Our goal is to learn how emotions can influence children's relationships with teachers and friends, their school participation, and academic achievement. We are excited to learn how children's friends might affect their expression of emotion and behavior at school. As a result of our research, we hope to help all children be more successful in school and help create programs that promote student s
uccess, especially for children who might have difficulties expressing and regulating their emotions. To reach these goals, we need your help and support. Project Peers will partner with five different schools in three local school districts to launch the project in kindergarten and to follow those students through second grade. We will gather data by observing students both in and out of the classroom at school, by asking students' parents and teachers to share their insights through surveys and by having the students complete some fun activities with researchers. These data will help us identify "tips" we can share with your schools' staff to help them better understand how students' emotions and relationships are related to academic achievement and school engagement. In addition, by being part of the study's procedures, students might gain a better understanding of their emotions, especially in school settings.
