Some research suggests a rise in challenging behaviors among children in early care and education. Among the findings are a high rate of removal from preschool classrooms for behavior problems, a possible link between early non-maternal care and aggressive behaviors in preschool, and concerns from teachers that too many children arrive at school…

Poor social skills and behavioral problems are a major component of ADHD. The different explanations offered so far, such as cognitive deficits and deficient self regulation, have not been able fully to account for the various aspects of the social dysfunction, suggesting that other mechanisms might underlay this impairment. Our study sought to…

Currently, students in early childhood special education programs experience social isolation. To ameliorate the inappropriate behaviors that often contribute to this isolation, it is imperative that educators begin to include instruction in appropriate social interaction in the general education early childhood curriculum for children with…

The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is used to assess the behavioral problems and social competencies of children. Its broad usage in both a practitioner and research context has led to misapplications as compared to the CBCL's original intended purpose. Practical applications vary from the more traditional mental health centers and medical…

Cooperative learning and its effect on social skill enhancement and participation of third grade students in the setting of physical education class were studied. A pilot study with 16 third graders studied whether students exhibiting undesirable behavior could be identified through observation and provided information used to develop a…

This report describes a program that was designed to identify and modify disruptive student behavior and improve academic performance. The targeted fifth grade class had been noted for inappropriate behavior and sporadic academic success, with problems documented by teacher observation surveys and self-reporting by students. Probable causes…

This paper reviews program for social skills development to reduce conflicts, increase self-control, reduce instructional time spent dealing with behavior problems, and increase teacher satisfaction. The problems of deficiencies in prosocial skills were documented in three fifth-grade classes. Loss of students' recess time, and minutes of…

Cooperative learning lessons in mathematics were instituted in 6 learning disability elementary classrooms serving a total of 47 students. Verbal rehearsal and collaboration were intended to reinforce the internalization and generalization of skills. Structured social interaction was intended to facilitate peer acceptance. Although two of the…

The social and emotional development of learning disabled students needs to be addressed in education programming effort. Social skills, which are essential to academic as well as social success, can be taught through such methods as role playing, games, grouping, puppetry, behavior modification, and problem-solving exercises. In addition,…

Grade 5 students (N=39) judged on the basis of familial factors to be at risk for antisocial behavior were evaluated for academic engaged time, social interactive behavior, teacher ratings of social skills, principal contacts, and special education services. Results indicated behavioral differences between the at risk subjects and normal controls.…

This paper defines social withdrawal from a social skills perspective and presents a fourfold classification system of children's social skills deficits. The paper reviews the literature in discussing assessment procedures; social skills training strategies (modeling, coaching, peer-mediated interventions, and group contingencies); and…

Prepared in support of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS), which will examine children's early school experiences beginning with kindergarten, this working paper focuses on research regarding the measurement of young children's social competence, adaptive behavior, and approaches to learning. The paper reviews the key variables and…

This publication features articles on prevention of school violence and the development of student self-discipline. It describes programs to help students at risk socially and academically. Practical and promising approaches to positive behavioral interventions and strategies are presented in a step-by-step format. Approaches to school discipline…

Youth Change presents on site workshops to train staff to deal with youth with problems. This workbook introduces the Youth Change curriculum and workshop, outlining some of the ways the program promotes social skill, school skills, and coping skills and introducing the Youth Change structured curriculum. Eight sample lessons are presented with…

Evaluates the effectiveness of social skills training methods specifically designed to enhance children's peer relationships. Discusses "coaching" methods on the basis of a small scale survey of social skills training procedures in use at social service agencies, guidance centers, hospitals, and clinical settings. (Author/AOS)