This article describes the language abilities of 20 boys aged 10 to 13.5 years who were admitted to residential treatment because of their significant and persistent antisocial behavior. Primary diagnoses included oppositional/defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Eighty percent carried the additional diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity…

Twenty mothers of adolescents with severe retardation who were completing high school were compared to 20 mothers with nondisabled adolescents. Few differences were found between the two groups regarding their residential, vocational/educational, and social expectations for three hypothetical students: an academically and socially proficient…

Focuses on roles counselors can play if they work with teachers to integrate social skills training into classroom curricula. Describes important topics of communication and presents recommendations for consultation. Claims that barriers to collaboration can be avoided when counselors develop rapport with teachers and are accepted as team members.…

Fifty-two severely handicapped children (ages 3-12) were trained on communication skills using microprocessor technology. Positive effects were found for the additional computer language training, especially on the specific vocabulary taught, a cluster of general language measures, and teacher and parent measures of social interaction skills. (DB)

This literature review examines the ways in which children's personal premise systems concerning the nature of relationships develop through the process of attachment to the caregiver. The manner in which the premise system becomes a generalized model of self and others is considered. (Author/GLR)

This paper points out the importance of special educators' communication skills in effective collaboration. The basic components of face-to-face communication are discussed, emphasizing the role of the speaker and listener. An explanation of the process of active listening is also included, noting possible verbal and nonverbal listener responses.…

Discusses the dynamics and development of prosocial play activities for children with a variety of handicapping conditions. Suggests ways for teachers to facilitate the participation of children with special needs. Contains 14 references. (Author/LB)

Studied the relationship between academic performance and socially responsible behavior, sociometric status, goal setting, interpersonal trust, and problem solving in a sample of 423 sixth and seventh graders. Found that each aspect of social competence was related to students' grades. (BC)

Four third grade students with learning disabilities, poor interpersonal skills, and low self-esteem participated in weekly individualized social skills training. After five weeks, all students showed improvements in peer acceptance and social and general self-esteem, whereas two to three students showed improved attention and academic…

A self-management training and reinforcement package was implemented with three seriously emotionally disturbed adolescents. After five weeks of training, all subjects demonstrated substantial improvements in classroom behavior when the teacher was out of the room, though explicit instruction was required for transfer of skills to walking between…

This review of 27 studies examining social skills interventions (such as modeling, role playing, goal setting, and verbal self-instruction) and their effects on students with behavior problems found a number of interventions to be successful. The interventions yielded changes in self, teacher, and parent perceptions, though peer perceptions were…

Two studies examined effects of combinations of setting events on social interactions of seven preschool children with language delays and social interaction deficits. The optimal combination of events for promoting peer interaction included teacher absence from the activity, a limited number and form of materials, and children paired with a…

Discussion of curriculum innovation in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Sheffield focuses on a course in interpersonal skills development. Topics addressed include trends in library and information science education; transferable skills; experiential learning; a model for interpersonal skills development needed for…

Reports the findings from a pilot study that investigated the effects of friendship on four and five year olds during their first term in school. Results suggested that friendship played an important part in developing children's social and communicative competencies and influenced children's performance in classroom-based learning activities. (BB)

Examines the descriptive and analytical work of students and teachers through classroom talk and interaction, using information from audiotaped classroom activities to identify classroom members' work. The article discusses the organization of classroom knowledge, relationships, and order, noting relationships between descriptive and analytic work…