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Research conclusions concerning predictors of academic success have been, at best, less than convincing. In fact, these conclusions are more conflicting or mixed when emotional constructs are used. As a result, modern curriculum developers as well as classroom instructors seem to deemphasize, if not ignore, the role of the affective domain in student learning. This is rather surprising considering that psychology continues to play such an important role in education. For decades, researchers have disagreed about the role played by three primary emotional concepts: self-esteem, parental involvement and student perception as predictors of students' academic success. This study attempts to determine which of these constructs, singly or in combination, can predict students' academic success and if the inclusion of any from among a selected group of demographic variables - socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity and student grade level- can alleviate or at least mitigate the discrepancies of prior research conclusions. A survey using a five point Likert scale was developed to collect data from 164 students in grades 3-7 in a select Philadelphia Charter School. The data were analyzed using Varimax Factor Rotation, Pearson Product-Moment Correlations and Multiple Regression to find answers to four research questions. The results of the analyses using only the emotional constructs were not significant; however, when the demographic constructs were included, specifically the students' grade levels, significant results were found. This study does not settle the controversy over whether or not the emotional constructs are authentic predictors of students' academic success. Nevertheless, the study does give insight into the significance of including the demographic factor of student grade level as a predictor of student academic success. Consequently, the results of this study suggest that any research using emotional constructs to predict the academic success of primary school students should include the various grade levels of the students. / Educational Psychology

During the last decade there has been a renewed focus on improving the instruction of children at risk for not learning to read well and ways to effectively involve their parents to enhance their children's reading achievement. This focus has particularly centered on how programs of school, family, and community partnerships can be organized to improve schools and enable all families to support children's reading and literacy skills (Epstein et al, 2002-2009). This study examined the extent to which the reading achievement of African American male learners improves with school, family, and community partnerships. The sample consisted of fourth grade African American males from the Tidewater region of Virginia who were enrolled in Title 1 schools that participate in the National Network of School Partnerships. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between school, family, and community partnerships and the reading achievement of the African American male. Second, the study identified which type of parental involvement significantly influenced the reading achievement of African American males. Third, the study identified parental involvement activities that significantly influenced the reading achievement of the African American male learner. Teachers and administrators were surveyed using an instrument adapted from Epstein's School, Family, and Community Partnership Survey, The Virginia Standards of Learning reading and language arts assessments provided data for reading achievement of fourth grade African American males. Data analysis revealed no significant differences in promising practices and the reading achievement of fourth grade African American males. An ANOVA showed a significant difference between principals and teachers in their ratings of the importance of Type 6 activities, collaborating with the community. A correlation was found between Type 3 parental involvement activities of volunteering and the reading achievement of fourth grade African American males. An ANOVA showed a significant difference between principals and teachers in their ratings of Teacher Reports of School Program Type 4 (Learning at Home). Significant differences were found between principals and teachers in their ratings of Teacher Reports of Total School Program to Involve Families. A correlation between teacher estimates of parents' involvement and the mean SOL English score for African American male fourth grade students was found. / Ed. D.