The Correctional Service of Canada's Cognitive Skills program is a component of its Living Skills strategy. It is based on the cognitive model that how one thinks strongly influences what one thinks. Empathy training and values education enhance the use of the cognitive skills developed. (SK)

Discusses the need to incorporate a therapeutic ethos into the managerial role of librarians. Management research and theory is reviewed, the need for self-fulfillment at work is discussed, differences between leadership and management are suggested, and combining interpersonal management skills that will promote organizational goals while meeting…

Teachers can help elementary students cope at the beginning of the school year by assisting them in getting to know one another. Writing is a good tool for bridging the gap between personal and school lives. The article suggests writing activities and explains how to create a good writing environment. (SM)

Examined competence and problem behavior of 70 adolescent suicide attempters for effects of gender, age, and high-risk versus low-risk suicidal status. High suicide risk youth reported greater clinical levels of problem behavior than did low-risk counterparts. Few differences were found for reported competencies. (Author/NB)

Four groups of preschoolers, identified as socially competent, average, aggressive, or anxious, participated in a study of mother-child interactions involving a problem-solving task that children completed with their own and with an unfamiliar mother. Mothers of competent and average children were more positive and reciprocal toward their own and…

Compared the nature of conflict and its resolution during free-play among preschool children with and without disabilities. Results indicated conflict occurred relatively infrequently and was of short duration. Disabled children tended to have more object possession disputes than other disputes; nondisabled children had more disputes during…

Reports a study that examined the interactive effects of smoking status and gender on shyness, sociability, loneliness, and hopelessness among 1,915 high school students in a Mississippi county. Results indicated smoking status significantly impacted with gender on each of the four psychosocial variables. Male smokers felt more lonely and hopeless…

According to 106 usable responses from 600 chief executive officers, they want increased corporate input in collegiate international business programs; they prefer graduates with a solid business foundation and communication skills; and interpersonal skills were most important when hiring for international positions. (SK)

The assertion by J. Matson (1990) that the Teacher Version of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY) can also be used with parents was studied with parents and teachers of 179 children. The parent-completed MESSY does not show a particularly stable factor structure and is not highly related to teacher reports. (SLD)

Describes the Spanish translation and field testing of the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation, Preschool Edition, which assesses social competence, affective expression, and adjustment difficulties in children aged 2.5-6.5. Field tests with 639 children showed that the Spanish version has satisfactory reliability and internal consistency…

Total professionalism is based on 10 principles governing how individuals think, decide, and behave: connection, inquiry, focus on the future, clarity, inclusiveness, win-win attitude, accountability, improvement, alignment, and contribution. Possible board of education scenarios and dilemmas are presented to illustrate each principle. (MLH)

The Resilient Children Making Health Choices Project is an early-childhood-prevention initiative designed to promote health and social competence in young children by training their teachers in skills aimed at nurturing children's resilient development. Analysis revealed increases in teacher instructional skills and improvements in children's…

Discusses resources of hope in educating for the 21st century, arguing the importance of active listening to children's voices and resistance to fatalistic fallacies regarding negative trends. The discussion examines principles from critical futurism and contemporary movements of educational innovation (including peace, multicultural, nonsexist,…

Describes general components of attribution theory as it applies to social motivation and behavior in children. Reviews research on the subject and its application in context of best practices, cognitive behavioral model of social-skills training. Details use of attributional assessment, modeling, and coaching/reframing for each phase of training.…

Advocates the concept of earned leadership in schools. Presents a typology of followers divided into positive, adversarial, compliant, minimalist, and self-serving categories of "elective contributors." Fundamentally different relationships are required within a professional-leader/contributory-follower school culture than are found in…