Understanding the factors that encourage young people to become active agents in their own learning is critical. Positive psychology is one lens that can be used to investigate the factors that facilitate a student's sense of agency and active school engagement. In the second edition of this groundbreaking handbook, the editors draw together the…

This article provides early childhood practitioners a way to develop a common understanding of the importance of play in the early learning experience of young children. Meaningful discussion among teachers, parents, administrators, and teacher candidates regarding play in early childhood education programs is critical to ensure the growth and…

Peer relations during middle childhood and adolescence are an important part of children's social and emotional development. Children and adolescents pick up essential social and communication skills from their peers as they move into late adolescence and early adulthood. Peer conflict is not necessarily a bad thing; disagreement and conflict are…

The author, born with a severe visual impairment, addresses the tendency of adolescents with visual impairments to try to hide the disability and "pass" as unimpaired with their peers. It is suggested that these adolescents be helped to find a comfortable balance between taking excessive risks and allowing visual impairment or blindness to be an…

This article describes several books published by Free Spirit Publishing which help gifted students to understand their giftedness. The books deal with such issues as parental pressure, teasing of peers, perfectionism, stress, underachievement, personal autonomy, self-esteem, lying, and strategies for success in school. (JDD)

The article reviews studies which demonstrate the positive impact of peer tutoring on cognitive and affective skills of special children, considers implications for classroom programming, and discusses the use of tutoring as a learning activity for all students regardless of abilities. (Author/DB)

This article offers suggestions on enhancing emotional vocabulary in early childhood education settings. A schematic of children's emotional literacy is followed by ways to build emotional vocabulary by teaching directly, teaching incidentally, or utilizing special activities. Suggestions also address teaching children to recognize feelings in…

Discusses the use of bibliotherapy with students having disabilities. Provides an annotated bibliography of 27 books that address abuse and neglect, anger, differences, and families. (DB)

This study examined emotional and social competence in early adolescence, focusing on the relationship between the ability to identify the emotions of another, emotion regulation, friendship quality, and peer-identified prosocial and overtly aggressive behavior. Gender was examined for potential moderator status. Participating in the study were…

Poor self-perceptions of reading performance, and the resulting negative impact on children's emotional well-being, can be attributed to school-related causes, parental reactions, and peer reactions. Positive feelings about self can develop and reading problems be reduced through provision of effective environments, appropriate classroom…

Research has indicated a strong relationship between low peer status in childhood of children with and without and later problems in adolescence and adulthood and children with social deficits often show similar patterns of behavior. They may be withdrawn and hesitant to interact with peers, socially aloof and "unaware" of their peers, or they may…

Despite the best efforts of parents and educators, teasing continues to be a common stressor for many elementary school children. This guide provides information for parents, caregivers, and educators to teach children useful strategies to deal with teasing. It describes the types of teasing, what children are teased about, why children tease,…

Emotional issues impacting the lives of gifted students are discussed, including peer pressure, competition, perfectionism, independence, expectations of self or others, and economic disadvantage. Teaching suggestions and poems by gifted students are provided. (DB)

A gifted student faces daily problems that are two-fold in nature: (1) internal--those that are posed by an often critical understanding of self, and (2) external--those that are posed by daily interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and others. This curriculum offers an approach to these two essential areas of need: "You" focuses on the…

An elementary-level learning activity packet helps students develop self-awareness. Activities such as poems, crossword puzzles, collages, and writing exercises focus on pride, self-control, self-confidence, individual characteristics, friendship, likes and dislikes, and emotions. Suggestions are provided for using this packet as part of a…