Autobiographical memory (ABM)--the type of long-term memory that holds information about ourselves and our past experiences--is key to social learning and social communication. This groundbreaking guide shows professionals how to support ABM in children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, leading to lasting enhancements to critical social…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience conversational or pragmatic language difficulties which can interfere with reciprocal and sustained social interactions with peers (Paul, Orlovski, Marcinko, & Volkmar, 2009). Peer mediated intervention (PMI), in which typical peers serve as mentors, is emerging as an effective high…

Social competency is a set of skills that provide children with the tools and abilities to successfully navigate the world around them. "Developing Social Competency in Young Children" looks at each of the seven Cs of social competence--communication, community building, coping, confidence, conflict resolution, control, and curiosity.…

Positive relationships between practitioners and parents are essential for young children's wellbeing, but achieving this can be difficult if there is not enough understanding about how relationships work when one person (the practitioner or teacher) has to play the professional role. Strong communication skills are fundamental to this…

This article focuses on why and how speech-language pathologists and other professionals can encourage the involvement of parents in teaching social communication skills to their young children. Four main topics are explored: (1) the evidence that many of the children with special needs served by speech-language pathologists and other…

The purpose of this article is to critically review the literature on parent-implemented interventions aimed at promoting and enhancing the social and communicative behavior of young children with autism spectrum disorders. Twelve parent-implemented intervention studies that were conducted, at least in part, in home environments and were published…

Research shows that a child's social and behavioral skills affect the development of cognitive and physical abilities. Set students on a path to success and have fun doing it with this activity-packed second edition of "Wanna Play". The authors provide hundreds of activities that help children learn how to behave appropriately and make friends.…

Described are strategies for teaching social communication skills to 8- to 10-year-old students with mild handicaps. The instructional model involves determining behaviors to be taught; assessing social communication skills; teaching skills through motivating student performance, modeling, and practicing; and maintaining and transferring skills. A…

Describes one beginning teacher's experience with a bad, nonsupportive principal. Teachers formed a support group to determine how to handle the principal. Their most successful tactic was to substitute positive, self-supportive thoughts for negative ones. The teacher worked to regain her self-confidence and to communicate with the principal. The…

This article shares some educational principles and strategies for teaching social skills to adolescents with Asperger's syndrome. Educators are urged to teach coping strategies, how to read social cues, and how to interpret social behavior. Also, they are encouraged to provide ample social opportunities and to create a safe and accepting learning…

This guide, a workbook and reader, is about communicating more cooperatively. The guide outlines a structured, intensive exploration of seven challenging skills for a lifetime of better communication--listening and talking--in work, family, friendship, and community. It is divided into the following sections: Introduction; Challenge One: Listening…

Participant observation was used to examine the social-communicative interactions of six preschool students with mild to severe handicaps, during free play and semistructured activities. Results revealed that each child displayed a consistent set of initiations; each child used augmentative strategies to continue interactions; and initiation…

Presents examples of teacher-parent interactions designed to help teachers communicate with parents. The scenarios involve a teacher communicating with parents about a struggling student, a teacher communicating with parents about a student's behavior problems, and a teacher attempting to communicate with a confrontational parent. Teacher prompts…

This document presents a curriculum developed for the prevention of violence in teenage relationships. A guide for presenting material in four class periods is included. Student learning objectives are listed and a pre/post test is included. Each of the four objectives is discussed in its own section of the curriculum. Objective I, Dating…

A study assessed the effectiveness of a business administration simulation exercise designed to train students in problem solving, decision making, and interpersonal skills. Results of the simulation in a Slovenian institution with graduate students in international business are discussed, along with implications for incorporating the exercise…