This article introduces four papers (EC 612 460-EC 612 463) that were developed from two miniseminars presented at the 1992 and 1993 annual conventions of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The miniseminars addressed the topic of establishing language norms for school-age children and adolescents. (DB)

Describes a teacher-directed reclaiming intervention that targets the problems of a young girl who allows herself to be put down and manipulated by a boyfriend who is meeting his own needs to look good to his peers at her expense. (Author/MKA)

The article summarizes procedures in the development of a valid and reliable instrument for measuring three social components of alienation (isolation, powerlessness, and normlessness) in 10- to 14-year-olds and discusses the instrument's practical applications for school and community health educators, parents, and other professionals who…

Research is reviewed on language growth between 10-14 years in children with language-learning disabilities. Delays are discussed in semantic development, concept formation, syntactic development, memory, and pragmatics. A strategies-based intervention focus is described along with the need for counseling and for developing adaptive coping and…

Delineates specific psychosocial developmental demands placed upon middle schoolers and links these demands to the self-concept disturbance they typically feel. Offers a number of general recommendations useful to educators who are interested in considering the relationship between educational experiences and self-concept disturbance among early…

Issues in studying pubertal events are examined, including whether puberty is best characterized as a social construction or a physical event, whether early adolescence is a transitional or distinct life period, life events associated with puberty, boundaries of early adolescence, and possible models for studying pubertal change. (Author/BW)

The issue of whether or not early adolescence is a transitional or stable period of development may be dependent on our ability to describe ways in which early adolescents are quantitatively and qualitatively different from when they were children and how these early adolescent characteristics are forerunners to the more elaborate constructs of…

In an effective middle school, dedicated and knowledgeable staff work cooperatively toward a curriculum based on the needs of a particular group of transescents. Ten essential elements of the middle school curriculum are discussed. (PP)

Research has shown that students respond more favorably to drug prevention programs when they see their culture and themselves represented in the prevention message. Describes development of the keepin' it R.E.A.L. curriculum, focusing on the methods used to ensure cultural grounding. Reviews literature on cultural approaches in prevention,…

Evaluates research methodology of investigations of suicidal preadolescent and adolescent psychiatric inpatients and discusses studies of suicidal preadolescents and adolescents who were admitted to medical inpatient facilities. Considers research designs of studies in relation to whether they include components that will make it possible for…

Reviews selected articles from medical and psychological literature that focus on special issues for diabetic woman during preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood. Makes recommendations for behavioral interventions with diabetic women in regard to sick role adjustment, peer conformity pressures, eating disorders, sexuality, and pregnancy.…

Describes investigation examining ways in which presence of fathering figure, following separation or divorce of biological parents, was related to preadolescent children's adjustment. Suggests noncustodial fathers' level of contact and involvement with children and cooperativeness of expartner coparenting relationship were positively associated…

Examines whether prepubescents are trainable in competitive sports, noting trainability differences between prepubescents and older groups. Changes in maximal aerobic power, metabolic cost of walking and running, muscle strength and power, and local muscle endurance are examined. Strength training is recommended only for rehabilitation or…

Provides review of related research on the use of songs as a therapeutic interventions with children and presents a case example of the therapeutic benefits of songwriting using a rap style. Sees songwriting as a unique form of storytelling which has received little attention in professional literature. Contends that its therapeutic rewards for…

Assesses "theory of mind" (ToM), or social understanding, in preadolescents (N=128) and examines individual differences in the relations among social understanding, self-concept, and language competence. Results reveal positive associations between children's social understanding and self-understanding; self-perceptions of behavioral…