Numerous studies have investigated the relationships between various student, home and contextual factors and reading achievement. However, the relationship between such factors and reading attitudes has been investigated far less, despite the fact that theoretical frameworks of large-scale assessments and school effectiveness research emphasize the importance of non-cognitive outcomes. Based on a series of multi-group analyses using a structural equation modeling approach, we elucidate the relationships between student attitudes toward reading and student-, home- and context-related factors. In order to shed light on the role of different educational systems, we make use of the representative data from four national PIRLS samples (France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands) from 2011 (n = 16,622). As gender differences are apparent in reading achievement and reading choices, we apply a multi-group comparative approach in order to control for potential gender-biased estimates caused by measurement non-invariance of the PIRLS instrument Attitude toward Reading. Our results reveal the importance of individual student and home characteristics for promoting students’ reading attitudes, particularly the number of books at home and the amount of reading outside school. Our results also indicate that school- and classroom-related factors such as the time spent on reading and the availability of a classroom or school library show no or only little interrelation with students’ reading attitudes. These findings are relatively stable in the cross-country comparison. As expected, our results also support previous findings on gender differences in reading attitudes, as girls show more positive attitudes toward reading than boys. The implications of these results for researchers, politicians and practitioners are discussed.

Although there is an increasing number of studies investigating the effects of attending music programs and classes, research on the impact of gender role self-concept on the decision to attend music classes is limited. Current research highlights the significance of gender role self-concept in decision-making processes. Accordingly, we conducted path analysis on a sample of n = 353 fifth-graders to identify interrelations and mediation effects of students’ gender role self-concept on the attendance of a specific music class through the self-concept in music, intrinsic value of music, and other relevant aspects. The results showed that only gender role self-concept of femininity revealed direct effects on attending a music class. Students describing themselves as feminine had a more positive self-concept in music and value music more. No mediation effects could be detected. However, a negative direct path from gender role self-concept of femininity on music class attendance was observed. No effect was found for gender role self-concept of masculinity and music class attendance. The intrinsic value for music showed the highest impact on music class attendance. After discussing the main results, recommendations for researchers, teachers, and school administrators are made with regard to an accessible music education, which is independent of gender role orientations.

Zusammenfassung: Die während der COVID-19-Pandemie ergriffenen Maßnahmen haben zu tiefgreifenden Veränderungen im schulischen Kontext sowie der Freizeitgestaltung von Kindern und Jugendlichen geführt. In Folge der Schulschließungen und Kontaktbeschränkungen zeigen sich Lernrückstände, aber auch Belastungen der mentalen Gesundheit. Bildungspolitisch werden stark variierende Aufholstrategien avisiert. Osnabrück setzte entsprechend ein datengestütztes Monitoring um, wobei im Juni 2021 und Mai 2022 Online-Befragungen in Form halbstandardisierter Fragebögen durchgeführt wurden („Muntermacher“, zweite Erhebungn = 534). Im Mai 2022 schloss sich Mülheim an der Ruhr an („Schule und Corona“,n = 995). Es wird anhand hierarchisch-linearer Regressionsmodelle untersucht, wie sich das schulische Wohlbefinden von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Osnabrück und Mülheim beschreiben lässt und welche Rolle der häusliche Hintergrund, institutionelle Merkmale sowie Indikatoren des Pandemiemanagements spielen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das schulische Wohlbefinden in beiden Städten hoch ausgeprägt ist. Der wahrgenommene Umgang mit Schulschließungen zeigt sich als signifikant negativer Prädiktor. Die wahrgenommene soziale Unterstützung zu Hause hat in beiden Städten einen positiven Einfluss. Auch die Bereitschaft, sich bei Problemen an die Klassenlehrkraft zu wenden, steht in Mülheim in einem positiven Zusammenhang mit dem schulischen Wohlbefinden. Die Relevanz individueller, häuslicher und schulischer Ressourcen unterscheidet sich teils regional. Die Befunde verdeutlichen, dass die Folgen der Pandemie nicht einseitig betrachtet werden dürfen und institutionelle Unterstützung evidenzbasiert sowie lösungsorientiert auf regionaler Ebene gewährleistet werden muss.

Despite increasing digitalization of schools, the impact of digital learning environments on students’ well-being at school remains insufficiently understood. This study examines how individual- and class-level characteristics of digital learning environments affect sixth-graders’ well-being (N = 1033; 45 classes in Germany). Data were collected using standardized questionnaires measuring students’ well-being at school, digital competencies, digital media use in school, perception of gaining digital skills at school, and teachers’ use of digital tools in the classroom. Multilevel analyses were conducted to assess the influence of individual and class-level factors. Results indicate that students’ perceived gains in digital skills in school are positively linked to their well-being at school, while digital teaching practices focused on individualization have a small negative effect. Other aspects of digital learning environments, such as the frequency of digital media use and additional dimensions of teaching quality, did not show significant effects. Home resources (e.g., piano, cars) were positively linked to students’ well-being at school. These findings underscore the importance of fostering the development of skills, rather than simply increasing media usage to support students’ well-being at school. The study also suggests that individualized digital differentiation in classrooms should be implemented thoughtfully to avoid potential negative social consequences.

Recent educational policy initiatives in Ireland have focused on improving outcomes in reading and mathematics among students, particularly those experiencing educational disadvantage. However, science achievement in Irish primary schools has received much less research attention, especially in the context of educational disadvantage. This article examines science achievement and its relationship to school compositional effects in primary schools at the national level, including school-average indicators of the school context, as well as examining factors associated with science achievement in three distinct categories of schools (those with high, moderate, or minor levels of educational disadvantage). The data are drawn from the Fourth grade Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 database for Ireland. Multilevel analyses were implemented in a stepwise manner. Findings suggest the relevance of school contexts with regard to science achievement. Before including school-level contextual variables, students from ‘minor disadvantaged’ schools achieved significantly higher science scores than students from schools with ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ levels of disadvantaged. However, this difference disappears after controlling for predictors at the school level. The findings highlight the importance of the home environment, including early numeracy activities and skills before children start school. Results are discussed with regard to educational policy and educational practice in Ireland.