This guide provides an approach for teachers of grades 4-5 to teach media literacy and promote an informed public conversation about the impact of violent imagery in our culture today. Five key goals govern the program: (1) to reduce exposure to media violence; (2) to change the impact of violent images that are seen; (3) to locate and explore…

Recognizing that violent behavior is a complex phenomenon that is manifested in many different ways, the focus of this paper is to inform the development and implementation of school-based violence prevention strategies. The Second Step Program of the Jefferson County Public Schools is highlighted as an example of a successful violence prevention…

This action research project evaluated a program for increasing prosocial behaviors of preschoolers, kindergartners, and first graders. Participating were three classrooms of students, one class in each grade level, in a middle class community in a large Midwestern city. The problem of failure to display prosocial behavior was documented among…

Suggests ways of improving human relationships and values through the medium of play and games for children. Activities can be structured so participants can practice and perfect life and love enhancing skills. Interventions based on parent education, prosocial television programing and screening of teachers and coaches are suggested. (JAC)

Describes development of a new rating scale for use by teachers. The Prosocial Behaviour Questionnaire is designed for use in the investigation of elementary school children's behavior. A copy of the rating scale is included. (Author/DB)

Age-dependent differences in the relationship between physical attractiveness and the social perceptions of acquainted classmates were investigated in children (n=160) 3-10 years of age. (Author/MP)

Argues that children develop--at home, in school, and in the community--a repertoire of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that prepare them to become peaceful, cooperative, caring adults. Provides examples of instruction in caring through family life, household activities, classroom curriculum, the classroom environment, instructional techniques,…

Studied self- and other-reported characteristics of 1,700 fifth through tenth graders varying in their use of coercive (aggression) and prosocial (cooperative) strategies of resource control. Found that children using both control strategies, labeled Machiavellians, possessed positive and negative characteristics and were socially central, liked…

Evaluation of a proactive behavioral approach to teaching prosocial behavior was evaluated in six urban elementary physical education classes. Results demonstrated positive across-grade trends in student leadership and teacher-independent conflict resolution behaviors, marked decreases in student off-task behavior, less teacher-directed and more…

Investigated the relationship between psychological understanding and positive social behavior in preschool children. Found that both mental state understanding and emotion understanding were positively related to teacher ratings of social skills, behavioral observers' global ratings of social skills, and peer popularity. When language ability was…

Presents several activities for elementary social studies instruction about laws. Encourages linking the abstract concepts, "laws," to the more familiar, "rules." Focuses on justice and fairness. Lists references for additional ideas on incorporating law-related activities into social studies curricula. Includes list of objectives, stressing the…

Examined relationships among emotional distress, perceived social support, and vocational outcome in serious brain-injured persons (n=36). Found clients' perceptions of available social support related to intensity of emotional distress. Found social support related to clients' vocational outcome one year after evaluation. (Author/CM)

Assessed the moral reasoning of Israeli third and sixth graders living in a city or a kibbutz. Kibbutz children's direct reciprocity reasoning increased, while pragmatic reasoning increased with age only for kibbutz children. (Author/BB)

Describes procedures used to measure aspects of a classroom environment in which the development of prosocial characteristics is emphasized. Explains observation procedures, a teacher questionnaire, a child interview, and a child questionnaire. Finds observation to be the most useful means of assessment, with the other three procedures…

Discusses techniques that elementary school teachers can use to recognize and correct minor behavior problems in their students. Incidences of inattention, disruptive behavior, and bad manners can be used as teachable moments to model or discuss good behavior. Teachers can also use newsletters to communicate with parents about prosocial skills.…