This training manual provides materials for conducting a workshop on problem solving and creating good agreements in special education. The first section of the manual provides a brief introduction to the world of special education and discusses why special education law is complex. Section 2 explores why conflict is created, seven types of…

"Second Step" is a series of curricula for preschool through junior high/middle school students that addresses the issue of interpersonal violence among adolescents. It is designed to reduce their impulsive and aggressive behavior while increasing their levels of social competence through empathy training, interpersonal problem solving,…

In this book, developmental, educational, cognitive, and professional psychologists explore early identification of giftedness, what happens when child prodigies grow up, and environmental characteristics that are needed for talent to develop into genius. The nature of creativity and domain-specific expertise is examined, along with how psychology…

This framework is designed to assist early care and education providers in planning and implementing early learning opportunities that will help prepare young children in Washington State for later success in meeting the essential academic learning requirements in reading, writing, and communication. The framework identifies characteristics of…

This paper examines four studies, integrated into regular courses for the preparation of secondary school teachers at the University of Tuebingen (Germany), that assessed the effectiveness of an interaction laboratory to enhance social competence, as well as lecturing skills. The program involved formal instruction; symbolic modeling and…

This action research project sought to increase students' time on task by decreasing the frequency of disruptive behaviors. The targeted population consisted of first- and third-grade students in two suburban communities. The types and frequency of disruptive behaviors that affected time on task were documented by means of teacher, student, and…

This action research project implemented and evaluated a program to address the academic needs of all students in a heterogeneous classroom. The targeted population consisted of middle school students in a rural western Illinois community. Evidence of academic underachievement was documented by teacher observation, surveys, test scores, and…

This paper reports research into the effectiveness of cooperative social support groups as a means of empowering students to solve their own personal and social problems. A descriptive study using ethnographic techniques was used in the natural setting of one fifth-grade elementary school classroom. Theoretical framework involves the…

Using the mythical creature of the Himalayas, the Yeti, as a symbol for the prejudices and assumptions that people prematurely make about each other, this book discusses bringing up children to accept and cherish diversity and helping them to thrive in an increasingly diverse world. Directed to educators and caregivers of toddlers and…

Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, developed a preservice teacher education program that holistically assesses the skills of teacher candidates to better identify prospective teachers from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and disability-related groups. Careful attention is paid to the admissions process, and program applicants are assessed…

Part of a series that provides practical resources to transition personnel on topics essential to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, this manual focuses on transition issues related to students with visual impairments. Chapter 1 discusses the nature of visual impairment and reactions to visual impairment. Chapter…

This action research project sought to increase the use of appropriate social skills by middle school students through an increased instructional emphasis on social skills. The specific social skills addressed were listening, encouraging, self-control, appropriate manners, and accepting others' ideas. These skills were introduced using M-charts…

This action research project examined the effectiveness of a program to improve kindergartners' prosocial behaviors. Students' lack of social skills was documented by means of teacher and parent surveys, teacher anecdotal records, and behavioral observation checklists. The intervention had four components. The teacher directly taught social skills…

A survey of 108 undergraduate students (32 males, 76 females) revealed 24 features of an ideal college professor, in three general categories: personal; interpersonal; and related. The prototype included 11 verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors. Female and male students differed in the ranks they assigned to both the general categories and…

Effects of a school-based program to prevent antisocial behaviors that could lead to conduct disorder were assessed among 34 target students and 15 role-model peers in urban Head Start programs. Target students showed patterns of social interaction that began to mirror those of role-model peers, while nonparticipating control group students…