Academic Survival Skills for the Young Child at Risk for School Failure

The primary purpose of this study was to identify social competence and academic survival skills necessary for success in kindergarten. The study was designed to indicate similarities and differences among early childhood educators in (a) academic survival skills considered necessary for success in kindergarten, and (b) behaviors considered inappropriate for kindergarten. A review of the literature revealed minimal research related to academic survival skills and social competence in kindergarten. The Social Behavior Skills Inventory (Walker & Rankin, 1980) was utilized as a survey instrument to obtain the relevant information. The survey obtained data that determined the specific social competence and academic survival skills considered necessary for kindergarten children in Calaveras, Amador, and Tuolumne counties in rural California.