Through TREC, we are exploring whether Banking Time, a set of strategies that promotes high-quality teacher-student relationships, is effective in improving students’ relationships with their teachers and behavior in the classroom in grades K-3. The larger goal of the study is to build the knowledge around how teacher-student relationships can effect the use of harsh exclusionary discipline like expulsions and suspensions. The USOAR student(s) will support the TREC project management team with key phases of the project, such as recruitment, data collection (survey tracking, interviews, and coding), implementation of the Banking Time strategies, and participant engagement.
OVERVIEW. The purpose of this Banking Time study is to learn how to best support teachers in developing high-quality relationships with their students. We are interested in whether a strong and positive teacher-student relationship helps students who teachers sometimes struggle with in the classroom. We are also interested in whether the use of Banking Time may reduce the use of exclusionary discipline strategies used in the classroom. In this randomized control trial (RCT), teachers will either be randomized into two conditions: Banking Time (BT) or Business-as-Usual (BaU). BT Teachers will receive training in the strategy and 1:1 coaching.
MOTIVATION FOR THIS WORK. The use of harsh exclusionary discipline, such as expulsions and suspensions, creates a barrier to long-term student success. Although there are many factors that lead to a teacher's decision to use such disciplinary action, research has shown time and time again that teacher-student relationships is one of the top indicators of a student's success in their academic career. Researchers are looking for ways to prevent the use of exclusionary discipline by focusing on this key relationship.
THE BIGGER PICTURE. This work is unique because it is expanding our understanding of Banking Time's effectiveness in the early education (Grades K-3) age groups. Banking Time has been studied in PreK classrooms and had shown positive results in improving teacher-student relationships, which included a decrease in externalized student behavior. This fits into our broader research aim to improve the early education experience for our youngest learners.
-Interest and experience with working in schools, with teachers, and/or with students
-Basic proficiency in using spreadsheet-style programs like Microsoft Excel or SmartSheets
-Familiarity with using online file storage platforms like Box, OneDrive, or Google Drive
The student will learn the following:
-Participant recruitment
-Data collection, documentation, and tracking
-Banking Time implementation through coaching
-Data coding and processing