Consistent with research conducted by George Spindler 60 years ago, teachers continue to perceive groups of students, typically students that differ from the teacher, as less capable of accomplishing meaningful tasks, belonging and contributing to social groups, and engaging actively in challenging work. The bias is especially great for students…

Examines a kindergarten in which half the students are learning English as a second language. This ethnographic study describes communities in which two newcomer children participate peripherally; the identities, social practices, and resources available to newcomers; and the organization of each community's social structure, its power relations,…

Examines one child's reconstruction of identity in the transition from preschool to school-based patterns of play in the early weeks of schooling. The study's approach uses detailed linguistic interactional data showing identity as unstable and multiple, and draws attention to the crucial role of peer culture and play in children's experiences of…

An examination of the technique of Family Reconstruction employed by Satir and others attempting to establish an appreciation of the client's personhood through the understanding of their parents' personhood is presented. In addition, the feeling of continuity with the family and the facilitation of integration is explored to further reveal the…

Peer counseling in high schools provides a developmental growth opportunity for adolescents as well as a valuable outreach service for the Guidance Office. Through intensive small group experience and training, selected students gain insight into their own ideas, needs, and values. They also learn more effective interpersonal and decision making…

The Utah Pupil/Teacher Self-Concept Program is designed to train teachers in the use of verbal behaviors that improve the self concept of students by replacing judgmental statements with positive descriptive messages. The program is based on a successful prototype used with elementary school teachers. Four individualized modules were developed to…

Examines the intersection of learner identity, social position, and second-language acquisition. The article, which focuses on a case study of a white woman learning Japanese in Japan, presents a conversation between the learner and her professor to show the dynamic coconstruction of identity and sociolinguistic proficiency within conversational…