Supporting Student Success

SUPPORTING SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT

Every year, students should experience many adjustment in school. There are always changes in teachers, classroom, rules, procedures, academic expectation, and friends. The ability to manage all of this challenge will predict their academic achievement. When a student is well adjusted, there will be a motivation to develop themselves by contributing to school activities and it will lead to the academic achievement. The students ability to adjust will be a strong foundation for academic achievement. However, if they experience difficulties in adjustment, it could lead to mental health issues, school refusal or even school dropouts that may require school counseling. All of us need to support this adjustment so they can have a smooth transition to the new school.

Definition of School Adjustment 

Ladd (in Dawes 2017) defines school adjustment as the child’s success at coping with the tasks/ demands of the school environment. Several factors also contribute to the success of adolescent school adjustment, such as academic achievement, social relations, and positive emotions toward school and learning in general.

The importance of school adjustment

The ability of students to adapt to the school will contribute to developing academic-professional skills, social and financial independence, social-emotional competency development, and a higher level of life satisfaction in the future. However, the research found that school adjustment tends to decrease during adolescence. So, it is essential to investigate things we can do to improve it.     

How to achieve successful school adjustment  

Based on research, having more friends who transition to the same school is beneficial in terms of loneliness. Teachers can also help reduce worry about school transition by promoting social advantage.

Parent Role

Parent support has a significant role in improving adolescent school adjustment. Students who get more support from their parents will have a better school adjustment, a greater sense of school belonging, better school satisfaction, and display more prosocial behavior. Parent support also increases students' social competence, relationships and reduces antisocial behavior. 

Parents could also develop a positive behavior pattern, which help to improve their children social adjustment. Provide a good role model at home environment also help to make adjustment outside home easier. Parents also provide guidance and training their children to make a good social adjustment. 

There are several practical things that parents can do to support their child at school, such as:

1. Participating in conference with teacher

2. Discussing school with their children

3. Building a partnership with teachers by creating frequent and open communications with teachers and school personnel.

Teacher Role

Teacher could build a close and supportive relationship as an external source of stress regulation for students and allowing students to aim their energy into something positive such as tasks, peers, or teacher’s instruction. Research shows that students and teacher relationship that shows closeness, opportunity for independent decision making, and instruction that is responsive to the students learning needs will establish positive school identity and put more effort in learning.

Student Role

Self-determination is a force factor that drives individuals to be able to achieve something. Self-determination plays an important role in the process of social adjustment because it has a role in controlling the pattern and direction of social adjustment. Students with self determination would be able to adjust better to the new environment. 

References:

A study of personality and adjustment behavior among high school students in Thiruvallur District. (2020). In International Journal of Sciences & Applied Research (Vol. 7, Issue 11, pp. 18–25). GRT College of Education. 

Dawes, M., Xie, H., & Farmer, T. (2017). Early Adolescents’ Social Goals and School Adjustment. In Social Psychology of Education (Vol. 2).

Dude, S. (2022). DESCRIPTION OF STUDENT SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. In NOVATEUR PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIONS IN ENGINEERING RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (Vol. 9, Issue 4, pp. 44–45).

Kadlimatti, R. I. (2022). A Study of School Adjustment and Academic Achievement Among Students. In International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (Vol. 9, Issue 4, pp. 187–188).

Serna, C., & Martínez, I. (2019). Parental Involvement as a Protective Factor in School Adjustment among Retained and Promoted Secondary Students. Sustainability, 11(24), 7080. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247080