Thesis advisor: Anderson J. Franklin / The differential effects of the achievement gap on lower-income youth persist in this country (National Association of State Boards of Education, 2013). Recognition of the role of Out-of-School Time (OST) factors contributing to achievement differences has been growing (Gordon, Bridglall, & Meroe, 2005). As a result, OST programs have been gaining popularity; however, program efficacy varies. Socio-emotional climate represents one area of quality that likely influences student outcomes. Socio-emotional climate was assessed through a custom observation tool from a larger study. Social competence and resilience was the outcome variable as measured by the DESSA-RRE. Factor analysis empirically profiled the socio-emotional climates of 37 summer learning programs from five school districts across the country, resulting in four “GROW” dimensions of socio-emotional climate: (1) Growth-promoting Instruction, (2) Resolve and Focus, (3) Organization, and (4) Warmth. Given the randomized control design of the larger study, variability among the 37 climates was limited. Thus, hierarchical linear regression examined the influence of climate on students’ outcomes. HLR found that the socio-emotional climate explained a statistically significant (R2=0.12, p<0.001, f2=0.14) amount of variance in students’ social competence and resilience, above and beyond demographics alone (􏰀 R2=0.005, p=0.007, f2=0.01). Moderation results were non- significant. Limitations to the study centered on data collection and quantitative methodology. Implications for both counseling psychologists and OST providers were discussed at length, notably supporting programs towards Growth-promoting Instruction. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

About 20 percent of school-aged children, 18 years and younger, struggle with mental health issues in America today. Mental health issues lead to greater rates of suicide, depression, loneliness, anxiety, and bullying that takes place in and out of schools. This exploratory multiple case study looks at how 10 fourth graders, five male and five female, use a weekly entry in a dialogue journal letter to their teacher to share their emotional lives. I explore how a dialogue journal can open up a space between students and teachers for emotional aspects of life and learning to be included in schools. This study specifically explores what children say about their lives and feelings in a dialogue journal across a period of a school year. I also inquire into changes in a period of crisis teaching when a worldwide pandemic closes down school and children are forced into distance learning in their homes. We find that 1) students can share feelings, ideas and parts of themselves with me in a dialogue journal that they don't share in class, 2) the journal provides a space for them to elaborate upon and become more aware of their feelings, 3) students seek to have a personal connection with their teacher, 4) students have comments and feedback about what is happening in the classroom, and 5) the student's entries affected my immediate practices as a teacher and added insights and ideas for future practices on how I could have been even more supportive to the students.

Orientador: Dagmar Aparecida Cynthia França Hunger / Resumo: A Educação Física na infância é fundamental para a socialização e aprendizagem dos alunos num contexto escolar. Hoje, muitas crianças têm dificuldade em socializar entre elas, nos jogos não aceitam as regras em muitas vezes a frustração é algo bem presente quando jogam ou brincam gerando na maioria das vezes discussões e falta de respeito onde é necessária a intervenção para uma reflexão. Será que jogos e brincadeiras focados em uma perspectiva da aprendizagem social e emocional contribuem numa mudança comportamental? Nesse sentido, na presente pesquisa objetivou-se investigar e analisar o quanto jogos e brincadeiras, fundamentados na perspectiva da aprendizagem social e emocional, contribuíram para uma mudança comportamental de alunos de nove e dez anos, totalizando 29 crianças, de duas turmas de 5.º anos do Ensino Fundamental do período matutino. Para tanto, realizouse revisão da literatura conforme Bardin (1977) abordando-se: a) Corpo e seus sentidos; b) o corpo e seus sentidos a partir dos jogos e brincadeiras: respeito, cooperação e empatia- primeiras intervenções e c) o corpo e seus sentidos a partir dos jogos e brincadeiras: respeito, cooperação e empatia-segundas intervenções. Trata-se de uma investigação qualitativa e os instrumentos para coleta de dados com os alunos de uma escola municipal do interior paulista foram desenhos e entrevistas semiestruturadas com os alunos e diários de campo construído pela professora /pesquisadora durante os encontros das aulas. Por i... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Physical education in childhood is fundamental for the socialization and learning of students in a school context. Today, many children present difficult to socialize among themselves, in games they do not accept the rules and often the frustration is very present when they play or play generating most of the time discussions and lack of respect where intervention is necessary for reflection. Do the games and play focused on a social and emotional learning perspective contribute to behavioral change? In this sense, this research aimed to investigate and analyze how much games and plays, based on the perspective of social and emotional learning, contributed to a behavioral change in students aged nine and ten, totaling 29 children, in two classes of 5th years Elementary School in the morning. Therefore, a literature review was carried out according to Bardin (1977), addressing: a) Body and its senses; b) The body and its senses from games and play: respect, cooperation and empathy- first interventions and c) The body and its senses from games and play: respect, cooperation and empathy-second interventions. It is a qualitative investigation and the instruments for data collection with students from a municipal school in the interior of São Paulo, were drawings and semi-structured interviews with students and field diaries built by the teacher / researcher during the class meetings. Through the content analysis method, the following categories were highlighted: a) youth protagon... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

