Authors:Amy-Jane Griffiths, James Alsip, Shelley R. Hart, Rachel L. Round, John Brady Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Effective collaboration is associated with positive outcomes for students and is a key component of equitable educational opportunities. There are challenges to effective collaboration, however, as our understanding of it differs based on the various definitions in the literature. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify the common constructs across definitions of collaboration as a means to develop a universal model that can be used in the schools. Through the development of a “building blocks” framework, we provide a common definition and identify the steps that must be taken before true collaboration can occur. This model highlights the iterative nature of the collaborative process and the importance of revisiting the foundational aspects of collaborative development. The systematic review focuses on using a common definition for research and the practice of collaboration. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2020-04-10T10:12:45Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573520915368
Authors:Meadow Schroeder, Michelle A. Drefs, Michael Zwiers First page: 175 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Within the Canadian context, the two major learning disability classification systems are arguably the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the Learning Disabilities Association (LDAC) of Canada’s Official Definition of Learning Disabilities. Several of the more recent changes to the fifth edition of the DSM contrast with the LDAC definition, which establishes them as competing diagnostic frameworks. We investigated the frequency of math learning disability identification when both the LDAC and DSM-5 criteria were modelled and applied to an archived data set (2011–2016). Results support generally similar percentages of math learning disability cases identified when employing LDAC or DSM-5 criteria; however, the two methods identified a different set of cases. Implications for using DSM-5 versus LDAC criteria in diagnosing learning disabilities are discussed, including the need to consider adopting a national diagnostic standard. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2020-05-15T12:00:52Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573520915366
Authors:Kristin N. Johnson, Kenneth L. Thompson, Ryan L. Farmer First page: 197 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Repeated measurements of student ability (i.e., progressing monitoring) is an essential element of informed decision-making when adjusting instruction. An important characteristic of progress monitoring measures is frequent administration to identify areas of concern and to evaluate academic growth. The purpose of this study was to determine if STAR Math is sensitive to small incremental growth across a semester. Within two southern school districts, 114 fifth grade students’ progress monitoring data were collected weekly, and a latent growth curve was used to estimate students’ change in math ability. Results indicated STAR Math is sensitive to small incremental growth, with a statistically significant and positive slope, suggesting students using STAR Math showed improvement in ability over the semester. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2020-05-21T11:35:42Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573520922678
Authors:Man-Wai Chu, Heather L. Craig, Lake B. Yeworiew, Yue Xu First page: 210 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Many students require special education and programming to succeed in the classroom. This study analyzed international and national assessment teacher survey data regarding inclusive education to better characterize student classroom needs and teacher preparedness to support them. Most teachers indicated that they relied on teacher-based accommodations and some teachers did not have access to external resources. While many teachers did not indicate receiving adequate teacher training courses and professional development (PD) on inclusive education, results indicate students from classrooms in which teachers took inclusive education PD statistically significantly outperform their peers (F[1, 5.2] = 526.60, p < .05). As school psychologists support teachers in their classrooms to meet the needs of all their students, it is important for school psychologists to consider the minimal training and lack of PD attended by these teachers coupled with their relaxed attitude toward attending PD on teaching students with special needs. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2020-05-12T05:00:08Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573520916610
Authors:Ainsley M. Boudreau, Joseph M. Lucyshyn, Penny Corkum, Katelyn Meko, Isabel M. Smith Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of peer training in pivotal response treatment (PRT) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their first year of school. Four 6-year-old boys with ASD and eight typically developing (TD) children (aged 4-6 years) participated in the study. A non-concurrent multiple-probe (across participants) baseline design was used. Outcomes were assessed before, immediately after, and 6 to 9 weeks following an eight-session training period. Overall, rates of peer engagement increased following training for three of the four children with ASD and rates of social initiation increased following training for two of the four children with ASD; these gains were maintained at follow-up. TD peers’ fidelity in implementing PRT techniques also improved. The present study suggests that relatively brief peer training in PRT can produce immediate and short-term sustained gains in peer-related social communication skills of children with ASD at school. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2019-08-22T05:31:47Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573519870923
