To determine conceptions of mentoring, Swedish researchers videotaped mentoring sessions between student teachers and their cooperating teachers and conducted interviews with both groups. Data analysis indicated that the two groups had different conceptions about the function of mentoring and its content and form. (SM)

Examined the academic achievement and use of various academic support services among 125 university students with learning disabilities. Independent variables, such as advisement contacts, were examined separately for their relationship with the dependent variable of academic advisement. Results generally supported the effectiveness of university…

Outlines self-enrichment activities for faculty, administrators, and students that can improve working conditions and promotion opportunities, e.g., getting a personal business card, developing a contacts list, examining the institution, conducting research on classroom and business trends, joining "power organizations," and making a master…

Reports on a study of the effects on adjustment of three dimensions of support among 92 Chinese college students in Japan. Finds that the relationship between needed support and adjustment was strongly negative. Also finds that all support gaps were negatively related to adjustment. (CFR)

A method for increasing interaction between students and older adults in a geriatric pharmacy course uses an instructional module on stereotypes, age and personality, role changes, and nursing home living. The course requires students to conduct a life review of someone over age 65. The exercise improves student communication skills and…

Effects of participation in a telephone homework-assistance program on academic achievement were examined for 46 fifth graders and were compared with 44 who received no telephone homework assistance. Few children actually used the service, and no positive effects of its use were found on achievement test results, grades, or self-esteem. (SLD)

Like other parents who phoned her at work, a dedicated associate commissioner of education grew increasingly frustrated with a system that failed to challenge her children. She enrolled them in a private alternative school that stressed community and viewed education as a privilege demanding great student effort. (MLH)

Provides a critical perspective on service learning, and raises issues about focusing on the growth of students, which often ignores the service recipients and fails to ask how service is affecting the communities in which it is being performed. A new service-learning paradigm is offered to overcome some perceived inconsistencies in the existing…

Reports a study that examined the relationship between high school students' smoking under stress, psychological distress, and social support. Survey data indicated that white students were more likely to engage in stress-related smoking than black students, as were adolescents with higher psychological distress and lower social support scores.…

A study compared scores on the Developmental Diagnostic Profile for 68 children with emotional/behavioral difficulties on entry to a nurture group, on exit, and after two years of mainstreaming. Emotional/behavioral difficulties were significantly reduced upon exit. Current data reveal that in 16 of 20 sub-strands, improvement has been primarily…

Most high school teachers are concerned about the potential risk of student dropout, a phenomenon that has remained steady at approximately 14% since 1987 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2001). However, as Blackorby and Wagner (1996) note, the likelihood of high school dropout is significantly greater if a student is labeled as learning…

For many students who have a mild to moderate learning, emotional, social, or mental problems, the school librarian is an unparalleled resource, and the library becomes a refuge and an important support system outside of the general classroom. This article provides a brief review of literature and concrete information on creating a supportive…

New 9th graders reflect on the worries they had as middle school students about moving into high school. They also suggest ways of easing the transition and providing support in 9th grade. Teens want teachers to connect middle school students regularly with high school students, give them more responsibility in middle school, and focus on…

This article describes an exploratory study of two Web-based learning environments designed to teach helping skills to human service students. Participants used either an interactive pedagogical agent environment or read a helper-client script. Environments were compared and learning gains were assessed in each of the environments, along with user…

Conflict resolution programs are one part of peer programs offered in schools to enhance the development of life skills of students. This article addresses the need for and role of conflict resolution education in the schools. It then describes several approaches to conflict resolution education. A review of outcome research concerning conflict…