Infant joint attention has been observed to be related to social-emotional outcomes in at-risk children. To address whether this relation is also evident in typically developing children, 52 children were tested at 12, 15, 24, and 30 months to examine associations between infant joint attention and social outcomes. Twelve-month initiating and…

This guide is designed to teach foster parents, direct care providers, and house parents how to help children develop interpersonal relationship skills. The book focuses on developing the whole child through intellectual, psychological, and moral development. Specific techniques for creating a nurturing environment for children are discussed, as…

This guide provides the curriculum materials used in a program designed to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) life-skills or vocational instruction for refugees in the Chicago metropolitan area, concentrating on the general vocational ESL skills to be taught. An overall introduction to the program is followed by a section on work English…

Written for teachers who are interested in learning how to use literature to enhance emergent literacy growth, this handbook, in two volumes, focuses on how to implement integrated, literature-based, thematic units that stress the development of effective strategies required of independent, self-directed competent readers and writers. The first…

The Bernard van Leer Foundation initiated a program in France entitled Relais Enfants-Parents to bring the children of prisoners to the forefront of social, political and judicial policy. The Relais Enfants-Parents program works to safeguard the psychological and emotional development of children by serving as a link between them and their…

Randomly selected employees from a Veterans Administration Medical Center (n=200) were asked to complete measures on distributive justice and procedural justice 4 weeks before their performance appraisal; and on job satisfaction, commitment, involvement, and self-reported performance feedback 4 weeks after their performance appraisals.…

This review examined the extent to which commercially available social skills curricula designed for adolescent populations (including those with learning and behavior problems) accommodate cultural diversity. Introductory material discusses the need for culturally responsive teaching in social skills training. The study reviewed 11 curricula, and…

Children at high risk for problematic behaviors and emotional problems seem to show limited internal boundaries to control their direction and attention and violation of the boundaries of others. This study addressed the relative impact of a coping skills curriculum on locus of control in 4th-grade high risk students. Fourth grade students (N=96)…

Drama is a means to develop imagination and empathy. Simulated experiences can affect profoundly one's judgment and understanding, adding insights and expanding the frame of reference. The name game is a good beginning exercise, especially if participants do not know one another. Each player states his or her name and a favorite object that begins…

This monograph presents a rationale for proactive social skills training for persons with mental retardation as well as over 100 examples of such instruction across the K-12 continuum. Chapter 1 provides a conceptual framework of social competence with principles of what, when, and how to teach social skills. Chapter 2 discusses the direct…

Some researchers and practitioners believe that schools can play a leading role in preventing violence among youth. This document offers a framework for collaboration that moves from simply recognizing the problem to preparing youth to live peaceably in a diverse community. The "Creating a Peaceable School" program is based on the premise that…

This study examined relations among parent-child interaction style and children's social behavior at school. A total of 158 children were observed for 4 hours in their homes the summer before their kindergarten year. Interactions with mothers and fathers were rated in terms of their engagement reciprocity and affective tone. Interactions were then…

One of eight papers from Project Seed, this paper describes a communication and lifeskills training group designed to strengthen student self-esteem and the communication skills needed to successfully survive within the school environment. The project described was developed through the collaboration of a behavioral teacher and a school guidance…

The Reach Out to Schools: Social Competency Program is an elementary school curriculum project based on the understanding that improving the nature and quality of classroom relationships is the key to increased social and academic success for all children. The program includes a year-long elementary school curriculum, an experiential teacher…

This document presents outcomes of the Social Competency Program: Reach Out to Schools Project, a program designed to help elementary students learn and practice interpersonal and problem-solving skills. It is based on the understanding that positive peer relationships and a supportive, caring classroom community are essential to students' social…