Supporting Learning in Early Childhood Through Classroom Context: The Role of Social Emotional Interventions

• In Event: Early Childhood Social-Emotional Issues

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of INSIGHTS into Children’s Temperament (INSIGHTS) on kindergarten classroom-level emotional and organizational support and behavior problems. INSIGHTS is a temperament-based socio-emotional learning intervention with teacher, parent, and classroom programs. 22 urban elementary schools (randomly assigned to INSIGHTS vs. comparison group), 120 teachers, and 324 children enrolled in the study. Multi-level modeling demonstrated larger improvements in levels of emotional and organizational support among classrooms with low levels of initial support enrolled in INSIGHTS. Further, INSIGHTS classrooms with higher levels of child behavior problems at the start of kindergarten evidenced greater decreases in overall behavior problems during kindergarten than classrooms enrolled in the control group. Results suggest the importance of considering classroom environment when implementing SEL interventions.

Authors

• Samantha Harding, New York University

• Hope White, New York University

• Erin E. O'Connor, New York University

• Meghan McCormick, MDRC

• Sandee G. McClowry, New York University