Describes engagement of children in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan with projects of nationalism. Outlines different visions for the children's future and ways these visions inform actions of their proponents. Focuses on how children draw upon different discourses of national community in the process of developing identities that are strongly…

Aserts that it is unclear how the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional ratings link to other critical child and family risk factors. Identifies questions regarding how well individual dimensions of social behavior are measured and concerns about the partial overlap between competent and problem behavior. Expresses concerns about the…

This study examines the effects of intervention during the elementary grades on changes in school bonding from middle school through high school, using hierarchical linear modeling. Findings suggest that social development interventions through elementary school can have positive long-term effects on school bonding and demonstrate the importance…

This article discusses social difficulties of children with Asperger's syndrome and provides strategies for helping children practice and learn the classroom and life rules that many students naturally acquire. Suggestions include: carefully structure seating arrangements and group work, provide a safe haven, prepare for changes in routine, and…

Two studies investigated the role of peer training embedded within interventions to maximize participation for students with autism and the social benefits for all participants. Videotape probes of 34 students indicated greater generalization of skills from groups with trained peers and less from groups with untrained and stranger peers. (Contains…

Argues that the failure to remember the civic purpose of education affects the place public schools hold in society. Believes that public schools are the means for educating students to become responsible citizens emphasizing the value of the public school and its capacity to promote the common good. (CMK)

Comparison of 16 children (ages 9 to 12) with visual impairment to 16 sighted children found visually impaired children had a poorer understanding than did sighted children of characters in stories, as shown by fewer correct justifications based on mental states. Some subgroup patterns concerning congenital impairments and cognitive style were…

This article highlights the growing need to identify the significant educational challenges faced by students with chronic illness in an effort to provide direction for the development of programs that meet not only the academic, but also the social and emotional, needs of students with chronic illness. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Describes the concept of a kid-friendly home environment that attracts and welcomes children into the home. Provides a series of simple steps leading to positive relations with children and their friends to create an "open house," as well as a description of the positive effects such an environment has on children. (SD)

Investigated the integration of social selves during late adolescence. Findings indicated that the social selves of fourth-year college students were more related conceptually and were more differentiated than the social selves of first-year students. Difference suggested that hierarchical classification procedures could be used to address…

Examined preschoolers' peer conflicts in the naturalistic classroom setting during free-play time. Found conflicts about play and ideas significantly increased with age while those stemming from physical harm were low overall. Findings support the proposal that conflicts are natural contexts in which children develop socially, morally, and…

Contends that Paulo Freire's ethical agenda is situated in ontology, or more particularly, in the ontological vocation of humans. At the same time, his deepest motivation is an ethical one, seeking justice for the oppressed. Argues that these two factors-ontology and ethics-are in competition for the status of first philosophy in Freire's work.…

Examined the role of early versus ongoing maternal responsiveness in predicting cognitive and social development for full-term and preterm children (low- and high-risk) at five ages. Found that children, especially preterm children, showed faster cognitive growth when mothers were consistently responsive. Social growth was similar in the…

Recent studies indicate that being intensely imitated for a brief period of time increases social interest among children with autism. The aim of this study was to replicate and extend these findings. Twenty children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were randomly assigned to one of two interaction strategies: imitation (n = 10) or contingent…

The study collected and contrasted the opinions of different sectors of the educational community about the functioning and integration of students with special educational needs. In order to do this, a broad questionnaire was sent to teachers of diverse educational stages, to counsellors, parents and to students, both with and without special…