Faculty of Education - Theses

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Author: Margetts, Kay × End date: 1995 × Subject: Education, Primary × Subject: Victoria ×

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    Children's adjustment to the first year of school
    Margetts, Kay ( 1994)
    The aim of this study was to determine whether children's adjustment to the first year of school was influenced by the number of transition activities conducted by schools. The study was undertaken in a number of state-run primary schools in the Melbourne Metropolitan Region and comprised two stages of inquiry. Stage 1 of the study involved 100 randomly selected schools in a telephone survey to identify the type and number of transition activities conducted by schools. This stage provided essential background information for the selection of schools for the second stage of the study since no documented accounts of the type and number of transition programs conducted by Melbourne or Victorian schools could be located. Results of this preliminary study revealed considerable variety in the type and number of transition activities reported by schools prior to, and following, the commencement of school, involving children, parents, families, and collaboration between staff at the school and preschool levels. Stage 2 of the study involved 203 children from four metropolitan schools. The schools were selected on the basis of the number of transition activities they conducted. Children's adjustment to school was measured after eight weeks of schooling using the Social Skills Rating System. Forms were completed by teachers and parents, and children's adjustment was rated in the domains of social skills, behaviour, and academic competence. Additional background information was sought from parents regarding the child's family, previous preschool experience and whether or not the child commenced school with a familiar playmate. The results indicate statistically significant associations between children's adjustment to the first year of school and numbers of transition activities conducted by schools. In addition, there were significant associations between adjustment and children's preschool experiences, as well as the presence of a familiar playmate in the same class.