A review of current theory and practice regarding social skills training for children with behavior problems precedes the proposal of a different approach to social skills training, which takes into account the effects of social perception biases of peers which may hinder mainstreaming attempts. (Author/CB)

Eight high- and low-status nonhandicapped students ages 7-10 (N=8) were taught to direct social initiations to eight severely handicapped students during recess. Interactions of the high-status students resulted in higher levels of initiations by nontrained peers toward the handicapped students than did interactions of low-status students.…

Cluster analyses were employed in two studies to explore the possibility of discernible subtypes within the population of peer-rejected boys aged 9-11. Consistent patterns were seen in both studies when children in each cluster were compared with each other and with those in a popular comparison group. (RJC)

Normal children (average age 11, n=25) and multiply disabled children (aged 9-15, n=8) were integrated in physical education classes, emphasizing work with disabled-normal dyads. Girls were more willing than boys to accept disabled children into their groups, but during individual activities, boys were less reticent about making physical contact.…

Most existing studies of pupil-pupil interactions in special education have been psychology-based and have not considered the significance of students' social background. An ethnographic study examined the attitudes of academic and remedial British secondary students toward handicapped or otherwise deviant students. Results raised questions about…

Examined interrelationships among masculinity-femininity, self-esteem, and peer acceptance in Black and White public high school students (N=195). Results indicated that among both males and females, an androgynous or masculine identity was associated with higher levels of self-esteem. Black students had significantly higher levels of self-esteem…

Lists books dealing with the more prevalent handicaps of mainstreamed children: visual handicaps, speech handicaps, emotional disturbances, learning disabilities, auditory handicaps, intellectual impairments, and orthopedic handicaps. Recommends books for use from preschool to level three to expose children early and influence their attitudes…

Examined age-related changes in the organization underlying children's ratings of peer social deviance. Peer ratings of aggression, withdrawal, and likeability using the Pupil Evaluation Inventory (PEI) were collected from first, fourth, and seventh graders. For all ages aggression and likeability items were found to comprise cohesive categories…

The effectiveness of teachers in identifying children who experience peer relationship difficulties was examined by comparing populations selected by teacher ratings and sociometric nomination procedures. Results revealed teachers were successful in identifying those who experienced the most severe peer rejection and were most likely to select…

This book came about as a result of working directly alongside teachers working with challenging children and children with emotional behavioural disorders. These teachers (from Australia and the UK) work with children in mainstream and special education settings. Teachers spend a third of their waking and working day with children. Most teachers…

A study investigated the relationship between children's communication competence and perceptions of communication abilities, academic performance, and social status. Subjects were 36 children in fifth and sixth grades. The subjects completed a 30-item questionnaire on perceptions of themselves and their classmates along 3 factors: academic…

Students who are the target of bullying episodes commonly suffer serious, long-term academic, physical, and emotional consequences. Unfortunately, school personnel often minimize, underestimate, tolerate, or ignore the extent of bullying and the harm it can cause. This digest examines the problem of bullying and some of its effects, and discusses…

Based on the view that positive peer relationships help children function successfully at school, this study examined how teachers can help rejected, aggressive, or controversial children build social skills in a small group setting. Participating were three kindergarten students at a rural Alaskan elementary school, selected because they…

Study results indicate that relationship between classroom structure and mental health reported by Glidewell et al. (1966) does not always exist in the nongraded classroom. Factors influencing classroom social structure include: (1) great chronological age difference within some level; (2) great variability of developmental level; and (3) changing…