About 20 percent of school-aged children, 18 years and younger, struggle with mental health issues in America today. Mental health issues lead to greater rates of suicide, depression, loneliness, anxiety, and bullying that takes place in and out of schools. This exploratory multiple case study looks at how 10 fourth graders, five male and five female, use a weekly entry in a dialogue journal letter to their teacher to share their emotional lives. I explore how a dialogue journal can open up a space between students and teachers for emotional aspects of life and learning to be included in schools. This study specifically explores what children say about their lives and feelings in a dialogue journal across a period of a school year. I also inquire into changes in a period of crisis teaching when a worldwide pandemic closes down school and children are forced into distance learning in their homes. We find that 1) students can share feelings, ideas and parts of themselves with me in a dialogue journal that they don't share in class, 2) the journal provides a space for them to elaborate upon and become more aware of their feelings, 3) students seek to have a personal connection with their teacher, 4) students have comments and feedback about what is happening in the classroom, and 5) the student's entries affected my immediate practices as a teacher and added insights and ideas for future practices on how I could have been even more supportive to the students.

In response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, universities across the world moved coursework online andfrequently used Zoom videotelephony software to replicate the experience of learning in a classroom. While this platform supported certain aspects of the traditional classroom, such as immediacy of responses and the facilitation of social interactions, learning via Zoom also differed in various ways from the familiar classroom experience. Although there has been considerable research on online learning, most studies focused on an asynchronous design and interaction. Thus, the understanding of learning within synchronous, video-mediatedplatforms, such as Zoom, is nascent. In this study, the data was derivedfrom a focus group with eight university students from the United States that was conducted over Zoom. Using content analysis, the transcripts of the focus group's interaction yielded four themes: Zoom Challenges, Zoom Benefits, Faculty Proficiency, and Student Learning Experiences. Cameras, a distinguishing feature of Zoom, could strengthen engagement, yet they also heighten anxiety for some andfatigue for most users. However, when those challenges were mitigated and the benefits harnessed by faculty informed about how to support student learning, students experienced a deepened sense of connection to their peers, the faculty, and their learning. Family science educators who recognize the strengths and limitations of this platform have the opportunity to teach more effectively and support their students' socio-emotional learning and well-being.

