Twenty-nine deaf students (ages three to five) were observed during outdoor free play. Children with higher language ability were more likely than other children to play with two other partners at once, interact with teachers, use language, prefer playing with children of similar language ability, and receive language from partners. (Author/PB)

Compared sociometric and behavioral measures of two-year (kindergarten to grade two, or grade one to grade two) and 1-year (kindergarten-only or grade-one-only) rejected children. Concluded that it was possible to identify at-risk, two-year rejected children as early as kindergarten by means of combined sociometric and behavioral data. (GLR)

Studied patterns of behavior and emotional response associated with peer rejection in early adolescence. Obtained data on seventh and eighth graders' loneliness, social dissatisfaction, and concerns. The combination of aggressiveness and submissiveness with low levels of prosocial behavior was associated with peer rejection. (GLR)

The Co-worker Involvement Instrument measures involvement with supported employees with disabilities, via items pertaining to physical integration, social integration, vocational integration, training, associating frequency, associating nature, befriending, advocating, evaluating, and information giving. The instrument was found to be a reliable…

A recent study of 491 government secondary school teachers in Victoria, Australia, explores the relationship between sources and types of social support and teacher burnout, using an instrument based on House's typology. Results uphold previous research pointing to principal support as a significant predictor of burnout. However, certain types of…

This study of 18 preschoolers' conversational responsiveness in an integrated classroom setting during free play found that language-impaired and speech-impaired children were ignored by their peers and responded less often when a peer initiated to them. Results suggest that peer interaction difficulties may be concomitant consequences of early…

Surveyed 13 special education teachers to examine effects of disabled adolescents' active participation in service learning. Found promising results for students with mild disabilities in attendance and academic skills and for adolescents with moderate to profound disabilities in socialization and relationships with nondisabled peers. (Author/NB)

Sixty preschool children (30 deaf and hard of hearing, 30 hearing) were observed in their integrated school during learning center activities and outdoor play. Half experienced auditory communication and half total communication modes. Although all children preferred to play and communicate with same-hearing status children, 63% did communicate…

Social structures of home, school, and community environments that impact the types of peer relationships formed, types of activities friends engage in, and depth of interactions of children and adolescents with behavior disorders are discussed. (DB)

High school students (n=554) were surveyed about their experiences of school violence and feelings of safety. Students with behavioral disorders or learning difficulties attending an opportunity class or a special day class experienced higher rates of bullying than other students. Feelings of safety were related to experiences of violence and…

This study examined 236 8-year olds from a state with minimal child care standards in an effort to discover possible differences associated with child care histories. Children with more extensive child care experiences were associated with negative ratings by parents, teachers, and peers. (SH)

Outlines the particular stresses experienced by gifted children arising from the unrealistic expectations of parents and teachers, social handicaps, poor peer relationships, and boring and unrewarding school work. Explains five main "gripes" collected from interviews with gifted and talented children. Lists recommendations for teachers.…

The social participation patterns of 28 young children with visual impairments (some with additional disabilities) during free-play periods was compared across specialized and integrated settings. Although no significant differences were found between settings, there were significant differences between children with and without additional…

The effectiveness of peer-mediated intervention on the social behavior of eight socially withdrawn preschoolers was examined. Intervention conducted by classroom assistants resulted in the withdrawn preschoolers increasing their social interactions with peers during instructional triads and improving their behavior. (Author/JDD)

This commentary on EC 606 262 (a study on the effectiveness of peer-mediated intervention on the social behavior of eight socially withdrawn preschoolers) emphasizes the importance of assessing multiple measures of integration, the need to implement research in real world settings, and the need for research on enhancing generalization and…