Social competence and adaptive learning behaviors as predictors of school readiness
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Holly Paymon (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Julia Mendez Smith
Abstract: Preschool children can acquire language competencies through interactions with their peers as well as with their teachers. Indicators of children’s social competence in the peer group and indicators of children’s learning behaviors with their teachers could be important predictors of their language abilities. Relations between children’s social competence with their peers, adaptive learning behaviors in the classroom, and school readiness (language abilities) were examined in a sample of 60 Latino preschool children, from low SES backgrounds, who participated in Head Start. The Expressive and Receptive One-Word Picture Vocabulary tests were used as measures of school readiness. The Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS) and the Preschool Learning Behaviors Scale (PLBS) were used to measure parent reported social competence and teacher reported adaptive learning behaviors, respectively. This study tested the main hypothesis that social competence would be positively associated with Latino children’s school readiness outcomes. It was further hypothesized that the presence of adaptive learning behaviors would moderate this association. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test these hypotheses. The main findings suggest that disconnection from peers is negatively associated with receptive language skills and that adaptive learning behaviors in the classroom are negatively associated with expressive language skills. Findings from this study may have implications for parents and teachers whose goal is to improve Head Start children’s language competencies. Research and clinical implications will be discussed.
Social competence and adaptive learning behaviors as predictors of school readiness
PDF (Portable Document Format)
432 KB
Created on 5/1/2015
Views: 1055
Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2015
- Keywords
- Preschool Learning Behaviors, School Readiness, Social Competence
- Subjects
- Education, Preschool
- Readiness for school
- Socialization
- Social skills in children