Discusses various program activities at New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) camps, including environmental workshops which foster exploration, discovery, and skill development. Highlights recreational and evening activities for the one-week camping experience for 12 to 17 year olds. (JN)

Relates the theory of learned helplessness to the losses of aging, and describes a brief experiential training program for service providers, teaching interpersonal skills useful in working with the depressed elderly. Focuses on reducing helplessness by allowing the elderly to have impact within the counseling interaction. (RC)

Describes a pedagogical approach to teaching composition, based on research indicating that inexperienced writers have undeveloped composing processes. Presents a sample lesson for describing an item that gives technical writing students knowledge of how they write and introduces them to strategies for mastering the composing process. (HTH)

Notes that children who speak little or no English are often placed in regular classrooms without benefit of help from bilingual programs. Offers ideas classroom teachers can use in helping these children learn to read. (FL)

Describes an inservice technique that models for teachers how they can use the Directed Reading Thinking Activity to develop students' predictive strategies. (FL)

Suggests that lags in practitioner development for mental health primary prevention programs are due to the emphasis that practitioner education places on individual treatment rather than on larger ecological systems affecting the individual. Describes core activities of primary prevention and the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to…

Individual Student Improvement Plans (ISIP) cover students with basic skills deficiencies at sixth grade or later levels. Many plan mechanisms provide schools with comprehensive diagnostic data. The state code requirements for evaluation are given with NJEA recommendations to rely upon existing data regarding student standing in course objectives.…

Describes a contracting workshop for couples which is designed to strengthen their relationship. The counselor helps the couple make explicit and implicit agreements and rules by which the relationship operates. Through experiential exercises, minilectures, and group work, the couple's style of communication and decision making skills are…

An individualized approach in an "aquatics learning lab" serves as the setting for swimming classes with students of varied abilities. The major goal of this methodology is elimination of the conventional, ritualistic, and autocratic quality of the average physical education class and its replacement with an individualized, humanistic method. (JN)

Two successive studies investigated teaching four memory training strategies and their effects on subjective memory complaints in the community- dwelling elderly. Evaluations revealed significant improvements in recall functioning among the memory training subjects. Results indicate concern about poor memory may reflect expectations about old age…

To clarify patterns in the rate of motor development, children observed between kindergarten and second grade were refilmed, performing an overarm throw, when they became seventh-grade students. Results were compared with predictions made earlier. Differences in the skill levels of boys and girls and differences in their throwing experience are…

Describes the underlying human development theory that supports developmental-learning as opposed to remedial-learning assistance. Outlines a model of learning assistance based on these principles. (Author)

Assessed the immediate and long-term impact of the Couple Communication Program. Married couples (N=17) were assigned to training groups. Change was assessed using self-report measures of marital adjustment and communication quality along with behavioral ratings of couple verbal interaction. Couples increased significantly on all measures at…

Points out that reading professionals are often encouraged and expected to write for publication and proposes a graduate level course that would improve the writing skills of such people. (FL)

The neglect of the study of pedagogy in teacher education programs is discussed. Excessive emphasis has been placed on the instruction of theory in the preparation of teachers. The practical application of general teaching skills and their effective application to practice is the central element in the study of pedagogy. (JN)