The study involved 87 school-age participants in the Zhang Sah afterschool program located in Philadelphia, PA during the 2015-2016 school years. The study sought to identify if relationships exist between the participants’ results for physical competency as measured by Fitnessgram™, socio-emotional competency as measured by SAYO™, and cognitive competency as measured by school report card grades and literacy levels. The study’s findings revealed participants’ achieving levels of competency in fitness, socio-emotional learning and academic achievement. The most significant variables related to the participants’ results were adiposity, Body Mass Index, and low socio-economic status. The older school-age participants’ results revealed few significant associations between fitness and socio-emotional learning except for associations between core body strength and leadership, and resilience and science grades. The young school-age participants’ results revealed significant associations between flexibility and science grades, as well as socio-emotional learning and grades and reading level. / Educational Leadership

[pt] Esta dissertação apresenta reflexões acerca de aspectos de ensino-aprendizagem inerentes a processos de design, especificamente os processos de desenvolvimento de projeto, como contribuições para se alcançar um aprendizado socioemocional. Um tipo de aprendizado necessário para lidar com a complexidade da contemporaneidade. A pesquisa se fundamenta em teorias, conceitos e pensamentos como o do paradigma da complexidade, de Edgar Morin; o de prática reflexiva, de Donald Schon; e o de aprendizagem por meio de projetos, de Fernando Hernández, dentre outros. Aponta aspectos de Design como uma possibilidade de transcender as fronteiras do conhecimento (disciplinas) e favorecer o desenvolvimento de competências socioemocionais - incluindo as habilidades para lidar com as próprias emoções; para se relacionar com os outros; e para gerenciar objetivos de vida em um contexto de mudança e interação. Discute o papel do design no ensino fundamental, a partir de dados coletados com profissionais da área de educação que vivenciam a prática de ensino-aprendizagem por meio de projetos. Com base nos dados coletados, propõe uma reflexão acerca das possibilidades de experiências no ensino fundamental para um aprendizado socioemocional, sob a ótica de um design reflexivo. / [en] This master thesis presents reflections on teaching-learning aspects of design processes, specifically processes concerning the development of projects, as a contribution to the achievement of social-emotional learning. A type of learning required to deal with the complexity of contemporaneity. The research is based on theories, concepts and thoughts like Edgar Morin s paradigm of complexity; the reflective-practice of Donald Schön; and learning through projects, by Fernando Hernández, among others. It points out aspects of Design as a possibility to transcend the frontiers of knowledge (disciplines) and to favor the development of social-emotional competences - including the abilities to deal with one s emotions; to relate to others; and to manage life goals in a context of change and interaction. It discusses the role of design in elementary education, based on data collected from professionals of the educational field, who have experience in teaching-learning practice through projects. Based on the collected data, it proposes a reflection about the learning experiences possibilities in elementary school for a social-emotional learning, from the perspective of a reflective design.

In response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, universities across the world moved coursework online and frequently used Zoom videotelephony software to replicate the experience of learning in a classroom. While this platform supported certain aspects of the traditional classroom, such as immediacy of responses and the facilitation of social interactions, learning via Zoom also differed in various ways from the familiar classroom experience. Although there has been considerable research on online learning, most studies focused on an asynchronous design and interaction. Thus, the understanding of learning within synchronous, video-mediated platforms, such as Zoom, is nascent. In this study, the data was derived from a focus group with eight university students from the United States that was conducted over Zoom. Using content analysis, the transcripts of the focus group's interaction yielded four themes: Zoom Challenges, Zoom Benefits, Faculty Proficiency, and Student Learning Experiences. Cameras, a distinguishing feature of Zoom, could strengthen engagement, yet they also heighten anxiety for some and fatigue for most users. However, when those challenges were mitigated and the benefits harnessed by faculty informed about how to support student learning, students experienced a deepened sense of connection to their peers, the faculty, and their learning. Family science educators who recognize the strengths and limitations of this platform have the opportunity to teach more effectively and support their students' socio-emotional learning and well-being.

