Examination of Student-Teacher Interpersonal Relationships Circumplex Model in the Greek Educational Context.

Student-teacher interpersonal relationships contribute significantly to the academic trajectory and achievement of children and adolescents. The Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) is one of the most widely applied measures for assessing students' perceptions about the teachers' interpersonal behaviour. QTI comprises eight subscales that are assumed to follow a circumplex model. Prior studies on QTI's psychometric properties are inconclusive and report mixed findings. The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of QTI in the Greek cultural context, by testing its circumplex structure and levels of reliability. QTI was administered to 1669 secondary education students, from 85 different classrooms. A cross-validation approach and a variety of statistical techniques were employed. Subscales' internal consistency and their ability to discriminate among classes were satisfactory. Exploratory statistical techniques provided initial support of the circular pattern. Application of a specifically designed package for testing the circumplex structure of an instrument, showed that a model in which the eight QTI subscales are placed on the circumference of a circle with equal distances form the centre was tenable. However, the assumption of equal distances was not confirmed. Deviation from the theoretical position of the subscales was mainly due to students' difficulty to discriminate teachers' proximity behaviour, a finding reported in various studies and across different cultural contexts. Suggestions for improving the psychometric properties of the QTI are discussed.

Teachers' behaviour and children's academic achievement: Evidence of gene-environment interactions.

BACKGROUND: Children's academic achievement is considerably influenced by genetic factors, which rarely operate independently of environmental influences such as teachers' behaviour. Praise and punitive discipline are commonly used management strategies by teachers. However, their effects on the genetic expression of children's academic achievement are still unclear. AIMS: This study examined potential gene-environment interactions in the associations between children's estimated genetic disposition for academic achievement and teachers' use of praise and punitive discipline in predicting academic achievement. SAMPLE: The participants were 165 twin pairs in sixth grade (M = 12.1 years). METHODS: Teachers reported on children's academic achievement, as well as on their own behaviour. RESULTS: Multilevel regression analyses showed significant interactions between children's estimated genetic disposition for academic achievement and teachers' use of praise and punitive discipline, respectively, in predicting academic achievement. These interactions indicated an enhancement process, suggesting that genetically advantaged children are those most likely to benefit from regular praise and infrequent punishments from their teacher. Moreover, genetically advantaged children were not more (nor less) likely to receive praise or punishments than other students. However, students from underprivileged backgrounds were less likely to receive praise from their teachers. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize the importance of teachers' regular use of praise and infrequent punitive discipline to help genetically advantaged children reach their full potential. Future studies should investigate other protective factors of the school environment that might reduce the role of genetic influences that undermine disadvantaged youth's academic achievement.

A descriptive-comparative study to analyse physical activity levels and patterns during structured movement sessions in early childhood education: special focus on the role of teachers / Estudio descriptivo-comparativo para analizar los niveles y patrones de actividad física durante sesiones estructuradas de movimiento en Educación Infantil: especial atención al papel del profesorado

Because teacher behaviour and children’s gender are correlates of young children’s physical activity during structured movement sessions in early years, teachers should develop effective teaching strategies to promote physical activity, with a special focus on girls. Following a descriptive-comparative study, the aims of this research were: (a) to analyse the physical activity levels and patterns during two structured movement sessions under the framework of experiential psychomotricity using accelerometry and direct observation methods; (b) to evaluate the impact of a formalised short intervention that focuses on physical activity during structured movement sessions; and (c) to explore young children’s experience of movement during both sessions using drawings. Our major findings were as follows: (a) the intervention had a positive impact on the physical activity levels and patterns in young girls during a structured movement session; (b) the teacher’s active role during sessions could have a positive impact on the physical activity levels favouring more diverse group compositions, especially with the girls; (c) the graphic representation act as a source of knowledge that help both the teacher and the child to make sense of their movement experience. Our results are useful for understanding how the teacher’s role during experiential psychomotricity could promote physical activity in young children. (AU)

Dado que el comportamiento del profesorado y el género del estudiantado son correlatos de la actividad física durante las sesiones de movimiento estructurado en la primera infancia, los profesores deben desarrollar estrategias de enseñanza eficaces para promover la actividad física, con especial atención a las niñas. Siguiendo un diseño descriptivo-comparativo, los objetivos de este estudio fueron: (a) analizar los niveles y patrones de actividad física durante dos sesiones de movimiento estructurado bajo el marco de la psicomotricidad experiencial utilizando métodos de acelerometría y observación directa; (b) evaluar el impacto de una intervención corta formalizada que se centra en el análisis de la actividad física durante las sesiones de movimiento estructurado; y (c) explorar a través del dibujo infantil, la experiencia de movimiento de los niñas y niños durante ambas sesiones. Nuestros principales resultados fueron los siguientes: (a) la intervención tuvo un impacto positivo en los niveles y patrones de actividad física en las niñas durante una sesión de movimiento estructurado; (b) el papel activo de la maestra durante las sesiones podría tener un impacto positivo en los niveles de actividad física favoreciendo composiciones de grupo más diversas, especialmente con las niñas; (c) la representación gráfica actúa como una fuente de conocimiento que ayuda tanto a la maestra como a las niñas y niños a dar sentido a sus experiencias de movimiento. Nuestros resultados son útiles para comprender cómo el papel del profesorado durante la psicomotricidad experiencial puede promover la actividad física en la primera infancia. (AU)