Investigates how deaf children with deaf parents learn to get attention as a speaker in order to participate in an American Sign Language conversation. Findings reveal that one child's attempts at getting attention demonstrates that while she could perform many culturally appropriate attention-getting behaviors, she was still developing awareness…

Examined the relative importance of ethnic identification, perceived parental attitudes, and peer victimization for Dutch and Turkish 10- to 12-year-olds' ethnic attitudes in the Netherlands. Found that for both groups, stronger ethnic identification related to more positive in-group evaluation, and peer victimization related to more negative…

Discusses student empowerment and the importance of including students in planning and implementing conflict resolution programs. The paper describes the "Winning Against Violent Environments" (WAVE) program which trains students to be peer mediators who train other students and adults to be mediators and conflict managers. (SM)

The experiences of five gifted black males in a predominantly white university setting were examined. Significant factors that influenced their achievement included influential mothers, recognition of giftedness, and support from significant teachers and mentors. Additional factors included involvement in extracurricular activities and positive…

A study of 107 low-income, Mexican American adolescents aged 10-13 in Los Angeles found that students' educational and occupational expectations were most strongly related to "social persuasion"--the expectations communicated by parents, teachers, and peers--but were not related to family attainment or neighborhood variables. Educational…

This article reviews research on peer-mediated social-skills training strategies used with children with autism, including arranging situations or contingencies to promote optimal peer effort, teaching methods to peers for reinforcing target skills in children with autism, teaching strategies to peers for initiating interactions, and teaching…

Claims that children's peer relations are significant in their social, cognitive, and moral development, and are correlated to later problems in social adjustment. Includes a brief historical perspective on the subject, and explores direct and indirect influences. Claims that peer relations develop within ecological frameworks, and identifies the…

An analysis of the thematic patterns of young children's writing supports the idea that each child is in the process of constructing personal meaning through writing. The possible influences on these patterns, such as literature, feelings, teachers, art, music, family, television, and peers, as well as examples of first graders' writings, are…

Research on a team game designed to reinforce positive target behaviors is reviewed. Classroom organization, reinforcement criteria, when and how long to play the game, and reinforcement for winning teams are discussed, as are two variants on the original game. The game is found to be highly effective in reducing talking and out-of-seat behavior.…

Describes establishment of a group at Washington University (Missouri) that encourages doctoral students to write for publication, focusing on the quality of the written work. Steps taken in starting group are detailed, internal review process is explained, evaluation of the first year is shared, and implications for other social work programs…

Examined drug use, involvement in problem behavior, and family and peer predictors of these behaviors among Indian and white adolescents in a Canadian urban community. Found the groups had a similar rate for alcohol use; however, Indian adolescents showed higher rates and more frequent use of cigarettes, marijuana, solvents, and greater…

Asserts that an irony of academe is that professional judgments about teachers are made without direct knowledge of their teaching. Describes a four-part peer evaluation process used in a university sociology department. Discusses evaluation purposes, procedures, benefits, and dangers of the process. (CFR)

Describes the Seventh Grade Tobacco Prevention (S.T.E.P.) program, evaluating its impact on adolescent tobacco use, tobacco knowledge, and beliefs about tobacco use. Results revealed that same-age peers had the least effect in changing the students' knowledge level, had a negative effect on changing students' beliefs, and had a negative effect on…

Examines first graders' tacit shared understandings about composing as related to expectations about the processes and meaning of writing. Finds evidence of three cultural themes: (1) the processes of creating and sharing text-mediated relationships with others; (2) writing was used to explore "self" and the world; and (3) collaborative composing…

Examines the implications of process writing and peer review in one class of argumentative writing. Classroom consensus reflected the group's sociocultural organization and discouraged the writing of one marginalized student. The instructor and the powerful students legitimated biased critique and suppressed the less powerful student. (12…