The Effect of Skillstreaming Intervention on First Grade Students from Low-Income Families

Abstract

The purpose of this pre-experimental one group pre-test, post-test design study was to determine the impact of using four selected lessons from the Skillstreaming curriculum once a week in a first grade classroom of 16 students from a low income area. The researcher awarded points to students on the internet based classroom wide point system, Class Dojo, for respectful behaviors and took away points for aggressive behaviors. The mean number of unkind behaviors per student during the intervention (Mean = 4.86, SD = 5.54) was significantly lower than the mean number of unkind behaviors per student during the weighted baseline (Mean = 12.27, SD=13.03) [t (12) = 2.57, p = .03].The mean number of respectful behaviors per student (Mean = 5.65, SD = 2.94) during the intervention period was significantly higher than the mean number of respectful behaviors per student during the weighted baseline period (Mean = 2.82, SD = 2.84) [t (12) = 5.30, p < .001]. Results suggest that this is a valuable social skills intervention for children living in low income areas. Further research should be conducted incorporating the Skillstreaming curriculum for a longer time-period and on a more school-wide basis.