Evaluated a family economic stress model that links economic well-being to child well-being among African American and Hispanic children from low-income families, mostly headed by single mothers. Found that lower economic well-being adversely impacted parent's psychological well-being; these parents felt less effective in disciplinary interactions…

Examined the social behavior, social adjustment, and school adjustment of a sample of elementary school students in Shanghai, China. Found that, consistent with studies of Western children, sociability-leadership was associated with and predictive of indexes of adjustment. Inconsistent with Western studies, shyness-sensitivity was positively and…

Self-concept and peer-acceptance of 10 learning-disabled (LD) students were compared with 10 low-achieving and 10 high-achieving students over 4 to 5 years (from kindergarten) prior to and following identification of the LD students. Implications of LD identification for self-concept are discussed. (SLD)

Compared aggressive, withdrawn, and aggressive/withdrawn children to normative and matched control groups on teacher and peer relationship attributes, loneliness, and social satisfaction from kindergarten through grade 2. Found that withdrawn behavior was neither highly stable nor predictive of relational difficulties. Aggression was fairly stable…

A structured social skills program was developed for young African American males (N=33), in grades one and two in an urban setting. The study was designed to employ social skills to improve reading and mathematics skills. The students selected had demonstrated previous social skill deficits as determined by a pre-assessment instrument. These…

Presented is the Polk County, Florida preliminary model vocational-occupational curriculum guide for educable mentally retarded (EMR) students in grades 1-2. Aim of the curriculum is the successful placement of students in the community. Provided for grades 1-6 are the following components: a rating scale and behavioral objectives for primary and…

This action research project implemented a program for improving social skills in order to establish positive interaction among 4th grade students at a northern Chicago suburban school. Social skills deficiency was documented through behavior checklists and referrals, teacher observations and student reflection. Teachers reported that low incomes,…

This study tested the predictive links between children's interactions with peers in early elementary school and their social and emotional adjustment at the end of elementary school. A sample of 231 boys starting kindergarten and first grade were observed during this longitudinal study, on three separate occasions: kindergarten and first grade,…

Academic and social problems of the children of migrant workers are compounded when these families remigrate to their home countries. This study explores patterns of Greek remigrant children's social adjustment and integration in Greek public schools after their families' return to Greece, principally from the Federal Republic of Germany. The…

This study compared the academic and social development of students who entered grade 1 very early (5:6 years or 5:7 years), in the mid range (5:8 to 6:3 years), and very late (6:4 years or older). The purpose of the study was to explore the hypothesis that the early grade 1 entrants would have continuing problems in both academic and social…

To determine the advantages of interage grouping, 18 first graders (mean IQ 118.65) were assigned to two interage classes containing first, second, and third graders; 19 first graders (mean IQ 119.60) were assigned to two straight first grade classes. All children selected had been recommended by their kindergarten teachers as their brightest…

A case study of one female middle school student examined her tendency toward learned helplessness. Observations and interviews with the student and her teachers indicated that she lacked confidence; her belief that she could not change her intellectual and social situation was pervasive. Approaches to intervention are discussed. (SM)

Initial entry into school is the first of several major transitions individuals must make as they progress through the social life cycle of American society. It also marks the first time they encounter to any appreciable extent an organizational context. As such, an analysis of children's transition into school is a unique opportunity to examine…

Variations in amounts of nonparental care across infancy, preschool, early elementary school, and early adolescence were examined. Correlations among overall amounts of care provided little evidence of cross-time continuity; grade 1 self-care and grade 6 unsupervised peer contact incrementally predicted grade 6 problems; and most predictive…

The papers in this collection reflect some of the ideas about children, teachers and environments for learning which resulted from participation in the "yards" at Pacific Oaks Friends School, an open education environment established by Quakers for preschool and elementary aged children. Each of the eight articles focuses on either the…