Authors:John-Tyler Binfet First page: 87 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Educators and parents alike have high expectations that adolescents behave prosocially and, within the context of schools, this is evident in curriculum grounded in social and emotional learning and in kindness-themed school-wide initiatives. Despite this emphasis on kindness, relatively little is empirically known about how adolescents enact kindness. To understand just how adolescents demonstrate kindness, a study of 191 ninth graders was conducted in which students were asked to plan and complete five kind acts. In addition to planning and doing acts of kindness, participants were asked to rate their face-to-face and online kindness, report the number of kind acts they completed, identify the recipients of their acts, and assess the quality of their kind acts. At post-test, participants’ self-ratings of both face-to-face and online kindness were significantly higher than their pre-test ratings. Only one third of participants completed all of their kind acts, most participants chose familiar others as the recipients of their kindness, and the bulk of participants rated their acts of kindness as medium quality on a low–medium–high scale. The kind acts done by participants reflected the themes of helping with chores, being respectful, complimenting/encouraging others, and giving objects or money. Implications for educators and parents are discussed. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2019-11-07T07:05:42Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573519885802
Authors:Deinera Exner-Cortens, Vanja Spiric, Claire Crooks, Maisha Syeda, Lana Wells First page: 100 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Implementation of evidence-based, Tier 1 social-emotional learning (SEL) programming that supports healthy relationships skills is recognized as a key mental health promotion and violence prevention strategy for youth. However, work specifically exploring how to support the high-quality implementation of such programming with Canadian teachers and schools is just beginning to emerge. Drawing on implementation frameworks that emphasize the importance of setting, provider, and implementation process characteristics for understanding program implementation outcomes, this prospective, longitudinal study explores implementation of the Fourth R, a SEL-based healthy relationships program, in a Western Canadian province using a sample of middle school teachers. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to illuminate relationships among teachers’ attitudes toward evidence-based programming, perceptions of organizational climate, and training experience with program implementation outcomes (dosage, quality, fidelity). Findings of this exploratory study identified that these characteristics influenced implementation dosage, quality, and fidelity in differential ways. Qualitative data drawn from teacher interviews supported quantitative findings and highlighted the importance of organizational support for high-quality implementation. We discuss areas for further study, given that there are significant gaps in knowledge about teachers’ attitudes toward evidence-based programming, school climate, and other systemic factors in the Canadian context, as well as relevance of study findings to the field of school psychology. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2019-06-20T05:38:18Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573519857422
Authors:Rylee Oram, Maria Rogers, George DuPaul First page: 139 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. Recent research has shown that undergraduate students who experience both clinical and subclinical attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle academically. Furthermore, these students have cited academic amotivation as a factor in their academic difficulties. Self-determination theory (SDT) posits that a lack of motivation—known as amotivation—may be the result of the frustration of the basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness. For this reason, the current study examined whether basic psychological need frustration mediated the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and academic amotivation. A sample of undergraduate students completed an online questionnaire about their university experience. Data were analyzed using a mediational structural equation model. Results suggested significant relationships between all of the variables. Moreover, basic psychological need frustration fully mediated the relationship between ADHD symptomatology and academic amotivation. These results demonstrate the importance of fulfilling the basic psychological needs of undergraduate students experiencing ADHD symptomatology, as it may increase their academic motivation, and, subsequently, reduce their academic difficulties. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2019-10-03T08:55:05Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573519880063
Authors:Ken R. Lodewyk, Lauren McNamara, Philip Sullivan First page: 154 Abstract: Canadian Journal of School Psychology, Ahead of Print. School recess scholars have called for more research into collective relations between social, personal, and physical factors on students’ engagement and enjoyment of recess. Overall and by gender, this study serves to investigate a proposed model among 355 elementary school students from victimization to enjoyment through peer belonging, positive affect, and physical activity. Consenting students completed an online survey, and structural equation modeling (overall and in boys and girls) revealed an excellent fit of the data to the model (comparative fit index [CFI] and goodness of fit index [GFI]> .95, standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] < .08, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] < .10). Each of the path regression coefficients was significant (p < .001) except for between victimization and positive affect. Results by gender revealed that all factor loadings were significant for both males and females, and all pathways between factors were significant for males, whereas for females, all pathways were significant except from victimization to affect and from physical activity to enjoyment. Boys were also significantly higher in victimization and physical activity during recess. For enhanced recess enjoyment among elementary school students, some schools may need to better consider how to support students’ reciprocal needs for peer belonging, affect, physical activity, and reduced victimization. Citation: Canadian Journal of School Psychology PubDate: 2019-07-09T11:46:17Z DOI: 10.1177/0829573519856814
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