A study investigated the effectiveness of a 9-week collaborative metacognitive social skills intervention program on 16 middle school students attending a private, alternative suburban school for students with learning problems. The program used cooperative learning, role play, and art therapy to improve the students' social problem-solving…

A social interactive training program that focused on eye contact, joint attention, and motor imitation was implemented during regular classroom activities with three preverbal preschool children with autism. Increases in target behaviors and generalization of eye contact and motor imitation behaviors were observed. Social validation measures by…

Introduces a software package available for the climatology curriculum that determines possible climatic events according to a long-term climate history. Describes the integration of the software into the curriculum and presents examples of active learning. (Contains 19 references.) (YDS)

Examined Chinese sixth-graders' sociability and prosocial orientation and adjustment at age 12 and 2 years later. Found that: (1) prosocial orientation predicted social and school adjustment and externalizing problems; (2) sociability uniquely predicted internalizing problems and emotional adjustment; and (3) prosocial orientation and sociability…

Self-report surveys of urban middle and high school students assessed changes in their motivation as they entered and exited an alternative learning program that emphasized academic skills, self-esteem, and social skills. Students who completed the program experienced increases in extrinsic motivation, self-esteem, and persistence toward learning…

Two studies examined how adolescents and young adults (ages 15-21) with visual impairments spent their time engaged in academic, social, daily living, and vocational pursuits in comparison to typical youth. Both studies identified socialization and career development as areas where students with visual impairments may need additional supports.…

This paper considers initial findings of a research study examining the strategic behavior of nonnative speakers of English when they are faced with situations requiring pragmatic competence in a second language. The development of first-language pragmatic competence is described then the acquisition of pragmatic competence by adult…

Evaluated the four-year outcome of the Research-Based Model Partnership in Education Program, an after-school tutoring and adaptive-skills training program for mostly low-achieving, low-income African-American students. Computerized school records provided academic and social data. Results indicated that four-year participants had higher grade…

Reviews literature on the nature of interactions between student teachers and mentors, examining approaches to research into mentoring (roles and responsibilities of participants, stages in student teacher development, stages in mentoring relationships, and personal perspectives, values, and assumptions). Dynamics in mentoring relationships are…

Describes a California professional development school program, discussing various cross-institutional roles and highlighting two individuals who spanned the boundaries between the participating high school and the university. Their success depended on allegiance to the partnership, flexibility with time, focus on intrinsic rewards, emphasis on…

This article emphasizes the assessment and intervention of the academic side of social skills in elementary and middle schools students. It examines the role that social skills play in facilitating learning and the creation of a positive school environment. An instructional approach called the responsive classroom is highlighted. (Contains…

To assist teachers, descriptions of seven defining characteristics of Asperger Syndrome are provided, including: insistence on sameness, impairment in social interaction, restricted range of interests, poor concentration, poor motor coordination, academic difficulties, and emotional vulnerability. Strategies for addressing each of these symptoms…

This interview with an individual with Asperger Syndrome (AS) discusses the characteristics of autism, how AS differs from autism, and common characteristics of AS. His experiences in school are described and recommendations are made for teachers who work with students with AS and for parents of children with AS. (Contains references.) (CR)

Investigated linkages between aspects of emotional competence and preschoolers' social skills with peers, as well as parental emotion socialization practices as predictors of social skill. Found that emotional competence variables were meaningfully related to the peer variables and that, for non-constructive anger reactions, maternal reports of…

Examines the historical and conceptual foundations of friendship research. Areas addressed include functions of friendship, study of peer relations and peer systems, associated methodological and measurement challenges, and the study of friendship today. The discussion is framed around the "Harry Potter" (by J. K. Rowling) phenomena. (SD)