An Examination of Classoom Social Environment on Honors Students

It is increasingly important for students to increase their involvement in school. Such engagement is directly related to higher levels of success, achievement and satisfaction. Just reading and testing is no longer a guaranteed method of school success. Students may be involved in the following three primary domains of involvement: PHYSICAL ENGAGEMENT whereby students are physically present at school that leads to COGNITIVE ENGAGEMENT that involves actively thinking about school life, tasks and objectives that naturally results in EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT where students form close positive relationships with school faculty, staff and peers. Gifted and/or Honors students are particularly focused on school success for career and professional development making engagement levels even more critical for them. ALL students benefit when they are INVOLVED in and with their school; this benefit is especially salient for at-risk students including the highly gifted and precocious learners.