Suggests looking at group dynamics when managing conflicts between children in the classroom. Uses an example from the classroom to demonstrate how teachers can facilitate safe and fair conflict management, increase cooperative behavior, and, as a result, contribute to children's self-esteem. Discusses careful observation in the classroom,…

The "ideal" principal is facing a world of decentralized school structures, increasing and changing environmental boundaries and roles, less homogeneous schools, closer contact with stakeholders, and a market-driven view of education. Principals should view themselves as environmental negotiators, not merely school-system managers.…

Explored pathways of influence linking parenting practices, child perceptions of their parents and peers, and social adjustment. Found parenting practices were related to peer- reported social behavior, peer dislike, and child social problem solving. Children's perceptions of parenting experiences were related to their social problem solving and…

Research shows that students with emotional and behavior disorders are extremely difficult to include in mainstreamed environments, with general educators less tolerant of them. The article examines salient issues relative to social integration of such students and identifies critical teacher, student, and program variables that impact the…

Describes a classroom-based social decision-making intervention to promote health and prevent problem behaviors. The approach unites social-cognitive, affective, behavioral, and social relationship areas with critical thinking skills important for academic achievement. Because middle school students are high risk for negative health outcomes, they…

Discusses the Regular Education Initiative used to introduce students with mild mental retardation into classes with their peers for academic purposes. Seeks to provide unique alternatives and suggestions for the inclusion of students with mental retardation into groups with their peers. Offers a primary prevention model focusing on group…

Argues that one of the richest vehicles for enhancing students' classroom learning is the diversity of the student body itself. Integrating diversity into the classroom process also increases motivation and facilitates development of social, cognitive, and communication skills necessary for today's multicultural workforce. Classroom experiences,…

This study examined the nature of mothers' beliefs about children's health, the manner in which these beliefs influence maternal affect and teaching tactics during health socialization, and the effects of these parenting strategies on children's healthy and safe behavior. Findings suggest that mothers' socialization of children's health may be…

Wages rise with new technology and work organization practices, but so does the need for higher skill levels, particularly in computer use, interpersonal competence, and problem solving. Low-wage workers, who are concentrated in rural areas, are less likely to receive training. Encouraging training and skills enhancement among more vulnerable…

Explored the assessment of family processes for African American kindergarten children, parents, and teachers involved in the EARLY ALLIANCE prevention trial. Regression analyses examined the relationship of family processes to child social and academic competence, problem behavior, and early reading achievement. Family structure, family cohesion,…

A study evaluated a consultative approach to assisting a middle school (n=617 students) in implementing empirically based school-wide behavior management practices. The effective behavior support program resulted in increased positive reinforcement for appropriate social behavior and decreased aggressive social behavior among students. Discipline…

Outdoor residential programs offer benefits related to personal development--particularly in terms of group and independent living skills, coping with new experiences and surroundings, and encouraging participants to get along with each other--that are unique and justify the cost. Further documentation of these benefits is necessary to ensure the…

Examined subtypes of "popular" among 452 fourth- through sixth-grade boys. Found that peers perceived popular-prosocial boys as cool, athletic, leaders, cooperative, studious, not shy, and nonaggressive. They perceived popular-antisocial boys as cool, athletic, and antisocial. Findings suggested that highly aggressive boys can be among…

Examines the influence of group constitution on group function, and the influence of teamwork and cooperative learning on the individual's perception of the subject. Subjects were undergraduate Computer Science students. Results indicated development of positive intergroup relations and desirable prosocial behaviors which could bridge the gap…

Ninety children from South Korea and 119 children from the United States were observed in early childhood programs, and differences in classroom environments and teachers' and children's behavior in the two countries were identified. In both countries, there was evidence that preschool education is guided by ideas about "developmentally…