Examines how family composition, size, and atmosphere; parental control; and the level of parental education and socioeconomic status are associated with children's problems at school. Shows that underachievers came from families with absent natural fathers, lower parental control, and negative atmosphere; overachievers came from intact families…

Defines "time on task;" highlights aspects that contribute to engaging activities for learning. Discusses time needed for and time spent on learning; factors that influence quality of instruction; capabilities of teachers that influence the efficient use of time; several ways in which timing is critical for effective instruction; and convincing…

Examined the prevalence of eating-disordered cognitions and behaviors among adolescent obligatory exercisers (those for whom exercise is the central focus of their lives). Surveys of 250 male and female adolescents indicated that obligatory exercisers had more eating-disordered attitudes and traits than did nonobligatory exercisers, sharing…

Compared the classroom instruction and learning environment of 563 resilient and nonresilient, predominantly minority, fourth and fifth graders. Observations indicate that resilient students spend more time interacting with teachers for instructional purposes, and nonresilient students spend more time interacting with peers for social purposes.…

Describes a conceptual model of physical activity promotion based on the unique developmental, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of children. The model adopts a social-ecological framework by acknowledging the input of various personal, social, and environmental influences on children's physical activity. It also unites constructs from…

Multicultural research shows that students' attitudes and friendships within a multiracial/ethnic context involve complicated sets of behavioral and attitudinal dimensions. Parents' and teachers' influence can cause children to develop positive and/or negative attitudes about an entire group. Structural multiculturalism is a challenging, essential…

Investigated mothers' perceptions of factors contributing to school violence. Surveys of mothers of junior high school students in urban and suburban settings suggested no significant overall differences in perceptions of predisposing factors among urban and suburban mothers. Most did not perceive characteristics of urbanicity as contributing…

Presents four conclusions about why boys turn violent and how parents and teachers can save them: violence prevention is everybody's business; education for parents and teachers is crucial; child abuse prevention is the cornerstone of preventing lethal youth violence; and detoxifying the social environment of children and youth is essential to…

A study of 97 adult distance learners introduced and evaluated the effectiveness of an embedded study strategy. Determined less experienced learners embraced the strategy and more experienced learners rejected it if it conflicted with existing study strategies, time constraints, or their need for self-direction. Appendices includes the evaluation…

Discusses cultural influences on behavior, theoretical assumptions about culturally diverse students, and culturally sensitive behavior management strategies that educators might consider in their efforts to curtail school violence. The strategies are intended to be culture-specific and culture-fair, to humanize school environments, and to…

Contends that the lack of school adaptation is one of the most serious problems within the Russian educational system. Expounds that the lack of adaptation is the impossibility of adequate school instruction in accordance with students' natural abilities and students' social interactions within their own lives. Discusses efforts to overcome the…

Research has shown that a school building's condition affects student achievement and behavior and that certain facility design elements can improve the learning climate. An ideal CDC (cost-design-climate) associative environment has a balanced interrelationship among the three elements. Unnecessarily emphasizing one or more elements may seriously…

Examined the effect of a school-based asthma management program, which featured brief class sessions, for improving the knowledge and self-care of third graders with asthma and increasing parents' awareness. Pre- and postintervention parent and student surveys indicated that brief class sessions were feasible, and children demonstrated increased…

Examined whether the behavioral effects of a theory-based sexuality education curriculum could be duplicated for Arkansas adolescents. Pretesting and posttesting of intervention and control students indicated that intervention students significantly delayed initiating sexual intercourse, were more likely to protect themselves from sexually…

Assessed junior high students' perceptions regarding nonconsensual sexual activity. Surveys indicated 35% had had sexual intercourse; 19% reported feeling pressure from their friends to have sex; 17% had been sexually coerced by an adolescent, 7% by an adult; 6% reported having sexually coerced someone else. Students demonstrated low knowledge…