This article addresses aspects of social skill instruction for students with learning disabilities, including assessing the need for instruction, the cultural context, children's and adults' opinions of the value of specific skills, social validation of skills, behavior replacement, and the developmental level of the child. (DB)

This review of the literature on the psychological adjustment of adults and children with severe learning difficulties looks at overall adjustment; interpersonal difficulties; self-concept; difficulties with self-control; and family relationships. Suggestions are offered regarding service delivery and the design of effective treatments for adult…

In this study of 256 adolescents, it was expected that the group of adolescents referred for psychiatric treatment would have a narrower friendship network than the control group and that their friendship relations would be more conflictual and less rich in terms of attachment. The hypothesis was confirmed for the older referred adolescents. (TJQ)

Suggestions are offered by fund-raising professionals on the following topics: choosing the best night for phonathons; effective teasers for envelopes; type of reply envelopes used; use of precalling postcards; letter length; return rate for mail solicitations; return rate for phonathons; and avoiding common mistakes in mail requests, phonathons,…

Suggests that teachers can share information with parents about multiple intelligences and encourage parents to provide activities to nurture their child's own intelligences. Provides teachers with instructional strategies and parents with activities related to linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal,…

Examines the issue of lack of participation within life skills programs and the negative consequences this may have on participant learning. To counteract the negative effects of underparticipation, a program called the Conversation Group was developed. The process, content, and merits of the program are described. (Author/RB)

Describes how providing leadership opportunities for children during the 30-minute circle time in a kindergarten class illustrates social curriculum. Includes discussion of developing social skills through daily routines and extending learning through social interactions. Offers suggestions for teachers, including modeling desired behavior,…

Examines ways that outdoor leaders can address the needs of individuals in a group context, balance the needs of group processes against course objectives, recognize and deal with issues of power and authority in groups, and address psychological health and safety matters. Focuses on leader awareness and behavior and on the leader-participant…

Early emergent patterns of behavioral problems, social skills deficits, and language delays were examined in 259 three-year-olds enrolled in Head Start classrooms. Findings indicated the children were at elevated risk for behavioral and language problems and that children with behavioral problems were more likely to have low language scores.…

A study of 41 preschool males with fragile X and 16 age- and IQ-matched controls were rated by their mothers on behavior rating scales. The males with fragile X syndrome were distinguished from controls in the following areas: motor skills deficits, increased initial avoidance, decreased social withdrawal, and positive mood. (Contains references.)…

Surveys of 78 general educators and 94 special educators indicate that general educators used many, but not all, behavior analytic instructional strategies considered to be best practice. In addition, special educators regarded social interactions and friendships and self-determination skills as the most important skills for successful inclusion…

A study combined communication book training, a milieu approach, and systematic vocabulary selection to teach a nonspeaking adolescent with mental retardation to communicate in three settings. Results indicated rapid learning of communication book use in meal preparation and employment training and more delayed increased in small group…

This article presents definitions of terms and issues involved in early identification of social/emotional competence in young children. Screening tools for identifying social/emotional difficulties in the birth to 3-year-old population are reviewed and recommendations are made for effective early identification and intervention systems. (Contains…

A study investigated out-of-school outcomes for 505 students with disabilities. Conventional item analysis procedures were used to construct a priori quality-of-life composites (social relationships, employment, and independence) from 17 questionnaire variables. Results indicate that although quality of life is multidimensional, competence appears…

This study examined permanence of training given to preschool children for solving their interpersonal problems. Preliminary assessment after training showed a significant improvement in problem-solving abilities. However, evaluation completed 1 year later showed a decreased score on the test, suggesting that the preschoolers needed continuous…