Study examined whether adaptive and maladaptive functioning related to academic achievement in African-American and white students. Parent interviews indicated adaptive and maladaptive behaviors predicted grade point average and achievement test scores for white students, but only maladaptive behavior predicted scores for African-American…

Investigates how master music teachers maintain discipline in their classrooms. Suggests the discipline of music and the need to use time effectively encourage disciplined classroom environments. Stresses teachers' ability to balance musical goals with student needs and interests. Notes that students respect these teachers' musicianship and…

A survey of 531 tenth graders in an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epicenter confirms their risk of acquiring the AIDS virus. Because socioenvironmental factors may strongly influence AIDS risk behavior, elucidation of the social influence process among adolescents should become a prevention research priority. (SLD)

Highlights the importance of student effort in the high school experience. Discusses current educational expectations from the perspectives of parents, students, teachers, and society as a whole. Points to a national tendency to emphasize innate ability over achievement and lax college entrance standards as contributing to current social patterns.…

Collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and the Montgomery County (Maryland) school system resulted in selection and graduate-level training of 12 nontraditional individuals to teach students with serious behavioral and learning problems. The goal was to alleviate teacher (especially minority teacher) shortages in special education. This…

Identifies cigarette advertising as an example of marketing harmful products to intended consumers using harmful images. Describes a classroom project in which students learn how to create, increase, and maintain demand. Includes a chart with student-designed "demarketing" campaigns and a bibliography on women and advertising. (CFR)

Examined parental factors correlated with developmental outcomes among 60 Mexican American migrant farmworker children. Found that maternal parenting style accounted for a significant amount of the variance in child behavior problems reported by the mothers, whereas maternal social support helped to explain the variance in peer acceptance reported…

Reports on a longitudinal study about social development of approximately 250 German primary school students. Finds that student interaction with peers is the most significant social influence during this period. Describes differences in the ways that boys and girls view social interaction with their classmates. (CFR)

Examines nonverbal communication research, highlighting areas relevant to teacher education and classroom diversity and emphasizing research on cultures, races, genders, and personalities. The article discusses functions of nonverbal communication in the classroom, synthesizes functions into a nonverbal teaching framework, applies the framework to…

Labeling students by their behavior is dangerous because, once labels are established, it is difficult to see when they become inappropriate. The article discusses five levels of labeling and suggests that it is more appropriate to describe behavior than to describe people and objects. (SM)

A random household survey of 569 African-American adults in Oakland and 568 in San Francisco (California) indicates a high prevalence of smoking (41.9 percent), with smoking more likely by those reporting high stress. Stressful environment may contribute to high-risk smoking behavior among urban African Americans. (SLD)

This study of 28 girls (ages 2-19) with Rett Syndrome found profound handicaps in the intellectual and adaptive areas, according to standardized tests. Subjects seemed capable of learning some self-help skills at a basic level. The Cattell Mental Age was significantly negatively correlated with chronological age. (JDD)

Study monitored teacher questioning behavior within mainstreamed middle school social studies and science classrooms at teacher-to-group and teacher-to-student levels. At the group level, teacher questioning behavior was similar across both classes. At the individual level, content interacted with student and question types to produce different…

Presents a learning model for science education and describes teacher interventions derived from the model to produce cognitive restructuring. Demonstrates how teacher interventions may be developed through a series of interventions, related activities, and comments. (MDH)

Reports one child-care teacher's experiences in helping troubled young children. Discusses the techniques she uses to reach the children and engage them in play, her attitudes and beliefs concerning children, and her stress on working with the children's parents. (BB)