Notes the increase in violence and other negative behaviors depicted in television programs; discusses ways to ensure children are exposed to positive, quality programming. Suggests looking for programs which stimulate curiosity in learning and provide appropriate challenges; respect diversity and individuality; provide accurate, current…

Presents a typology outlining five psychological risk states that may be experienced by adolescent drivers. Identifies the habitually cautious driving and active risk avoidance states as desirable from a traffic safety viewpoint. Identifies reduced risk perception, acceptance of risk at a cost, and risk seeking states as undesirable. Examines…

Among 2,357 elementary and secondary teachers in rural ethnic-minority regions of China, teacher's use of classroom instructional time and overall professional time was strongly influenced by grade level taught and somewhat influenced at the elementary level by teacher's preservice training. Results suggest that Chinese investments in preservice…

Explored the interaction between the subject-matter contexts of a teacher's work and her identity as teacher and learner. Observations of teacher responses to new state and district instructional policies regarding literacy and mathematics instruction revealed that her identity as a teacher and learner about teaching differed substantially between…

This case study explored the efficacy of a prelinguistic intervention focused on ongoing daily activities in a preschool classroom for a 3-year-old boy with severe communication and cognitive delays. Strategies used included environmental arrangement, following the child's lead, imitation, modeling, and prompting. Results indicated the child…

This article explores the status of implementation of the behavioral and discipline requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997. Data are presented from complaints, hearings, and court decisions that suggest that the overall discrepancy between competency expectation for Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and…

Examines the relationship between parental bonding and mental health in healthy adolescents. Results, based on 847 Israeli high school students, show that those who reported high care and low control (optimal bonding) reported less distress, better general well-being, and better social support than did all other groups. (RJM)

Discusses virtual online communities, probing claims about the Internet as a place for fostering democracy. The paper examines the democratic nature of computer conferencing in classrooms, focusing on a study of graduate students' online interactions. Results indicated that students were able to master the medium and act as responsible, equal…

Teacher educators can help prepare future educators to teach homosexual students by creating safe environments for homosexual students, providing positive role models, selecting relevant curriculum and activities, providing information and training for faculty, securing relevant library holdings, and conducting research on homosexual students.…

This study evaluated the impact of intensive behavioral treatment by parents in the home setting on the development of 11 young autistic children. Compared to a control group, the children had significantly higher posttreatment IQ scores. Smaller, but statistically significant effects on symptom severity were also found, although experimental…

Describes a study conducted by Development Strategies that analyzes the local influence of three Catholic schools in the City of St. Louis. Outlines four reasons why these schools are important neighborhood assets: active lay leadership, active pastors, outreach programs, and autonomy afforded by the archdiocese. (JDI)

Identified barriers that delay seeking professional care following school vision screening. Focus groups of parents, students, teachers, school and community health professionals, and community leaders highlighted several barriers, including lack of community awareness about certain visual problems, high costs of glasses, inconvenient appointment…

Describes challenges involved in ensuring successful transition for youth with emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD) and makes recommendations for improving transition services, including: maintain linkages with community agencies and businesses, write cooperative agreements, facilitate referrals to other agencies, and link students with…

A study involving 453 pairs of Israeli parents and teachers used an item response theory measurement model(IRT) to examine the 28-item Conners Teacher's Rating Scale (CTRS) for diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. IRT analyses revealed structural inadequacies involving the inappropriateness of the 4-point Likert-type scale used by…

A study of 114 children examined the relationship of children's competence with objects and peers during free play with stimulating, involved teacher behavior; activity setting; as well as teacher and peer presence. Results are discussed in light of current research and theory on classroom practices designed to enhance children's development. (TJQ)