Most of the research on students’ school engagement is based on Western society (Maslak, Kim, & Mcloughlin, 2010) and most was conducted on students in tertiary institutions (Kuh et al., 2005). This study pertains to the students’ school engagement factors in a non-Western one. Students’ school engagement continues to be an issue that attracts special attention. In this study, I review the existing literature relating to students’ school engagement while examining whether the success of a school as a learning environment is based on students’ interest in schooling or the fact that the school environment is crucial to students’ success (Bempechat, Beth, Piergross, & Wenk, 2008; Bong & Mimi, 2005; Deci & Ryan, 1992; Harris, 2008; Leithwood, Seashore-Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004; Newell, 2003; Satchwell, 2004; Spillane, Halverson, & Diamond, 2001). In this study, I carry out a qualitative investigation through observations and interviews, of the factors present in school that influence students’ school engagement. The themes emerging from the data from the school observations and the interviews of the participants were colored by the unique school context, which inordinately did affect students' interest and school participation. Their analysis reveals the interplay of factors like the approach adopted in leadership, the teachers’ approach to pedagogy, and peer socialization towards students’ engagement. In my discussion, I provide suggestions derived from this study on how school administrators, educators and policy makers alike may indeed create, enhance, influence and sustain students’ school engagement in the context such as the one in my study. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-07-30 13:43:39.521

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2009. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

In primary school classrooms, teacher-student relations, student’s school engagement, achievement, and the frequency of teachers’ academic interactions are related to higher levels of student engagement. Since different strategies teachers use to initiate classroom interactions have different impacts on students’ engagement, the aim of this thesis is to explore how teacher-student classroom interactions in primary school influence their classroom engagement. A systematic literature review was conducted by using three databases. Eight studies that fit inclusion criteria were exerted and identified. The results show that teachers’ positive strategies (eg. emotional support, help, give instruction) in classroom interaction can significantly increase students’ behavior engagement, improve students’ social engagement and some of the strategies can also hinder students’ emotional engagement in classroom This thesis identifies actions teachers use to conduct classroom interaction and shows how these actions influence students’ behavioral, social, and emotional engagement in primary schools, which gives teachers an overview of the positive consequences of these interaction strategies in primary school classrooms. The suggestions for future research are, further studies can also include studies that perceived classroom interaction from teachers’ perspective and measured the influence of teachers’ negative interaction strategies (eg. criticism, punishment).