Previous research has emphasized the reliability and the validity of peer ratings. However, the cognitive and affective impacts of peer evaluations within specific academic disciplines is lacking. The present study explored the impact of peer group evaluations on student attitudes toward the basic speech course and student achievement on speech…

Investigated with five communication handicapped and four model (normal) children were communication patterns and friendship choices in a mainstreamed preschool setting. A review of literature revealed a controversy as to whether mainstreamed communication handicapped children receive appropriate verbal models and whether mainstreaming helps…

This paper reviews previous research into ability grouping and describes a study of the relationship of heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping plans on children's concepts of their interpersonal relationships with other students and their academic success. Most studies on the emotional impact of ability grouping indicated that being placed in the…

Sociometric analysis of characteristics of 29 high scoring and 29 low scoring hearing-impaired students indicated that students accepted by their peers typically were enrolled in the special school for a longer period, were female, and demonstrated favorable behavioral adjustment. Intelligence quotient and academic achievement were related to peer…

Presents suggestions for successfully including young children with "new" life-threatening, chronic illnesses -- various types of cancer, heart, liver, and kidney diseases -- in early childhood education classes. (BB)

This report details the activities and accomplishments of a 4-year federally supported project concerned with: (1) validating a new strategy designed to promote the social relationships among young children with and without disabilities; (2) creating a training manual for use by teachers to promote acceptance of young children with disabilities;…

Kramer's study supporting the construct validity of the Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation-Behavior (Firo-B) scale was replicated in this experiment. The significantly different results reported by Froehle may be due to differences in the populations sampled and in their environment. (GDC)

Interviews with 61 fourth-grade English language learners (ELLs) and native English speakers in an English-only California school district found that compared with weaker ELL readers, ELLs who read English well expressed more confidence about their own primary-language abilities and about others' perceptions of their primary language and…

Factors associated with children's attitudes towards persons with physical and intellectual disabilities were examined in a meta-analysis of 20 studies spanning the years 1990-2000. Factors included: attitudinal components, type of disability, age and gender of respondents, and role of inclusion. Children preferred target children without…

Videotaped exemplars of social situations were successfully used to model, rehearse, and provide directed feedback of appropriate alternatives to aggressive behaviors by two male special education students (ages 13 and 14). Following a reduction in levels of aggressive behavior, peer willingness to interact with the students improved. (JW)

Evaluation of a leisure skill instruction program with five high school age students with severe disabilities found generalization of trained skills in activities with nondisabled peers. Additionally, attitude scores of high school peers showed a significant improvement following four months of interaction with a disabled student. (DB)

Evaluated the factor structure, reliability, and validity of a French version of the Self-Perception Profile for Children. The profile was administered to elementary school students in Quebec, and results were correlated with teacher and peer assessments. Results supported a five-factor solution and indicated that each factor was reliably…

Play-skills training, provided to eight Zambian elementary children with intellectual disabilities, resulted in more substantial increases in interaction between subjects and nondisabled children when coupled with teacher prompts, compared to training alone. Having a nondisabled child take the initiator role increased and maintained social…

Predictive links between social difficulties in early childhood and problems in middle childhood were examined. Peer, teacher, and self-assessments of behaviors and difficulties were obtained. Early peer rejection and aggression predicted later externalizing difficulties. Early poor peer acceptance, social isolation, and social incompetence…

This article discusses the importance of membership in the inclusive education of students who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (D/HH). To facilitate membership, inclusive programs are urged to address carefully teacher attitudes, teacher roles and relationships, student knowledge and curriculum, structural barriers, extracurricular activities, community…