To estimate the extent of childhood sexual abuse, questions were added to the 1993 Oregon Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students. Answers from students at 25 Oregon high schools indicated many students had experienced sexual abuse, and such students were more likely subsequently to have very high-risk health behaviors. (SM)

To assess how they compared themselves to peers, elementary school students were observed in class and interviewed over a three-year period. Found that overt forms of social comparison were most frequent among younger children, and subtle forms among older children. With increasing age, children were likely to see subtle forms of social comparison…

Skillful, scientific observation of even one student having difficulty can give teachers ideas for helping all of their students. Discusses planning observation time, tools for observation, and how to observe students and interpret observations. Provides specific suggestions for five observed behaviors and sources of more information (two…

The value of teaching and modeling respect in the classroom is addressed for both general and special education. Six scenarios are covered, including modeling respect for another adult entering the classroom, modeling respect for a student's concerns, modeling respect in giving attention to a speaker, and others. (SW)

A program to decrease unnecessary visits to an elementary school health room involved teachers asking students to visit the health room only for serious problems and urging parents to support the goal of reducing health room visits. Substantial decreases in ambiguous, unidentifiable complaints and health room visits were found following program…

Investigated the relation of change in maternal depressed mood across time and adolescent functioning. Analyses revealed that increased depressed mood across one year predicted teacher reports of higher levels of externalizing and internalizing problems and lower levels of social competence. A static maternal depressive mood did not forecast…

Examined the influence of friends' behaviors and the features of their friendships on 297 adolescents' school adjustment. Found that students whose friends described themselves as more disruptive increased in self-reported disruption over the course of the school year. Girls' self-reported disruption was more influenced by that of their best…

Activities are described for learning about problem classroom behaviors, the impact of one's manner of attire on one's behavior, and personal responsibility for one's behavior. Learning activities include role playing, making math puzzles, writing personal anecdotes, drawing a persuasive cartoon concerning smoking and discipline, and making bar…

The behavior of each of 120 students in grades 9-12 was rated by 2 of the student's teachers using the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist. Results indicated a generally low to moderate degree of relationship among teacher ratings. It is recommended that clinicians collect behavioral ratings from many raters before reaching diagnostic conclusions.…

Examines the characteristics of proprietary business school students in Los Angeles and their reasons for attending proprietary schools rather than other postsecondary institutions, drawing from interviews with 90 students attending 3 schools. Describes the students as relatively immature, from blue-collar/low-income families, with above average…

Investigated relationship between assertiveness tendencies and safer sex behaviors in 253 heterosexual college students. Hypothesized that assertiveness would vary positively, and nonassertiveness negatively, with caution about engaging in sexual intimacy, inquiring about potential partner's sexually transmitted disease risk history, and frequency…

Reports data from a Phi Delta Kappa national study of teachers' perceptions of how much influence they have over their students' learning skills and behaviors. Finds, in general, that teachers' perceptions of their influence upon student learning is very conservative. (SR)

This article highlights how instructional management differs from behavior management in terms of common practice, and demonstrates how an instructional strategy used to address persistent academic errors, called "precorrection," can be applied to change chronic problem behaviors. Seven basic correction and precorrection steps are…

Presents a study of parental influence on leadership styles. Reports that correlations between students and their role models show early influence is important to leadership qualities. Suggests that gender related influences are operational. Concludes that early influences are emulated rather than opposed and are strongest in male students with…

Describes (and presents in an appendix) the Multidimensional Reading Instruction Observation Scale, a formative evaluative instrument to evaluate the quality of reading instruction by recording interactions between student and teacher regarding cognitive processes, affective processes, and management skills from three perspectives: teacher…