Many children and adolescents that live under vulnerable social conditions in Latin America and Colombia do not have access to quality programmes that focus on psychosocial education based on socio-emotional learning. Research evidence on practices used by programme facilitators is still underdeveloped in the region. This study explores facilitators’ perceptions of practices that are considered to generate socio-emotional learning in children and adolescents who participate in related programmes in Bogotá-Colombia. The main objective of this exploratory, non-experimental research study is to provide an account of existing methodologies and practices as perceived by facilitators belonging to the fields of social work, education, and psychology. An interview guide was designed to invite respondents to share their views and experiences of socio-emotional learning. Then, content analysis procedures were used to find out the relevant themes and categories shared by the respondents, and thereby identify the critical factors related to the stated research problem. Respondents were invited to answer a predetermined sequence of questions following an interview guide. This process resulted in two main themes: (1) Conditions that contribute to socio-emotional learning and (2) Factors considered relevant for programme operation. Emerging categories explore the following topics: further observation of needs among children; social, emotional and pedagogical skills among facilitators; parents’ current situation with parenting and social and emotional skills; ways to plan and implement activities or interventions; examples of key partnerships; and ways to follow up the impact of practices on children. In this study, respondents’ shared experiences show that socio-emotional learning is key to resilience processes. With the enacted legislation and some design and management of programmes to promote mental wellbeing through social and emotional education, continued research from psychosocial and education fields is needed to assess the impact of programme practices in schools, families, and communities. Research is also needed on how to revise social and emotional learning approaches implemented in school settings for use by participants in other contexts with increased levels of aggressiveness and violence. These aspects must be considered in regard to a family’s or a community’s willingness to learn and adopt socio-emotional skills. / Muchos niños, niñas y adolescentes que viven en condiciones sociales vulnerables en América Latina y Colombia no tienen acceso a programas de calidad que se enfoquen en la educación psicosocial basada en el aprendizaje socioemocional. La evidencia acerca de la investigación sobre las prácticas utilizadas por los facilitadores en programas relacionados aún está poco desarrollada en la región. Este estudio explora las percepciones de facilitadores sobre prácticas que se consideran generadoras de aprendizaje socioemocional en niñas, niños y adolescentes que participan en programas relacionados en Bogotá-Colombia. El objetivo principal de esta investigación exploratoria, no experimental, es dar cuenta de las metodologías y prácticas existentes tal como las perciben los facilitadores pertenecientes a los campos del trabajo social, la educación y la psicología. Se diseñó una guía de entrevistas para invitar a los participantes a compartir sus puntos de vista y experiencias sobre el aprendizaje socioemocional. Luego, se utilizaron procedimientos de análisis de contenido para derivar temas y categorías relevantes compartidos por los encuestados, y así identificar factores críticos relacionados con el problema de investigación planteado. Se invitó a los encuestados a responder una secuencia predeterminada de preguntas siguiendo una guía de entrevista. Este proceso resultó en dos temas principales: (1) Condiciones que contribuyen al aprendizaje socioemocional y (2) Factores considerados relevantes para la operación del programa. Las categorías emergentes exploran los siguientes temas: mayor observación de las necesidades de los niños; habilidades sociales, emocionales y pedagógicas entre los facilitadores; la situación actual de los padres en relación a la crianza y sus habilidades sociales y emocionales; formas de planificar e implementar actividades o intervenciones; ejemplos de asociaciones clave; y formas de hacer un seguimiento del impacto de las prácticas en los niños. En este estudio, las experiencias compartidas de los participantes muestran que el aprendizaje socioemocional es clave para los procesos de resiliencia. Con la legislación promulgada y algunas iniciativas de diseño y administración de programas para promover el bienestar mental a través de la educación social y emocional, se hace necesaria el desarrollo de una investigación continua desde los campos psicosociales y educativos para evaluar el impacto de las prácticas de programas en las escuelas, las familias y las comunidades. También se requiere investigación sobre cómo evaluar los enfoques de aprendizaje social y emocional implementados en entornos escolares para revisar el uso las habilidades aprendidas en otros contextos con mayores niveles de agresividad y violencia. Estos aspectos deben considerarse en relación con la disposición de una familia o una comunidad para aprender y adoptar habilidades socioemocionales.