Around the world, dedicated professionals are implementing innovative programs to improve access to quality education for children living in poverty and otherwise marginalized communities. This article provides an overview of the work being conducted by BRAC, an international development organization based in Bangladesh that is working to…

This article is the result of years of study, both formal and informal; hundreds of hours of traditional and Montessori classroom observations; reading and digesting articles and books on secondary education, Montessori education, adolescent brain research, leadership, and best practices in education; and most enlightening of all, 20 years of…

In recent years there has been growing concern that the emphasis schools place on academic attainment has impacted negatively on children's mental well-being in the UK. In a bid to address society's growing concern for the mental well-being of children, the government has introduced policies into schools aimed at enhancing social and emotional…

This article examines how developmental bibliotherapy featuring young adult literature can be an effective strategy to address emotional issues of gifted teenagers. It describes how one high school English class responded to the novel, "The Mosquito Test," in a bibliotherapeutic fashion. Also provided is an annotated bibliography of current young…

The annotated bibliography is intended to assist professionals working to develop decision making skills in disabled youth. The 40 bibliographic citations date from 1981 to 1989 and are grouped into the following categories: health issues, psychosocial issues, and education and career issues. Fourteen training materials with information given…

This handbook on drug education is written for teachers of students in the 9th and 10th grades. It is based on the philosophy that drug education requires a special kind of classroom climate and a classroom management style in which the teacher is not an instructor or expert, but a facilitator. The booklet helps teachers to understand why and how…

Canadian schools give high priority to the acquisition of desirable social beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors including appreciation of cultural diversity. A study of 101 secondary school students and 100 college students which focused on the ideals of equality and esteem for other cultures is described. Instructional approaches are discussed. (MT)

The guide, developed by the Secondary Transition and Employment Project (STEP) in Idaho, is intended to help students with mild handicaps develop job related social skills. The STEP social skills program requires: (1) identifying those skills which are considered important or socially useful by significant others; (2) clearly defining the…

This paper describes a group approach to the treatment of mildly retarded and borderline adolescents in a residential school setting. The program attempts to develop the requisite interpersonal skills for a successful return to community life. The approach utilizes strong reality orientation and role playing. (Author/MS)

Social stories and comic strip conversations were successfully used to teach social skills to a 14-year-old student with Asperger Syndrome. As a result of the training, the student's behavior changed. The student enjoyed using comic strip conversations and began to request their use from others at school and home. (Contains references.) (CR)

"On the Level," a classroom video series developed for 14- to 17-year-olds, is being broadcast by many public television stations. The series was designed to promote personal and social growth among adolescents. Suggestions given for the effective use of the series by teachers include: (1) selecting appropriate questions and activities; and (2)…

A study evaluated a therapeutic intervention program for young adults with severe autism at the Oasi Institute in Troina, Sicily. The program, which integrates gentle teaching, humanistic applied behavior analysis, and functional communication training, provides opportunities to acquire functional skills through errorless learning activities.…

An overview is presented of the "Skills for Ethical Action" (SEA) instructional materials relative to other instructional approaches in the field of moral/values/ethical education, and information about anticipated learner outcomes is offered. The program is intended for junior high school students. Several major existing theoretical…

Reports results of a poll of 900 Minnesota high school students regarding various educational issues and relates results to the findings in "A Nation at Risk." Includes a student letter to the education committee of the Minnesota legislature. (SB)

According to the DfES Standards website, the Key Stage 3 National Strategy is part of the Government's agenda for transforming secondary education. It is a whole school improvement strategy which aims to provide "a platform for professional development across the school through its emphasis on teaching and learning"; and to foster…