A key characteristic of both high-quality professional development and successful online learning communities is peer-to-peer interaction. This paper describes the results of a study in which we examined the quality of peer-to-peer interaction among diverse groups of geographically dispersed educators in an online professional development project…

This paper addresses an important topic--the isolation and or lack of inclusion of immigrant children in U.S. schools. Immigrant children constantly pour into U.S. schools and, especially as newcomers, their opportunities for authentic interaction with mainstream peers are limited. How can schools provide authentic language opportunities for…

This paper describes Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that results in mental retardation. An overview of this condition is presented from the perspective of a family who traveled through the many stages of the disability from infancy to young adulthood. The etiology and characteristics of the disability are discussed, including…

This book on ethics in higher education examines the current condition of faculty isolation and organizational fragmentation, and the concomitant "insistent individualism" at many institutions. A philosophical model that reflects the academy in its current state is suggested, along with an alternative relational model that involves creation of an…

this paper reviews the research on cooperative learning methods, with an emphasis on understanding the complex changes that occur in both classroom organization and student friendship patterns when cooperative, integrated learning groups are used in the desegregated classroom. Cooperative learning methods explicitly use the strength of the…

A study was designed to identify the potential contributory effects of different social information perspectives on the stability of bully and victim social roles and the interrelationships of three behavioral indices of bully and victim behavior. Students (N=120) from grades 5 and 6 completed behavioral indices of bully and victim behavior.…

Noting that bullying in school is a growing concern in Australian communities, this handbook draws upon a 10-year study of bullying in Australian schools and is designed to help educators find out what is happening in their school and develop sound anti-bullying policies. The handbook also provides guidance in working effectively with students to…

Increases in delinquency and violence among adolescents in the last decade are rooted in a number of interrelated social problems that may originate within the family structure. This publication is one of several in the "Family Strengthening Series" that describes the effectiveness of family intervention programs and provides resources to families…

Two decades in which educators have seriously tried to eradicate bullying in schools have met with only modest success. Moreover, bullying is no longer being viewed exclusively as a problem for schools and school children. This book examines bullying behavior in a wide range of settings, including kindergartens and schools, workplaces, the home,…

This collection of essays and personal reflections stems from the author's experiences as an educator and sailor. He attempts to draw parallels between the schoolhouse and the sailboat to glean lessons on how to perform in the workplace. Through anecdotes and sketches, the author furnishes two sets of "rules" on how to be a good team…

This study investigated the effects of a visually mediated intervention (i.e., social stories, written social phrases, pictures of social skills, and videotaped feedback) on the social communication of five elementary students with pervasive developmental disorders. Five triads, each with one subject and two typically developing peers were formed.…

This report describes the activities and outcomes of Project ACHIEVE, an innovative educational reform program targeting academically and socially at-risk and underachieving students. Project ACHIEVE began as a district-wide training program for school psychologists, guidance counselors, social workers, and elementary-level instructional…

This study evaluated the outcomes of an ongoing child day-treatment program in operation at a health treatment center in the Midwest. The program emphasized development of social skills through modeling by adults and practice with peers in 3-hour sessions that met 4 times a week. Evaluation focused on the extent to which clients improved in social…

Adolescents' best friendships are often believed to contribute to their psychosocial adjustment. This study examined the relationship between students' adjustment to school and the positive features, negative features, and frequency of interaction in their friendships. Participating were 106 students, 90 percent of whom were white, in a small…

Research on popularity during childhood and early adolescence suggests that children who are perceived as popular by peers are not necessarily the same children who are sociometrically popular. This study extended previous research on popularity by examining children's perceptions of popularity. The study used open-ended questions instead of peer…