Renaissance + Research

School culture and climate has been the topic of research by many academic institutions and organizations, but finding brief, usable explanations and suggestions can be challenging. Jostens Renaissance partnered with the Search Institute to provide articles on relevant topics that impact different aspects of relationships and growth. Browse below for research-based tips and strategies that can increase understanding of, and provide solutions for, ways to make school more positive and effective for students.

Positive Peer Relationships

For decades, researchers have studied the role of peer relationships in young people’s lives. A lot of research has focused on the ways peers influence negative behaviors. However, there is increasing awareness that positive peer relationships can play an equally important role in learning and well-being.

Giving Students a Voice in the Classroom

In the past 20 years, researchers have focused more on student-centered learning, which includes an emphasis on student voice, student choices and other ways that teachers share power in their interactions and relationships with students. This article also includes a rubric for reflection.

Four Myths of Bullying

Bullying undermines learning and development, and it can have tragic consequences for students. Whether as a bully, a victim, a bystander or “upstander,” each and every student is affected, so it’s important to have accurate information. In this article, learn about the four myths of bullying.

Five Essential Actions of Mentors

About one-third of young people grow up without a non-parent adult in their life to offer guidance, support and encouragement. Among youth facing greater risks, those with a mentor were more likely to have a positive outcome. Research identifies actions that lay the foundation for a mentorship.

Creating Growth Mindsets

Intelligence has been traditionally understood as a set of characteristics that don’t change much over the course of a lifetime. However, the way that students think about their own intelligence affects the amount of effort they exert in school and in life, according to groundbreaking research.

Using Peers to Increase Motivation

Many middle school and high school educators see a decline in student motivation during the same timeframe in which student place an increasing importance on friends and peers. Read key findings from Search Institute on peer relationships and how to foster positive motivation in the classroom.

Guiding Students to Achieve Goals

Giving effective feedback that challenges students to do and be their best while also boosting, not undermining, their self-confidence and motivation can be a challenge. Research offers insights that can help educators provide feedback that challenges students to reach for their goals.

How to Give Motivating Feedback

Getting feedback is an important part of learning to solve problems. The way you give that feedback can make a big difference in how it will motivate (or deflate) students. Read 11 research-based tips on how to give motivating feedback to the students in your classroom or learning environment.

How to Deal with Bullies

Bullying prevention is a serious task in today’s schools. In this article, Search Institute provides research that outlines the motivations for bullying, techniques that decrease bullying behavior, and ways to encourage students to get help from supportive adults.

Think Fast or Slow Down?

Until recently, decision-making was considered a rational process – accurate information would lead to good decisions. But it’s more complicated than that. Scholars now understand that we have two important, interconnected systems for processing information: Hot and Cold Thinking.

Helping Students Stand Up For Each Other

This article broadens ideas focused on bullying prevention to explore how students’ can shift from being bystanders for each other to becoming allies. Research finds that the culture of the school plays a large role, and that the influence of teachers can make a significant impact.

Getting Real About Goals

As the school year begins to wind down, it’s a good time to encourage students to reflect on their goals for their summer and the near future. What do they really want, in the short- and long-term? This article presents research-based approach to setting goals called WOOP (Wishes, Objectives, Obstacles, Plans).

Turning Problems Into Possibilities

Psychologists and neuroscientists have identified six keys to unlocking problem-solving potential that can help students both in and beyond the classroom. Whether it’s a math problem or a fitness goal, this research offers  strategies that help students  learn, grow and reach their goal.

Hard Facts On Soft Skills

Along with learning math, science and other technical subjects and “hard skills,” students also need to develop the “soft skills” (or character skills) that give them the personal strengths to be effective leaders, workers, family members and citizens.

Catch Them Doing Something Right

This article offers ways to “Catch Students Doing Something Right” as a powerful tool in schools. Learn about Search Institute’s widely recognized framework of Developmental Assets®, which encourages reflection, conversation, and learning about the strengths and resources.

Student Collaboration and Negotiation

Collaboration has been identified as one of four essential learning skills and a key to future workplace success, family relationships, friendships and civic participation. This article offers strategies that help students collaborate more and learn better in classrooms.

Help Students Listen to Each Other

Helping students learn to listen and express care is a key strategy for strengthening student-to-student relationships. These research insights and classroom activities highlight ways educators can strengthen caring interactions. In turn, those interactions help enhance the culture and climate of your classroom and school.

Cultivating Caring Relationships With Students

Expressing care is the foundation of teacher-student relationships. Research shows that a caring teacher can have a lasting impact on many educational and  behavioral outcomes throughout a student’s education. While it can be more difficult to cultivate those relationships during middle and high school, it can be done.

Broadening Students’ Worlds With Relationships

Because teachers and staff often have access to a range of opportunities and ideas not available to all families, educators can play an important role in expanding possibilities for students. The use of responsive relationships, “sparks,” and engaging curriculum can change a young person’s life.

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