In 2 studies, 36 seventh- through ninth-graders and 44 secondary students with mild disabilities were taught work-related social skills using the Work Awareness Curriculum. Results showed 89% of the first group and 93% of the second increased knowledge of the curriculum components. (SK)

An assertiveness training curriculum that was an expansion of two previous programs with young adolescents was presented to 22 fifth graders. Results did not show that training facilitated assertiveness on the performance components. Suggestions are offered for designing programs aimed at developing adolescents' assertive behavior in ways that…

Examines the transition from a single conversation to two conversations in a group larger than three by focusing on three distinctive properties of the schisming-inducing turn (SIT): (1) the changes in recipiency structure; (2) the sequence-structural properties of the SIT and its uptake; and (3) the topical properties of the SIT. (61 references)…

This article reviews the components of social validation and how they apply to social skills assessment for people with disabilities. Components include the social importance of the intervention outcomes, the social significance of the goals, the appropriateness of the procedures, and determination of the optimal levels for target behaviors.…

Examined the impact of personal belief systems and the college experience on Asian Pacific American undergraduate college students' views of affirmative action in higher education. Survey results indicated that Asian Pacific American students' social interactions and perceptions, as well as their dominant ideology beliefs and racial/ethnic…

Examines how the science classroom can be organized so that pupils are able to develop their social and emotional skills which results in a greater interest in science lessons. Suggests that these strategies could help students get along better with each other, thus propagating greater willingness to empathize across cultures. (Contains 15…

A study involving 18 high-functioning children (ages 8-17) with autism and 17 controls found that those with autism revealed a good understanding of social interaction and loneliness and demonstrated a high level of social initiation. They spent only half the time in social interactions with peers, however, compared to controls. (Contains…

Examines children's social and academic competencies as mediators to explain the often positive relation between parent-school involvement and achievement. Ethnic variation was examined. For African Americans, academic skills mediated the relations between school involvement and math performance. For Euro-Americans, social competence mediated the…

Explains how high-level play is an instructional strategy that builds language, vocabulary, and underlying cognitive skills necessary for children to become successful readers and writers. Notes that high-level play in the classroom occurs in two major areas, manipulative materials play and dramatic play. Explains that in dramatic play the teacher…

Studied the playground games of children in their first year of schooling. Findings for 77 urban first graders show that facility with games forecast the social competence of boys and the adjustment to first grade of both boys and girls. (SLD)

Notes that student journalists face a challenge in gaining the respect needed from sources to glean a high quality of information. Contends that in addition to researching the specifics of articles before interviews, part of the preparation needs to be classroom instruction on source cultivation and interpersonal skills. Provides 10 commonsense…

Describes the adaptation for distance learning of an MBA organizational behavior course. Explains that the most effective strategy involved conducting group exercises and role plays synchronously in the chat room. A student survey indicated that online students developed skills comparable to face-to-face students. (EV)

Describes the Principles of Adult Mentoring Scale, a self-assessment instrument for mentors of adult learners. Discusses the development and underlying principles of the scale, and provides information on scoring and interpreting results. The scale, instructions for scoring, and a description of six behavioral functions of the mentor role are…

A New York camp program builds campers' social skills through use of "request power,""deny power," and conflict resolution. The steps of conflict resolution are position of strength, exchange of wants, proposals for win-win resolution, and acceptance or nonacceptance of proposal. Campers learn to identify what they want, listen…

Two children (ages 7-8) with autism and eight typical peers participated in a study designed to replicate an earlier finding of successful social-skills intervention for children with autism using peer-implemented pivotal response training (PRT). The results of using multiple peer trainers on generalization of treatment effects were assessed.…