) Freshman Seminar programming, (b) personnel supports to include Dean of Students and the School Counselor, (c) Restorative Practices programming, (d) building relationships with students, (e)advisory, (f) informal SEL practices, and (g) teaming. Based on the research the following conclusions were presented: (a) schools use restorative practices as a means to provide SEL, (b) relationship building is a central focus, (c) and the Freshman Seminar course and content provide meaningful social emotional learning experiences.

A suburban district in the southwestern region of the United States created a choice-based program in which students have the opportunity to address their social, emotional, and academic needs through a mid-day period where they have the ability to attend tutorials or engage in a variety of club and social activities. Each day, students choose the activity that best serves their needs, be those academic, social, or emotional. In order to determine students' attitudes, opinions, and uses of the program in an effort to improve its effectiveness for student success, this qualitative study was planned to respond to the research questions: (1) how do students spend the emPower period? and (2) what are students' thoughts, attitudes, and opinions with regards to emPower? The research began by examining student responses to a previous principal survey asking their opinions on the program. Following the analysis of the survey, focus group sessions of five students from each high school grade were held to discuss student perceptions, choices, and uses of the program. The discussions were audiotaped and transcribed. Thematic data analysis resulted in themes of stress, social life, environment, regulations, choice and tutorials. Findings included a continuum of maturity evident with students' choices as they progressed in grade level; enhanced student decision making and self-reflection; cultivating positive student-teacher relationships. Student suggestions for the program involved extending the time length of the period, teaching younger students to use the program effectively, and updating the way the advisory class is taught to be more beneficial to students.

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