A review of the research on learning-disabled students suggests that these students often exhibit language deficits that are not readily obvious. These language deficits create problems in understanding social interactions and written and oral directions as well as problems in expressing ideas both orally and in written form. The term language…

The Child Development Project run by the Cleveland public schools gives eligible four-year-olds basic experiences, not generally available in the home, that help them develop learning skills needed for success in school. Language and other pre-reading skills are emphasized. Each project class includes about 20 children, who attend half-day, five…

Analysis of school documents, teacher and principal interviews, and teacher conflicts in an elementary school uncovered both an explicit rule structure fostering a desired school image and a series of implicit rules accepted by the faculty but at times contradicting the organizational image. Established master contract guidelines featured (1) care…

A study examined S.L. Bem's Gender Schema Theory as it relates to communicator style. It was hypothesized that (1) speakers using a "powerless" speech style would be perceived less positively than would "powerful" speakers, and (2) sex-typed subjects, that is, those who adhere to a traditional sex role schema, would perceive…

The goal of this unit is to assist students in understanding and practicing pro-social skills as alternatives to aggressive behavior. Intended for grades four to seven, the unit contains seven modules: (1) "Self-Appraisal"; (2) "Relaxation"; (3) "How to Listen"; (4) "Communicating Your Wants to Others"; (5)…

The Instructional Systems Design (ISD) process was applied to a communication skills training project for the New York City Police Department. The purpose of the application was to reduce the number of unnecessary civilian complaints accumulated by police officers. The project passed through the five phases of ISD: analysis, design, development,…

The final report describes The Realistic Transition Project, a 3-year project designed to help mildly handicapped 17 to 21-year-olds in the transition from school to competitive employment. Social skills necessary for seeking and maintaining employment and money management skills were two important curriculum components. Specific objectives and…

This special journal section contains five major articles concerned with the education of children with disabilities, especially with emotional or behavioral disorders. The lead article by Ramon M. Rocha and Susan McCue, discusses the education of emotionally disturbed (ED) students in New York State as directed by the Commissioner of Education's…

This investigation: (1) tested the ability of an a priori hierarchical structure of self-concept derived from the Shavelson model to explain responses to the Self Description Questionnaire III (SDQ III); and (2) demonstrated the application and problems with the use of hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis. A first-order factor analysis…

In July, 1983, the Center for Independent Living of Greater Bridgeport and its cooperating agencies conducted a survey of 32 people, the majority of whom were developmentally disabled and resided in institutional or community settings, in both rural and urban areas. This report addresses the perceived needs and levels of independence experienced…

A review and analysis of relevant literature discusses the heterogeneity of social competence observed in learning disabled children. Sociometric group classification is judged to be a viable behavioral classification framework. Inconsistencies are noted in the way peer popularity, peer acceptance, and sociometric status are defined in the…

Professional development needs of administrators at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) were assessed. A survey was administered to determine topics that administrators needed to know, how knowledgeable they were on these topics, and topics they wanted to learn more about to improve their administrative performance. Of 134…

Project PROF, a professional development program for experienced teaching faculty in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, is described, and results of a faculty assessment of the program are summarized. Program objectives include: increased faculty self-assessment as related to teaching; expose faculty to…

Problem-solving skills are becoming increasingly important in the workplace, and more schools are including them in the curriculum. Knowledge of problem solving will be critical to a work force that is dealing with advanced technology, yet many students have yet to master these skills. Based on this premise, this guide attempts to show how…

A sample of 80 families with a 2- or 3-year-old child in day care in one of four popular forms (baby sitter in the child's own home, family day care, part-time nursery program, and full-time day care center program) participated in a study of the effects of forms of care on children's development. Parents and caretakers were interviewed, and…