Psychology Of Education Social Behaviour And The School Peer Group

What is the nature of children’s social life in school? How do their relationships and interactions with peers, teachers and other school staff influence their development and experience of school? This book, written by leading researchers in educational and developmental psychology, provides answers to these questions by offering an integrated perspective on children’s social interactions and relationships with their peers and teachers in school. Peer interactions in school have tended to be underestimated by educationalists, and this book redresses the balance by giving them equal weight to teacher–child interactions. In this second edition, the authors extensively revise the text on the basis of many years of research and teaching experience. They highlight common misconceptions about children, their social lives, and school achievement which have often resulted in ineffective school policy. The book includes a number of important topics, including: The significance of peer-friendships at school The nature and importance of play and break-times Aggression and bullying at school Peer relations and learning at school The classroom environment and teacher-pupil interaction The influence of gender in how children learn at school. Advantages and disadvantages of different methodological approaches for studying children in school settings Policy implications of current research findings. The Child at School will be essential reading for all students of child development and educational psychology. It will also be an invaluable source for both trainee and practicing teachers and teaching assistants, as well as clinical psychologists and policy makers in this area.

The Handbook of Social Influences in School Contexts draws from a growing body of research on how and why various aspects of social relationships and contexts contribute to children’s social and academic functioning within school settings. Comprised of the latest studies in developmental and educational psychology, this comprehensive volume is perfect for researchers and students of Educational Psychology. Beginning with the theoretical perspectives that guide research on social influences, this book presents foundational research before moving on to chapters on peer influence and teacher influence. Next, the book addresses ways in which the school context can influence school-related outcomes (including peer and teacher-student relationships) with specific attention to research in motivation and cognition. Within the chapters authors not only present current research but also explore best-practices, drawing in examples from the classroom. With chapters from leading experts in the field, The Handbook of Social Influences in School Contexts provides the first complete resource on this topic.

This title, first published in 1971, provides a guide to the social psychology of learning. The author examines the school class as a group and considers the formation of some of the attitudes of the children and the teacher as they relate to education. Building upon interaction as a major theme, the study focuses attention on the ways in which relationships can affect the classroom climate. The background to group dynamics leads to the elements of sociometry and to consideration of teaching styles, communication structure and perceptions of the teacher’s role. This title will be of interest to students of sociology and education.

Since the early 1800's, children have been taught and encouraged to function as instructional agents for their classroom peers. However, it was not until the last decade that peer-mediated intervention was studied in a rigorous, systematic fashion. The purpose of this edited volume is to provide an up-to-date and complete account of empirical research that addresses the general efficacy of classroom peers as behavior change agents. As a result of various social and legal developments, such as the passage of Public Law 94-142 and its accompanying demand for indi vidualized instruction, peer-mediated interventions seem likely to prolif erate. As I have noted elsewhere (Strain, this volume), close adherence to the principle of individualized programming has rendered obsolete the "adults only" model of classroom instruction. Whether the utilization of peers in the instructional process comes to be viewed by school personnel as a positive adjunct to daily classroom practices depends in large mea sure on our ability to carefully design, conduct, and communicate the findings of applied research. I trust that this volume will function both to accurately communicate existing findings and to stimulate further study. My colleagues who have generously contributed their time and skill to this volume have my deepest appreciation. They have performed their various tasks in a timely, professional manner and, in my opinion, have provided considerable insight into the problems and potentials of peers as instructional agents.

Peer Groups and Children’s Development considers theexperiences of school-aged children with their peer groups and itsimplications for their social, personal and intellectualdevelopment Focuses on the peer group experiences of children attendingschool in Western societies, from five years of age through toadolescence Considers peer groups in classrooms, friendships made withinand outside of school, and the groups that children participate infor extra-curricular activities Includes a final summary which brings together the significantimplications for theory, policy and practice Unique in that no other volume reviews and integratesliterature relating to peer groups in both classroom andout-of-class settings Addresses the research interests of psychologists andeducationalists, as well as the practical concerns of teachers,parents, counsellors, and policy makers

This book brings together a range of international studies to support the implementation of cooperative group work in the classroom. In spite of extensive research into the benefits of this approach, in many countries, it is not widely used, largely due to a lack of understanding of how to put this into practice in the classroom. Starting from an exploration of the theoretical perspectives that underpin this pedagogy, the challenges for including pupils with special educational needs and related status issues of pupils are explored. Amongst the themes explored are how creative approaches, such as Storyline, support engagement particularly for second language learning; how working with young children using cooperative group work can develop writing skills; and how teachers can work together in an effective, collaborative, and sustained manner in a professional learning community. The final chapter provides a vivid example of one teacher’s personal journal to develop her understanding of the power of cooperation in creating bridges to meaningful learning for all learners. This book was originally published as a special issue of Education 3-13.