States that the educational process must help students develop skills necessary for handling real-life situations such as peer pressure and substance abuse. Discusses essential elements of an elementary school program and outlines classroom strategies that can help schools meet this additional educational responsibility. (GEA)

Paraprofessional programs in campus activities not only relieve some of the burdens placed on professionals, but also provide effective peer counseling for students and outstanding development opportunities for the paraprofessionals themselves. Some paraprofessional programs in student activities are described. (MLW)

This report addresses these questions, and includes an analysis of nationally representative cognitive and achievement data to illustrate the dangers in making blanket assumptions about appropriate achievement expectations for individuals based on their cognitive ability or diagnostic label. In addition, a review of research on the achievement…

This study examined whether or not student, parent, and peer engagement factors that contribute to at-risk students' success in graduating from high school continue to be important in making the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The data set used was the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, which included 1994 data…

This study used data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study, which consists of a two-wave panel of approximately 2,500 second generation students in Florida's Dade County public schools, to investigate the impact of non-immigrant/involuntary minority enrollment in second generation Hispanic students' academic achievement. Students…

This study examines the relative influence of peer and parenting behavior on changes in adolescent gang involvement and gang-related delinquency. An ethnically diverse sample of 300 urban ninth-grade students was recruited and assessed on 8 occasions during the school year. Analyses were conducted using hierarchical linear modeling. Results…

This report examines the factors that influence the postsecondary enrollment and persistence of rural Pennsylvania students, compared to students from urban and suburban areas. The National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 provided data on 216 rural, 103 urban, and 323 suburban high school graduates from Pennsylvania. Depending on their status…

As the adolescent matures, drinking situations occur outside of the home with friends. This period is characterized by drinking habits, patterns, and attitudes which are different from those of the parent population; the peer group and situational factors are significant influences on drinking behavior during this phase. (Author)

This study evaluated a four-hour training program on AIDS prevention for university residence hall assistants (RAs). Pre- and posttraining surveys of RAs who did and did not receive the training indicated that many significant changes in knowledge and beliefs resulted from the training. RAs felt better able to educate others. (SM)

Describes an in-class exercise using students' discussion of their answers on a multiple choice test to demonstrate the powerful effects and pervasiveness of social influence. After a brief multiple choice test, students discuss their answers with their neighbors and then answer again. Similar response patterns emerge among the participants. (MJP)

Discusses the District of Columbia Public Schools' collaborative approach to HIV/AIDS prevention education centered on peer education. The program is part of a broader school health project that addresses many health risk areas. It links peer programs to local networks, training teachers and peer educators and offering special community training…

Wellness is a positive state of health that can be promoted in all counselors, impaired or not. This article discusses prevention from counselor preparation to clinical practice. Recommendations for preventing impairment are proposed for counselor education faculty, regulatory boards, employing organizations, and practicing counselors. (Author)

Presents the findings of an ethnolinguistic study conducted in northeastern England on children's language behavior during their first term in school. The article combines two theoretical perspectives in an analytical description of this behavior presented in three levels of data analysis. (23 references) (Author/CK)

Eight preschoolers with moderate developmental disabilities were paired with typically developing peers who had been taught simple strategies to facilitate communicative attempts. Consistent improvements in social interaction by trained peers and target children were demonstrated. These improvements generalized when trained peers were assigned to…

Investigated four hypotheses regarding gender differences in mathematic achievement. Questionnaires were completed by 97 students (58 female and 39 male). Responses support two hypotheses: females do not perform as well as males, especially on standardized tests; roles played by parents, teachers, and peers contribute to these differences.…