This "Building Capacity for Change" "playbook" highlights practices and strategies that proved to be effective in supporting the rollout and implementation of certain programs under the New York State Department of Health's First 1,000 Days on Medicaid Initiative, a series of evidence-based reforms aimed at improving health and…

The prospective associations between negative life events (NLEs) and adolescent alcohol use was examined using the Youth Asset Study. Participants (n = 1040 adolescents, mean age = 15.8 years) completed annual interviews which included a life events scale and alcohol use in the last 30 days. Family structure and parent education were assessed as…

The "Research in Practice Series" is published four times each year by Early Childhood Australia. The series aims to provide practical, easy to read, up-to-date information and support to a growing national readership of early childhood workers. The books bring together the best information available on wide-ranging topics and are an…

An educator argues that classroom use of simulations is a valuable method for studying social interaction. (Author/RM)

Describes an academic course with emphasis on personal growth beyond the confines of the classroom. The primary objective was to have students reduce fear of death. Lectures, personal notebooks, and experience assignments were used to achieve this end. (BEF)

Reviews the positive effects of integrating severely handicapped students into special classes emphasizing structured interaction with nonhandicapped peers. Includes factors to consider for successful integration. (MD)

Investigated the extent to which sociological sensitivities have filtered into common sense before formal instruction and evaluated the introductory sociology course's effect on developing a sociological imagination. Results suggest that the introductory course does not enhance sociological appreciation significantly. (SLM)

Baby talk, also known as motherese or child-directed speech, refers to a set of speech modifications commonly found in the language adults use to address young children. The same functional motivations underlying adult speech to other adults also shape adult speech to children. These include pedagogy, control, affection, social exchange, and…

Proposes a model for teaching multicultural awareness in elementary social studies classes in order to give children a more meaningful perspective on their own culture. Based on a comparative study of critical life events such as marriage or death, the model should be of immediate personal interest to students. (AV)

From personal experiences teaching in a prison, suggests how the topic of prisons can be included in social studies instruction. Ideas include learning about prison terminology, recidivism, and student attitudes concerning prisons. Lists resources to aid in teaching a unit on prisons. (CH)

Explores the relationship between the central goals of education and youth participation in community and social service activities. Focuses on ways that youth participation can be integrated into the regular school curriculum. (Author/GC)

Proposes the use of a distancing strategy model as an approach to studying the social genesis of representational competence in children. Explains how the model describes teaching strategies that make cognitive demands on children. (HOD)

Deaf children need reading programs which emphasize comprehension of meaning rather than syntax and grammar. Successful reading programs can emerge when reading is viewed as a highly social experience, reading materials are meaningful and highly contextualized, and semantic processing in American Sign Language is used to assist reading in English.…

A cross-age art project involving second graders and high school students is described. Each group investigated the design qualities of several popular picture books and then wrote their own stories. The second graders had to illustrate the high school stories and vice versa. It was a tremendous success. (RM)

This report examines the racial climate on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus and makes a series of recommendations for improvements in several areas. It reveals evidence of racial and other problems on the MIT campus through information gained in two surveys: The 1984 Quality of Student Life Survey, and the 1985 Black Alumni…