Quantum Units Education®

Part One: Creating a Positive School Climate

1. School climate refers to the quality and character of school life for students, parents, and school personnel, and it and reflects each of the following EXCEPT:

2. A growing body of empirical research has shown that a positive and ___________ school environment is associated with healthy youth development, student learning and academic achievement, increased graduation rates, and teacher retention.

3. Many teachers do not feel safe and effective as educators in their school environments, and as a result approximately 35% drop out of the profession within their first five years of teaching.

Is Our School Climate Positive?

4. The authors describe environmental components of a positive school climate that include:

5. A well-designed climate assessment survey reveals patterns of behavior and attitudes that may assist in providing a comprehensive view of underlying factors that contribute to a school's success and challenges.

The Right Thing to Do

6. In creating a healthy school environment, it is critical to engage students as partners because they are aware of what is happening around them and will likely be empowered to contribute in a positive way.

School Climate Surveys Uncover the Extent of Bullying

7. Although any student may be the target of bullying, those who are at increased risk include:

8. Research among social scientists and medical doctors indicates that bullied youths are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, physical ailments, truancy, and suicide.

Research Findings-Bullying Impact on Bystanders

9. Empirical studies demonstrate that approximately 46 percent of students report being a bystander to bullying during their current school term.

Professional Environment Plays Large Role in School Climate

10. According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, the cost to recruit, hire, process, and train one new teacher ranged from ___________depending on district size and location.

Part Two: School Connectedness

11. School connectedness is a particularly promising protective factor to buffer children and adolescents from the potentially harmful effects of negative situations and events.

Why Is School Connectedness Important?

12. According to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which of the following is NOT one of the factors that protects against a range of adverse behaviors for young people?

School Environment

13. A supportive psychosocial climate at school is influenced by such factors as policies related to discipline, opportunities for meaningful student participation, and:

How Can Schools Influence Factors That Increase School Connectedness?

14. Strategies to increase the extent to which students feel connected to school are usually long-term changes in school processes that require extensive administrative or budgetary changes.

Six Strategies to Promote School Connectedness

15. In order to enhance the factors that increase school cohesiveness, decision-making processes should be created to facilitate student, family, and community engagement, academic achievement, and:

Provide Education and Opportunities for Families

16. Training workshops may be offered to provide parents with skills to better manage their children's behavior, such as identifying desirable and undesirable behaviors, communication strategies, conflict resolution, listening skills, setting expectations for behaviors, and appropriate praise.

Provide Students with the Academic, Emotional, and Social Skills

17. One recommended strategy to increase connectedness is to implement tutoring programs to provide daily academic help and to offer assistance in time management and other life skills.

Use Effective Classroom Management and Teaching Methods

18. Each of the following is an appropriate way to use effective teaching methods and classroom management EXCEPT:

Provide Professional Development and Support for Teachers and Other School Staff

19. Teachers who have been trained in _________________ and who demonstrate effective implementation of student-centered pedagogy may be better equipped to meet the diverse cognitive, emotional, and social needs of children and adolescents.

Create Trusting and Caring Relationships That Promote Open Communication

20. In order to provide better continuity in learning, the school may want to consider having teachers stay with the same students for three years in elementary and middle school and two or more years in high school.