Vocational educators, especially in home economics, are involved in preparing students with life skills. Life skills curricula include the following topics: personal development, interpersonal communication skills, families in today's society, parenthood education, nutrition, health, wellness, consumer/resource management, employability skills,…

Used Social Skills Rating System (SSRS) to compare 20 learning-disabled, 20 mildly mentally retarded, and 20 nonreferred students. Students with disabilities scored significantly lower than nonreferred group on social skills and significantly higher in problem behaviors. SSRS was able to predict group membership broadly (handicapped versus…

Presents Paul Salmon's old-fashioned, common-sense guidelines for success in practical school administration. The maxims advise on problem ownership; the value of selective neglect; the importance of empowerment, enthusiasm, and effective communication; and the need for positive reinforcement, cultivation of support, and good relations with media,…

Reviews recently published methods of assessment of dynamic formulations derived from psychodynamic case material, particularly those that emphasize central maladaptive interpersonal patterns. The methods are divided into those based on case studies and those with a moderate sample size. Psychometric properties are reviewed. The question of how…

An observational technique for assessing the social interaction skills of elementary age students with disabilities is described. The procedure focuses on three interaction elements: (1) initiating the interaction, (2) turn taking, and (3) responding to the interaction. The method of data recording and analysis is delineated. (DB)

Seminarians (n=21) reported that the interpersonal skills needed to perform the job of a priest were not adequately covered in their training. When beginning their work, they do not have the skilled responses of a professional trained to work with people in crisis. (SK)

Summarizes current information regarding personal and social talents and their roles in academic, career, and personal success. These talents will ultimately be deemed important for two reasons. They may be core requirements for success in politics, leadership, religion, teaching, and counseling, and they may link innate ability with mature…

A study investigated whether 20 individuals (ages 9 to 19) with mental retardation would use "common ground" (i.e., physical copresence, linguistic copresence, and community membership) to resolve verbal referential ambiguity. Both participants and matched-mental-age controls used all sources of common ground, but were less successful in using…

Highlights social-behavior patterns linked to peer relation problems in preadolescent children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Provides a review of evidence suggesting continuation of social problems into adolescence, including two studies' findings of the increased risk for social interaction problems in adolescents with…

Four studies investigated reliability and validity of the Theory of Mind (TOM) test, an instrument for assessing theory-of-mind ability in typical children and children with pervasive developmental disorders. The TOM test was found to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring various aspects of theory of mind. (Author/CR)

This award-winning article describes a research project which evaluated use of "social stories" with primary-grade children who have autism. Social stories are written to describe social situations the child finds difficult and include descriptive sentences which describe the situation, perspective sentences which explain the reactions of others,…

This study examined the response of intermediate-grade boys (N=18) and girls (N=20) with (N=20) or without (N=18) learning disabilities (LD) to experimental dyadic interactions, either friendly or unfriendly. Children with LD were hypersensitive to both situations and girls with LD appeared most negatively affected by the unfriendly interaction.…

Forty-four fourth- and fifth-grade boys with and without learning disabilities (LD) completed a semi-structured interview measure of interpersonal understanding. They were also rated by their teachers on social adaptation in the classroom. Interpersonal understanding and social adaptation were positively correlated, and children with LD exhibited…

Illustrates how teachers can build their students' social competence by integrating indiscrete social skills into the academic curriculum. States that the challenge for those who teach high-risk youth is to recognize and support the protective factors that build on strengths and enhance resiliency. (Author/MKA)

A survey of 430 supervisors and instructors and 389 inmates measured their perceptions of the effectiveness of vocational programs in correctional facilities in New York State. Findings indicated that inmates and instructors thought that the program was effective in improving interpersonal skills and employment skills. (JOW)