Asserts that teaching English as a second language (ESL) to children involves setting up social conditions that promote purposeful use of English. Suggests that peer teaching is one way to create a successful language learning environment. (MM)

Developing cooperative structures such as cooperative learning in classrooms, collegial teacher support groups, and collegial administrative relationships within the district will contribute to school effectiveness. Necessary elements are positive interdependence, face-to-face interaction, individual accountability, social skills, and group…

In Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, a Principals' Instructional Leadership Development Project has brought schools closer together and institutionalized a means for principals' development. Principals are exhibiting their leadership by extending their focus from their own schools to educational outcomes in general. (MLF)

Principals in a Pennsylvania district are voluntarily observing one another in order to improve their supervisory skills. Two principals jointly observe a teacher, compare their notes, label the data, conduct the teacher postconference, and then hold the principal postconference. (MLF)

Examines status and gender role explanations of the tendency for women to conform more than men in group pressure settings. Analysis of age and sex differences revealed that older females were significantly more conforming than older males when under surveillance and when subjects formed impressions of group members' likability. Among younger…

A social-learning model was tested for its ability to explain why adolescents drive under the influence of alcohol and ride with drinking drivers. The study demonstrates that if adolescent drinking and driving is to be prevented, careful attention must be prevented, careful attention must be paid to ways that it is learned and maintained.…

Describes the powerful force that peer relationships exert on a child. Focuses on four aspects of development in which children's friendships predominate: finding out how to deal with aggression; learning about sex; developing moral standards; and finding emotional security. Discusses when and how adults should intervene in a child's…

Surveyed college students (N=688) from two universities to examine variables related to drinking, i.e., peer pressure, social ease, and desire to refrain from drinking. Results show class standing and gender to be variables affecting resistance to pressure to drink (RPD). Presents preventive strategies for university administrators. (BH)

In a longitudinal study, infants 6 to 18 months of age were observed in their homes playing with their mothers and with peers to determine how they coordinated attention to people and objects. Person engagement declined with age, while coordinated joint engagement increased; both passive and coordinated joint engagement were much more likely when…

Discusses various issues surrounding inability of individualized reading approach to improve reading ability of poor readers at elementary level. Suggested reasons for failure include school environment, peer pressure, self-concept, and individual reading difficulties. Teachers' role in addressing reading failure in children is considered. (DST)

The influence on children's self-efficacy and achievement through observation of peer models learning cognitive skills was investigated. The effects of modeled mastery and coping behaviors were explored. Observing a peer model led to higher self-efficacy for learning, posttest self-efficacy, and achievement. (Author/DWH)

Perceptive principals and teachers can use to their advantage the effects of peer pressure on 10- to 14-year-old children. Schools should provide these middle-grade students with clear expectations, predictable consequences for undesirable behavior, and frequent rewards for positive actions. Conclusions of research on grade grouping are…

Examines two patterns of socializing interactions in 180 adolescents' relations with mothers, fathers, and friends. These patterns involve commands based on greater authority and expertise (unilateral) and negotiation and coconstruction (mutual). In a questionnaire, adolescents reported the frequencies of these patterns in their own relations…

Describes and evaluates a student-administered group-oriented contingency technique for improving the arithmetic performance of grade school children. (KH)

In this paper we present estimates of roommate and institution based peer effects. Using data from the College & Beyond survey, the Freshman survey, and phonebook data that allows us to identify college roommates ? we estimate models of students? political persuasion and intellectual engagement. The evidence suggests that a student's roommate's…