This study investigated the effect of children's relationships on conversations that took place when children were working on a collaborative writing task, and examined the quality of the writing effort. A total of 62 fourth graders worked under three conditions: (1) individually; (2) with a best friend; and (3) with a nonfriend who was an…

For integration of special needs students to succeed, teachers and caregivers must be aware of the challenges inclusion can present, and engage in thoughtful planning and follow-through. This book provides information and support for early childhood staff with special needs children in their classrooms. The introduction describes the child with…

The Study Buddies program is a partnership between an upper elementary classroom and a primary classroom. The program could be modified for any grade level as long as all the class members are willing to work with a different grade level class on a regular basis throughout the school year. Participating students and teachers plan social…

This paper presents an alternative instructional strategy, cooperative learning, and argues that it can help to address the recognized need for greater student participation in learning at the higher education level. Cooperative learning is presented as a complement to the traditional lecture/discussion format. The method is described as…

The participant guide to implementation of the Collaborative Learning Process (CLP) is presented. The CLP is designed to increase the application of content through inservice teacher training. The first section reviews the basic components of CLP, summarizes how to prepare for the first session, and how to keep CLP going. The second section…

This study analyzed the relation between the friendship networks of parents and the peer networks of their children. Subjects were 255 second- through fifth-grade children of an inner-city primary school in the western part of Berlin, Germany, who were interviewed about friends. In the interview, children were asked to name other children with…

The images of life conveyed by television appear to have substantial impact on the expectations and standards that guide teenagers' choices and that shape their sense of satisfaction with their own life circumstances. This study compared the perceptions of 5th through 11th grade adolescents (N=133) of their own life experiences with those of their…

Focusing on one aspect of a school-based project that examined the development of young children's communication skills, this study investigated variations in the balance and type of questions found in dialogues between preschool children interacting together and interacting with an adult. Subjects were 60 children, ages 4 to 5 years, who were…

This study examined the social networks of college students and how such networks affect student commitment and persistence. The study's theoretical framework was based on application of the social network paradigm to Tinto's Student Integration Model, in which a student's initial commitment is modified over time as a result of the student's…

This study examined the prevalence of bullying and victimization among Canadian school children. Using a questionnaire developed by Olweus, the study surveyed 4,743 children in grades 1 through 8. Six percent of children acknowledged bullying others "more than once or twice" in the preceding 6 weeks, and 15 percent of children reported…

This paper addresses common concerns of parents about the social development of gifted children. It stresses the importance of three key factors: (1) a responsive home environment where the child is respected; (2) opportunities to relate to other gifted children, especially during the early years, when self-concept is formed; and (3) opportunities…

Results of a qualitative study of the professional culture of nine primary schools that are implementing innovations are presented. Three aspects of schools' organizational culture are emphasized: (1) the principal as builder and carrier of the culture; (2) consensus on goals; and (3) professional relationships among teachers. Three cultural types…

The relationship between marital distress and children's level of functioning was examined in a study in which children were observed in peer and family interactions. Couples were considered distressed if both partners scored below the mean on the Marital Adjustment Test. The subjects were members of five families with distressed couples and eight…

Among studies that have examined the relationship between parenting styles and children's development of social skills, the research of Diana Baumrind is noteworthy. In several studies, she has identified authoritarian, permissive, and authoritative parenting styles, which differ on the dimensions of nurturance and parental control. Authoritarian…

Noting that some forms of solitude may reflect maladaptation, while others may not, this book seeks to promote better understanding of the developmental meanings, causes, and courses of social solitude in childhood. The five sections of the book cover conceptual and methodological issues; biological and familial factors; social behaviors, skills,…