Skip to main content
Log in

Elementary Pre-service Teacher Preparation in the Area of Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
School Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Youth social, emotional, and behavioral problems continue to be of great concern and are costly to individuals and society. Teachers are in an ideal position to recognize symptoms of these problems and to provide or obtain appropriate services. Thus, it is critical to examine the training that pre-service teachers receive. In the present study, we evaluated the curriculum requirements for certification in randomly selected college/university elementary teacher training programs. Course syllabi were examined to determine the amount and type of training future elementary teachers received related to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Results indicated limited exposure to such information. The findings are discussed with respect to implications for college/university teacher preparation programs, student outcomes, and future research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bethell, C. D., Read, D., Blumberg, S. J., & Newacheck, P. W. (2008). What is the prevalence of children with special health care needs? Toward an understanding of variations in findings and methods across three national surveys. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 12(1), 1–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley, R., Henderson, K., & Monfore, D. A. (2004). A national perspective on children with emotional disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 29, 211–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. (2006). Report on the teacher needs survey. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • College Division of Barron’s Educational Series. (2004). Barron’s profiles of American Colleges (25th ed.). Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, B. G. (2002). Inclusive attitudes, strengths, and weaknesses of preservice general educators enrolled in a curriculum infusion teacher preparation program. Teacher Education and Special Education, 25, 262–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doll, B. (1996). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and youth: An agenda for advocacy by school psychology. School Psychology Quarterly, 11, 20–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fantuzzo, J., Bulotsky-Shearer, R., McDermott, P. A., McWayne, C., Frye, D., & Perlman, S. (2007). Investigation of dimensions of social-emotional classroom behavior and school readiness for low-income urban preschool children. School Psychology Review, 36, 44–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M., & Elliot, S. N. (1990). The social skills rating system (SSRS). Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, J., Pearson, G., & Harris, M. (2000). Implementing and maintaining school-based mental health services in a large, urban school district. Journal of School Health, 70, 201–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koller, J. R., Osterlind, S. J., Paris, K., & Weston, K. J. (2004). Differences between novice and expert teachers’ undergraduate preparation and ratings of importance in the area of children’s mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 6, 40–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koller, J. R., & Svoboda, S. K. (2002). The application of a strengths-based mental health approach in schools. Childhood Education, 78, 291–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, B. N., Johnson, J. A., Ireland, H., & Claxton, K. (2003). Perceptions of teachers on inclusion in four rural Midwest school districts. Rural Educator, 24, 3–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education: Elementary Education Standards of the Association for Childhood Education International (2007). Retrieved from http://ncate.org.

  • Patterson, G. R., DeBaryshe, B. D., & Ramsey, E. (1989). A developmental perspective on antisocial behavior. American Psychologist, 44, 329–335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, S., Knapp, M., Henderson, J., & Maughan, B. (2001). Financial cost of social exclusion: Follow-up study of anti-social children into adulthood. British Medical Journal, 323, 191–195.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sugai, G., & Horner, R. (2002). The evolution of discipline practices: School wide positive behavior supports. Child & Family Behavior Therapy, 24, 23–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). (1999). Mental health: A report of the surgeon general. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Labor. (2010–11). Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational outlook handbook.

  • U.S. Public Health Service. (2000). Report of the surgeon general’s conference on Children’s Mental Health: A National Action Agenda. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Wagner, M. M. (1995). Outcomes for youth with serious emotional disturbance in secondary school and early adulthood. Future of Children, 5, 90–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M., Friend, M., Bursuck, W. D., Kutash, K., Duchnowski, A. J., Sumi, W. C., et al. (2006). Educating students with emotional disturbances: A national perspective on school programs and services. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 14, 12–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter, H. J., Gouze, K., & Lim, K. G. (2006). Teachers’ beliefs about mental health needs in inner city elementary schools. Journal of the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 45, 61–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weist, M. D. (1999). Challenges and opportunities in expended school mental health. Clinical Psychology Review, 19, 131–135.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the Office of Special Education Programs Grant H324Q020004.

Conflict of interest

The content of this paper may not reflect agency position or policy, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lee Kern.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

State, T.M., Kern, L., Starosta, K.M. et al. Elementary Pre-service Teacher Preparation in the Area of Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems. School Mental Health 3, 13–23 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-010-9044-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-010-9044-3

Keywords

Navigation