Explored the relationship between the developmental appropriateness of kindergarten classroom instruction and first-grade overall and individual subject area reading test averages. Found that first graders from more appropriate kindergarten classrooms had higher reading averages than children from less appropriate kindergarten classrooms. Gender…

Contends that during the colonial period, approximately half of the white immigrants to America were indentured servants. Presents a high school lesson plan on indentured servitude using William Buckland, an indentured servant at George Mason's Gunston Hall Plantation, as a case study. (CFR)

Asserts that culture was and is a major focus of much sociological research and writing and that music is often a subject of such research. Proposes using music as a teaching tool in a course about issues of race, class, and gender. Describes the use of musical lyrics in the course, and reports on student attitudes toward the course. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the apparently paradoxical absence of background socioeconomic status (SES) effects on school continuation by college graduates. Finds results consistent with earlier studies of SES impact on schooling and explains the absence of parental SES effects on schooling beyond college. (CFR)

Examined the relationship of parental attitudes and parental warmth to child academic skills and self-perceptions of competence. Suggests that although parental warmth was not significantly correlated with parental attitudes about early academics, and neither academic attitudes nor warmth predicted child achievement on an Academic Skills…

Provides reviews of computerized scoring and interpretive systems for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2 and MMPI-A): Caldwell Report, the Psychological Assessment Resources MMPI-2 Interpretive System, and the National Computer Systems Programs. Concludes that when used appropriately, such scoring systems enhance a counselor's…

Reexamines family structure's influences on standardized test scores of first- and second-grade children with respect to family resources. Found that two parents in the home and family resources did not affect growth in standardized achievement during school sessions. Family resources did influence achievement when school was out. (RJM)

Summarizes research-based information on discipline and classroom management in Turkish schools and proposes intervention strategies. In Turkey, child-rearing and teaching practices are mainly authoritarian. More must be done to foster communication and relationship-building among teachers, students, parents, and administrators, since safe schools…

For 152 children, intelligence scores were assessed at 4 and 13 years of age, and the number of factors out of 10 social and family risk factors was counted. The presence of multiple risk factors in children's lives explained up to half the variance of children's IQ scores at 4 and 13 years. (MDM)

Unpopular students in grades 5-11 were compared with average and popular students among 319 high ability students. Unpopular students were distinguished by lower social self-concept, lower academic self-esteem, and less prestigious paternal occupations. Unpopular students were not found to be academically less capable, less mature, or more…

This study examined relationships between parenting, severity of disability, and 5 aspects of family ecology for 83 preschool and 69 elementary school children with disabilities. Family ecology variables included socioeconomic status, coping styles, social support, stressful life events, and marital quality. Results showed positive correlations…

The relationship of socioeconomic status (SES) to the etiology of physical child abuse and the consequences of abuse for child development was studied. There was an interaction of SES with abuse status. This suggests different relationships between SES and child rearing in abusive and nonabusive families. (BC)

Presents a theory of the origins of a lack of cohesiveness in African-American culture based on a lack of a "social" reference resulting from the historical division of house slaves from field slaves and other efforts to keep those who shared language and culture from having contact. (JB)

Explores the situations of the following immigrant groups in Canada: (1) Caribbean Blacks; (2) East Indians; and (3) Filipinos. The combined contributions of these groups to Canada's work force and Canada's economic, sociological, educational, multicultural, and spiritual development are incalculable, yet these minorities face discrimination and…

Examines career and family role expectations and attitudes of female university students and both of their parents. Data from 292 families reveal rather traditional attitudes toward mothering, egalitarian attitudes toward marital roles, and little frustration about future career and family roles. Age, sex, and socioeconomic differences are…