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Rock up : An initiative supporting students' wellbeing in their transition to secondary school
Carmen, B. Waycott, L. Smith, Ken
Carmen, B.
Waycott, L.
Smith, Ken
Author
Abstract
This paper reports the background and findings of the community-based pilot program ‘Rock Up’ to school. The Rock Up program was directed at a niche section of young students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 to respond to identified risk factors associated with [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/disengagement] disengagement from [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/formal-education] formal education. The Rock Up approach was to energise these students' connection to learning as they approach the difficult stage of transition from [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/primary-schools] primary school to [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/secondary-schools] secondary school. Ultimately, Rock Up aims to assist those students in their development of wellbeing, within and outside of the [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/school-environment] school environment. The operational measures of wellbeing covered; academic, social, emotional, behavioural, and school absence. Thirteen students, who had been identified by their respective teachers, were invited to participate in individual and/or group activities that focused on their wellbeing and developing their readiness for secondary school. Written and [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/verbal-feedback] verbal feedbacks from [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/student-teachers] students, teachers, parents, and the program facilitator, were in the main very positive. Analysis of the data of the first round of the program using a three-wave questionnaire and a participatory action research approach indicated the need to proceed to a new round using more refined processes. When fully developed, Rock Up is intended to be the vanguard for collaborative practice between the education and community sectors throughout Victoria and to be an example of an efficient and effective model of transition for this age-group.
Keywords
Primary to secondary school transition, Participatory action research, Student at risk, Wellbeing, Community agency, Pilot study
Date
2011
Type
Journal article
Journal
Children and Youth Services Review
Book
Volume
33
Issue
1
Page Range
167-172
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled