Peer assessments of normative and individual teacher-student support predict social acceptance and engagement among low-achieving children.

This study used hierarchical linear modeling to predict first grade students' peer acceptance, classroom engagement, and sense of school belonging from measures of normative classroom teacher-student support and individual teacher-student support. Participants were 509 (54.4% male) ethnically diverse, first grade children attending one of three Texas School districts (1 urban, 2 small city) who scored below their school district median on a measure of literacy administered at the beginning of first grade. Peer nominations from 5147 classmates were used to assess both normative and individual levels of teacher support. Normative classroom teacher-student support predicted children's peer acceptance and classroom engagement, above the effects of child gender, ethnic minority status, and individual teacher-student support. Results are discussed in terms of implications for teacher preparation and professional development.