Notes that, although literature on middle school teaching focuses on developmental stresses of young adolescents, it rarely offers specific ways to respond to student behaviors associated with these changes. Delineates the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional motivations behind typical early adolescent behaviors and then offers middle school…

This study, based on observation of 28 children with autism in an integrated preschool, explored whether differing levels of autistic behavior were associated with the presence of nondisabled children or with the presence of other children with autism. Results indicated significantly decreased levels of autistic behavior corresponding to the close…

A study of work and economics, technology, and culture in Tanzania reveals that (1) material returns to rural workers were barely life sustaining; (2) people live dignified lives without consuming much; (3) simpler technological solutions were better; (4) tension exists between competitiveness and humaneness; and (5) tribal traditions contribute…

Using ethnographic methods and taking a sociocultural perspective, examined preschoolers' social competence. Focused on the interactions of two children who were members of a peer group and one who sought membership in the group but was rejected. Discusses the importance of the sociocultural perspective to understanding children's social…

Assessed preschoolers' gender-typed toy choices and judgments regarding cross-gender behavior. Children's level of reasoning, but not their gender constancy, was related to gender-typed toy choices. Children who could distinguish between moral and social norms exhibited fewer gender-typed toy choices than did other children. (BC)

Children's automatic and reflective responses to social problems were examined. With immediate response, aggressive and nonaggressive rejected boys generated fewer verbal assertion and more conflict-escalating responses than did nonrejected boys. Similar status-related differences were not found for girls. (BC)

School population of 252 adolescents, aged 13 to 15 years, responded to Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Children's Depression Inventory, and List of Social Situation Problems. Scales intercorrelated significantly but appeared to measure different aspects of self-perception. No significant age or gender differences emerged. Findings…

Defines "gender" and considers the social context of women and educational institutions. Explores politics, work, violence, and the ways in which gender relationships are experienced in the institutional environment, curricula, classroom conduct, and teacher-learner relationships. (SK)

Four individuals (ages 5-21) with severe mental retardation and autism were administered Naltrexone. Results indicated a reduction in such symptoms as hyperactivity, aggressiveness, self-injurious behavior, stereotyped behaviors; and promotion of positive social behaviors. Intermittent administration at low doses seemed more beneficial than more…

This study of the social interactions of 37 adults with severe disabilities in 18 supported employment programs found that workers in individual and enclave programs had more contact with nondisabled persons than did members of work crews, whereas there were no differences between individual and enclave sites. (Author/JDD)

A study examined the level of sexual-abuse knowledge and self-protection skills in 77 female Chinese adolescents with mild mental retardation. Participants were more able to recognize inappropriate than appropriate touches and sexual requests. Also, they were inadequate in protecting themselves and had difficulty in reporting sexual abuse.…

A study examined the effects of a social-story intervention on the social behaviors of an 8-year-old girl with autism who attended an inclusive second-grade classroom. Inappropriate social interactions during lunch decreased by approximately 50% from the first day to the last day of the social-story intervention. (Author/CR)

Reviews Katz and McClellan's book on the teacher's role in promoting children's social competence, emotional development, and understanding. Discusses the contents of each of the book's five chapters, noting suggestions for curriculum and practice, and for helping children overcome social difficulties, as well as the components of social…

Examines the relationships among the sociability of children, their dyadic problem-solving behavior, and their subsequent level of individual performance. Finds that sociable children more often initiate collaboration; less sociable children exhibit more individualistic behavior; and collaboration effects on individual performance vary by the…

Presents a learning activity designed to illustrate the concept of positive social deviance to introductory sociology students. Describes the background to the lesson, the assignment, student observations during the activity, student reactions to it, and warnings to instructors considering replicating the assignment. (DSK)