This study described the effects of a course on cooperative learning (CL) for student teachers. The course was conducted at two teacher education colleges in The Netherlands. Data collection included observation of the desired CL teaching behaviors and elementary students' engagement rates during cooperative activities; surveys of preservice…

A pilot study was conducted with three 8th grade boy and three 8th grade girls to understand their interpretation of the existence of peer groups and their belonging to a specific peer group. The study also attempted to determine whether boys and girls differ in their perceptions of social relationships in school. A literature review was conducted…

The lessons learned by this book's authors, who observed literacy events in third- and fourth-grade classrooms, altered their vision of teaching and learning. The book shares their observations of how students engage in literacy events and construct meaning within these events, focusing on three factors that significantly influence the…

This book blends two of the multiple intelligences (intrapersonal and interpersonal) with current research on the brain and learning to create a new foundation for K-8 classrooms. It shares a teacher's classroom practices linking brain functions with the development of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. Nine chapters include (1)…

This paper reports on a study, which is part of a broader set of studies, designed to evaluate a violence prevention program entitled Expect Respect conducted in Austin, Texas elementary schools. The qualitative study was conducted to determine whether students in schools who received the Expect Respect curriculum conceptualized bullying…

The current emphasis on children's academic preparedness continues to overshadow the importance of children's social and emotional development for school readiness. This Digest presents a brief overview of longitudinal research linking children's emotional development to school readiness and early childhood success, and then discusses…

Building partnerships among teachers is essential to enhance student learning. The Richardson-Rivers Collaboration Model emphasizes the importance of relationship building and describes procedures for successful classroom collaboration among teachers. The model combines theoretical constructs based on the Johari window and Jung's personality…

Supportive relationships, especially those with primary caregivers, are crucial for both the physical survival and the healthy social-emotional development of infants and toddlers. This guide, the first in a series on infant mental health from the Center for Program Excellence, describes how supportive relationships promote the social-emotional…

Teachers make ethically-related assumptions when designing and implementing classroom management plans. Teacher education programs often promote the practical values of order, prevention, and efficient intervention. It is important that they also stress the value of encouraging social-cognitive development in pro-social directions. This paper…

The report describes a program to improve students social skills and level of responsibility. The targeted eighth and ninth grade students are located in two communities in northwestern Illinois. The problem of students exhibiting a lack of social skills and responsibility had been documented by student discipline referrals, anecdotal records,…

Recognizing that violent behavior is a complex phenomenon that is manifested in many different ways, the focus of this paper is to inform the development and implementation of school-based violence prevention strategies. The Second Step Program of the Jefferson County Public Schools is highlighted as an example of a successful violence prevention…

The National Inclusive Camp Practices (NICP) project was a national study of inclusive outdoor programs that examined outcomes for youth with and without disabilities. This paper reports qualitative findings that were gathered using case study methodology across 14 inclusive programs: 12 resident camp programs and 2 outdoor schools. At each site,…

Recognizing that what, how, and how much children learn in school depends in large part on the social and emotional competence they developed as preschoolers, this monograph examines the current state of research regarding the social and emotional risk and protective factors that predict early school problems or success. The first part of the…

Noting that becoming familiar with the work system of the kindergarten classroom (a functional system with its own rules and procedures for activities and transition) is important for students' development and well-being, this study examined the work systems in two kindergarten classrooms and children's associated context-specific social…

Youth Change presents on site workshops to train staff to deal with youth with problems. This workbook introduces the Youth Change curriculum and workshop, outlining some of the ways the program promotes social skill, school skills, and coping skills and introducing the Youth Change structured curriculum. Eight sample lessons are presented with…