Cross-sectional study compares psychosocial factors associated with alcohol use among sixth- and eighth-grade White and American-Indian students. Risk factors were largely similar. Alcohol use rates were higher for American-Indian students, suggesting that prevention may need to begin earlier. (EMK)

Explains two middle school teachers' cooperation with integrating regular and gifted students with disabled students. Focuses on disabled students' collaboration with their peers and their social skill development rather than their academic development. (YDS)

Two educators studied the effect of written teacher and peer comments on ninth graders' writing assignments, creating a peer response activity and analyzing student responses to a survey. Results showed that students considered both teacher and peer comments requesting additional information and correcting mechanics most helpful in the revision…

Reviews selected literature on involving adolescents in providing health education to their peers, providing examples of programs that have used adolescent peers to reduce health risks related to tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, stress, eating behavior, and AIDS. (SM)

Reviews research on friendships of delinquents and nondelinquents. Contrasting theories and research have pointed to both the distinctiveness of delinquent friendships and the commonality with normal friendships. Greater conflict, poorer attachment quality, lesser ability to repair relationships, cognitive distortions, and poorer social-cognitive…

Why some teachers who were evaluated as marginal or incompetent were able to change teaching behaviors in order to be recognized in later evaluations as competent or even superior was studied with 14 high school teachers. Peer collaboration and self-awareness were most often cited by these teachers as reasons for change. (SLD)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Trading Cards Program to positively influence elementary students' (n=829) perceptions about the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The program used drug-free high school students to model behaviors and social competencies. Significant differences were found between elementary students in the…

Eight young women describe how they experienced growing up in a rural environment and the impact of that experience on their future plans. Several metathemes emerged from their narratives that have practical relevance for counselors who are helping youth to shape their futures. (Author/MKA)

Low income, urban African American students (N=22) identified as academically promising were asked about their perceptions of the transition to ninth grade. Results highlight the salience of mothers, the challenges of the ninth grade curriculum, and adjustment to a bigger, more complex school environment. (Author/MKA)

Examined the developmental concerns of preservice elementary teachers in a paired peer placement peer coaching program who were randomly paired for their first teaching experience. Data from students' observations, feedback, and reflections on their teaching experiences indicated that students developed across a continuum of concerns from…

A study explored identity construction of seven adolescents who attended special classes for students who are hard-of-hearing (HH) for part or all of their elementary school years. Students strongly identified as HH people. School experiences and interactions with teachers and peers with HH appeared to be major influences on this choice. (Contains…

Examines the role of American television and video in Chinese American children's culture of play and peer interaction using ethnography. Notes both White and Chinese children had access to similar media, yet they used media information very differently in their play. Calls for the media industry to reexamine their role in children's socialization…

Presents a study based on interviews with two groups of British primary school children after they had completed a project in which the children were taught in mixed-ability and mixed-gender groups with the purpose of improving their literacy. Presents the findings using transcribed extracts from the group interviews. (CMK)

The influence of neighborhoods on adolescent behaviors has received increasing research attention. In the present study, we use structural equation models to specify pathways from neighborhoods to adolescent cigarette and alcohol use through parental closeness, parental monitoring, parent substance use, and peer substance use. We use a national…

The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences in college students' high-risk drinking as measured by an estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) based on gender, height, weight, self-reported number of drinks, and hours spent drinking. Using a developmental/contextual framework, high-risk drinking is conceptualized as a function…