To ensure that children will be able to learn to resolve interpersonal conflicts, teachers need to examine the ways in which they resolve conflicts with the young children under their care. Teachers also need to ensure that children: (1) possess environments where they trust that they will be safe and well-cared for; (2) develop a sense of…

This study looked at the critical elements of peer leadership exhibited by special and general educators in a school where the 21 teachers had the opportunity to develop a common language and knowledge base, to understand one another's beliefs about the children they teach, and to set common goals for their work. Analysis of peer leadership skills…

This study investigated the relationship of students' sense of belonging in their classes to measures related to motivation, student effort, and academic achievement. Data from 612 fifth- through eighth-grade middle school students revealed that the sense of belonging in a class was related to: (1) students' expectations of academic success; (2)…

This document is a compilation of 11 separate reports on the Houston Independent School District (Texas) support program, 1989-90, which paired over 300 first-year teachers with mentors who usually taught the same subject or grade level, were assigned to the same school, were experienced, agreed to work with beginning teachers, and were paid a…

A study investigated the attitudes of bilingual (BL) and monolingual (ML) students at an urban high school with a large bilingual education program. The attitudes investigated included: (1) BL attitudes toward Americans; (2) how BLs think they are perceived by Americans; (3) ML attitudes toward BLs; (4) changes in BLs' attitudes toward Americans…

This book adopts a practical approach to classroom management by combining findings from research on effective schooling with knowledge accumulated through personal experience. Detailed advice is given on organizing lessons, promoting a positive atmosphere in classrooms, developing realistic expectations of pupil performance and making appropriate…

The booklet describes the New Friends approach to mainstreaming young handicapped students. The approach focuses on the understanding and acceptance of individual differences through introduction of life-sized dolls with disabilities. Seven units are presented, each with notes to the teacher, discussion guidelines, lists of frequently asked…

The experiences of Hispanic American female college students were studied over a 2-year period, based on interviews with 80 students and some staff members. Hispanic American female students fell into two major groups: (1) those few who attended private or specialized public schools; and (2) those who attended public schools or general private…

The effects of a peer counseling program on the elementary school level were studied to determine if positive relationships would promote personal and academic growth thereby increasing self-esteem and self-concept. The project was implemented in three phases: selection and training of 15 fourth and fifth grade students; implementation of special…

A study examined the behavior of first graders as they collaborated on a writing exercise using a word processor. Data were collected over three weeks in the form of fieldnotes and 13.5 hours of videotape of students working at the computer. Videotapes were examined to locate patterns of discourse and physical actions, and by abstracting from the…

A study using microcomputers for instruction in sentence-building skills with two groups of American Indians in bilingual education programs found computer-assisted instruction to be effective in developing differential skills in the different age groups. The method used small group activity at the computer, emphasizing the cooperative learning…

Programs and practices that may be useful to those planning school improvements in the areas of discipline, student achievement, attendance, and drugs and alcohol are collected in this sampling of the broad array of programs available. The programs on discipline are aimed at classroom management, alternatives for the disruptive, conflict…

The effect of a patient care oriented dental school curriculum that integrated the basic sciences with dental and clinical sciences was investigated. The focus was to understand the processes by which entering dental students progress through the first year of the new curriculum and to assess the effect of the curriculum on students'…

The contributions of peer interaction to the development of social competence in kindergarten children are discussed in terms of research findings and implications for teachers. Using naturalistic methodology, social behavior was studied by observing interactions among children in classroom settings without direct adult supervision. In peer…

This overview of peer counseling and self-help groups in contemporary higher education examines current practices and offers recommendations for program development. Section I looks at the historical background and current context of campus peer counseling and social support programs; types and functions of self-help groups; student…