Professor, alums and current student collaborate on publishing journal article

February 17, 2021

Adjunct associate professor of education Erik Laursen, along with alums Rachel Bringewatt, GC’20, and Meredith Pram, GC’20, and current graduate student Ebonee Henry, C’19, have collaborated to author and publish an article in the Journal of Education and Social Policy.

The article, Teacher Relational Competence and Behavior Management Implementation, reports on research into the relational compentance of first through third grade teachers. The article abstract reads as follows:

In order to respond productively to student disruptions, teachers must have the skills and awareness to connect with students responsively rather than reactively. Practices grounded in relationships such as social emotional learning, mindfulness, restorative, and trauma-informed practices have been shown to improve student academic engagement and behavior. They are becoming more widely known and encouraged in schools. This mixed methods study gathered data from first through third grade teachers on their relational competence and their most used behavior management practices. While survey data did not show a correlation between high teacher relational competence and usage of relationship-building practices, in-depth interviews suggested that a connection may exist. 

Bringewatt and Pram both earned Master of Education degrees in Curriculum & Instruction through SPCS. Henry earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Elementary Education through SPCS in 2019 and is currently a M.Ed. student in Curriculum & Instruction.