Presents analysis of factors leading schools to be significant source of stress to children. Sees debilitating school stress linked to forces that push schools to overemphasize academic acceleration, competition, evaluation, and test-based accountability. Recommendations based on developmental and empirical consideration are presented to reduce…

Briefly reviews recent trends in research on writing; introduces theory-based model being developed for differential diagnosis of writing disabilities at neuropsychological, linguistic, and cognitive levels; presents cases and patterns in cases that illustrate differential diagnosis of writing disabilities at linguistic level; and suggests…

Elementary school teachers (N=104) were sent brief description of common classroom problem and information designed to alter their sense of control over the problem. Results indicated that increasing teachers' perceptions of control over the problem resulted in an increased preference for consultative rather than referral services. (Author/NB)

Theoretical review provides psychologists with stronger etiological explanations for problematic behaviors they encounter in schools. Considers theory of gene-environment correlation to explain how behavior patterns can become more stable over life span and diathesis-stress theory to clarify how environment interacts with behavioral dispositions…

Surveyed national sample of elementary and secondary school psychologists regarding recent referrals. Found that most referrals were initiated by school staff and majority occurred initially through formal mechanisms. Poor academic performance was of primary concern in 52% of cases, social/emotional problems in 31%. More boys than girls were…

Investigates educational risks among 73 homeless children, 6 to 11 years old. Results indicate that access to school was not a problem, but significant school success problems (i.e., achievement and classroom behavior) were seen among the study's 59 African American children. Findings support the feasibility of studying at-risk children in highly…

Surveyed 53 Greek elementary school teachers and 55 teacher trainees regarding school psychologists. Subjects rated usefulness of school psychologist in solving learning, conduct, and attention problems of students. Findings suggest that teachers and trainees held positive perceptions about school psychologists. Willingness to follow through with…

Examined development and validation of measure of adaptation to problematic academic and interpersonal tasks during transition to middle school (Survey of Adaptational Tasks of Middle School). For girls, peer relationship tasks appeared most salient with regard to criterion measures, whereas for boys, peer relationship, conflict with authority,…

Presents a model for understanding relationships between family functioning and children's school disorders. Five transactional patterns are identified as supporting a school disturbance: enmeshment, overprotectiveness, rigidity, lack of conflict resolution, and child intrusion in marital conflict. Treatment suggestions are provided, with emphasis…