Describes a thematic unit for secondary education students that focuses on eight themes, with accompanying activities, on learning from mistakes, such as "mistakes are inevitable, and everyone makes them" and "making mistakes does not make you a faulty person." Provides a concluding activity on the Titanic. (CMK)

Proposes that a more effective means of student violence prevention involves helping children become more responsible members of families, schools, and neighborhoods. School counselors and school psychologists have an important leadership role in helping reduce violence by promoting the moral dimensions of education, including the development of…

Argues that the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a useful tool to help teachers understand their students' differences and learning preferences. Describes the use of the MBTI at a Catholic elementary school and a related project to link the appreciation of differences to a field trip to a flower show. (MAB)

Examined the relationship between anxiety and performance dimensions of adolescents' social skills and their self-esteem, well-being, coping, and social support. Found that scores on a social skills measure and on measures of the four psychosocial factors were related. The social skills measure identified three subgroups (assertives,…

Fifth graders were assigned to peer status groups after completing a peer nomination technique. The next school year, 45 of the subjects (now sixth graders) were interviewed to assess reactions to the sociometric procedures. Subjects liked participating, although they did not like the negative nomination technique. Comments were analyzed by peer…

A meta-analysis of 97 studies published since 1950 that assessed sex differences in scores on objective and projective dependency tests indicated that women consistently obtained higher dependency scores on objective tests, and men obtained higher scores on projective tests. Findings are discussed in terms of sex role socialization. (SLD)

Research on intergenerational continuities should consider: (1) both sides of the family; (2) the effect of change on continuities; (3) discontinuities; (4) societal and family influences; (5) variations in the meaning of traits; (6) misleading differences; (7) risks derived from personal characteristics and experiences; (8) identification of…

This article discusses hallmarks that can help educators identify gifted potential in young children, especially those from culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These hallmarks include: agency (the self in control of its environment), prospectivity (purposeful behavior seeking to accomplish goals) and affordance,…

Examines relationships between temperament, social skills, and academic competence with reading and math in first grade students. Parents and teachers rated students (N=104) with social skills battery at the beginning of the year and psychoeducational battery at the end of the year. Teacher ratings of persistence and approach/withdrawal and parent…

Describes journal writing as a way to actively engage students in learning about personality theories. Evaluates whether journals increased student learning by comparing test grades from two classes: one with assigned journals, the other without. Reports on students' responses on a questionnaire addressing journal writing. Discusses the findings…

A study compared 27 participants with Angelman syndrome to clinical and community participants (n=948) with developmental disabilities of mixed etiology to determine whether Angelman syndrome is associated with a distinctive patterns of behavioral functioning. Those with Angelman syndrome had significantly lower scores on measures of irritability…

Examines the impact of migration on the personality and character formation of migrant children in comparison with native-school children. Of migrant children, finds a drop in school-related self-confidence and a short-term interruption of personality stablization. Patterns of student characteristics, grades, and achievement tests demonstrate…

Examined validity of the California Attachment Procedure (CAP), which does not involve mother-child separations. Overall, toddlers were more likely to be classified as secure in the CAP than in the Strange Situation (SS) test. The CAP yielded higher rates of security, particularly for children in day care, and security in the CAP correlated more…

This paper highlights the scientific rationale and research base for Life Space Crisis Intervention, a psychoeducational model used with aggressive children. The model draws from a broad theory base to meet the diverse needs of troubled children. The method necessitates forming an alliance with youth and sees problems as opportunities for teaching…

This article describes a continuum of definitions of giftedness from conservative to liberal and discusses how these definitions relate to the development of the 3-ring conception of giftedness. In this definition, above average ability, task commitment, and creativity are seen as 3 interactive clusters of traits that gifted students may exhibit.…