Compared gestures of Chinese and American deaf children who had not been exposed to a usable conventional language model with speech of hearing children learning Mandarin or English. Found that deaf children conveyed central elements of motion events in their communications. Deaf American and Chinese children used gestures to express motion in…

A career counseling program evaluated the self-esteem of 28 displaced homemakers, then presented 3 sessions on the importance of personal appearance in hiring practices, wardrobe management, nonverbal communication, professional image, and self-concept. Analysis of participant evaluations indicated improved levels of control and confidence and…

Findings are presented from a study of the effectiveness of a training program designed to increase nonverbal expressiveness, during expository teaching/lecturing, in the nonverbal channels: voice delivery, eye expression, gaze, facial expression, gesturing, posture, and movement. The program includes laboratory practice sessions, characterized by…

Encourages the use of storytelling in the classroom as a method for developing verbal, written, and reading skills, as well as non-verbal communication skills. Offers guidelines and specific activities for involving students in storytelling. (RAE)

In the first of 2 studies, 7 subjects with severe mental retardation (ages 6-20) using augmentative communication produced untaught symbol combinations resembling those of young speaking language learners. The second study found that modeled combinations did not resemble the subjects' productions, suggesting the augmented communicators used…

Discusses the trend for bibliographic instruction in academic libraries to be more attentive to aspects of content and delivery related to diversity. Highlights include communication competence; ethnic competence; ethnocentrism; navigating community information systems as opposed to libraries; different ways of learning; and nonverbal…

Counselor trainees (n=18) were randomly assigned to treatment (nonverbal sensitivity) or control (empathy training) conditions. Trainees saw a recruited client before and after a 15-week counseling methods class. Trainees rated self and clients rated sessions. Trainees in treatment condition increased their focus on client nonverbal behavior and…

Examines the sociolinguistic aspects of Saudi greeting rituals, discussing the phraseology and nonverbal signals employed by greeter and greetee in various situations. Also explores the communication problems that Saudis and Americans have when communicating in each other's language and culture. (MDM)

Early communication was examined for 3 children (ages 20 to 27 months) who had been tracheostomized during their first year and were still cannulated. Communication means and intentions and rate of communication were examined. Potential contributions of social, cognitive, and language skills to the onset of early words were assessed. (Author/SW)

A functional analysis of breath-holding episodes in a 7-year-old girl with severe mental retardation and Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome indicated that breath holding served an operant function, primarily to gain access to attention. Use of extinction, scheduled attention, and a picture card communication system decreased breath holding. (Author/SW)

Strategies and considerations for establishing initial communication repertoires in young children with severe disabilities are described using a case example of a four-year-old nonverbal child. Issues include: assessing unconventional forms of communication, motivating the child when being taught new communication forms, and promoting…

This article is intended to help teachers understand nonverbal signals used by students and explains proxemics, a person's use and perception of space, and kinesics, a person's facial and body cures. Teachers are encouraged to evaluate their own nonverbal communication styles. Principles are illustrated with scenarios of students with…

Reviews research concerning the use of modeling strategies in music instruction. Asserts that nonverbal instruction is clearly preferable to verbal description in many situations. Concludes that modeling is effective in promoting musical skills across a wide age distribution. Argues that modeling is of value in teaching virtually any musical…

Seven preservice teachers were recorded on audiotape and videotape while presenting in the classroom, then rated using the Classroom Procedures Evaluation Form and an adjective checklist. Results indicated that, when composite measures were correlated, evaluations of teaching under audio and video conditions yielded somewhat similar results. (SM)

Reviews six books covering topics of (1) creativity and play in the early childhood curriculum; (2) the involvement of families in middle school education; (3) nonverbal communication; (4) developmentally appropriate classrooms for kindergarten through third grade; (5) schools' role in teaching respect and responsibility; and (6) the practice of…