The Effect of Social Skills Interventions in the Primary School

Social inclusion is currently a priority issue for all in education. Brent Educational Psychology Service implemented two social skills training interventions to promote social inclusion in six primary schools. Educational psychologists in training carried out an independent evaluation of these interventions. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data showed positive effects of intervention on social skills and social inclusion. The effects of pupil gender and intervention type are also reported and discussed. It is concluded that social skills training is a valid approach to promoting social inclusion in diverse and challenging primary schools and that educational psychologists have a vital role to play in its implementation and evaluation.     

Social Validation Issues in Social Skills Assessment

Social validation is increasingly seen as a core component of social skills assessment. This article reviews the components of social validation (i.e., the social importance of intervention outcomes, the social significance of the goals, the appropriateness of the procedures, and determining optimal levels for target behaviours) and how they apply to social skills assessment for people with disabilities. Suggestions for future research and development of appropriate social validation measures for assessing social skills are offered.     

New Directions in Social Skills Assessment and Intervention for Elementary and Middle School Students

Social skills are important to the successful social and academic functioning of all students and play a significant role in avoiding or preventing negative responses from others. Social skills also are important aspects of effective schools. In this article, we emphasize the assessment and intervention of the academic side of social skills. That is, we examine the role that social skills play in facilitating individuals' learning and creation of a school environment where others can feel supported and motivated to learn. As a basis for this examination, we first review several key studies documenting interrelations among social skills and academic competence. Next, we briefly review current assessment practices focusing on rating scale methods for documenting students' social skills and perceptions of social support. Finally, we introduce an instructional approach called the Responsive Classroom (Charney, 1992) that has been shown to advance the development of elementary and middle school students' social skills and academic achievement, and result in supportive school environments for learners and teachers. We conclude with recommendations for researchers and practitioners to continue to consider the strong interrelations among social skills, academic functioning, and social support when working with all students in elementary and middle schools.     

Patterns of Early Reading and Social Skills Associated With Academic Success in Elementary School

Research Findings: Researchers and policymakers emphasize that early childhood is a critical developmental stage with the potential to impact academic and social-emotional outcomes (G. Conti &; J. J. Heckman, 2012 Conti , G. , &; Heckman , J. J. ( 2012 ). The economics of child well-being (No. w18466) . Washington , DC : National Bureau of Economic Research .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]; J. J. Heckman, 2012 Heckman , J. J. ( 2012 ). The case for investing in young children . In B. Falk (Ed.), Defending childhood: Keeping the promise of early education (pp. 235 – 242 ). New York , NY : Teachers College Press . [Google Scholar]; R. Murnane, I. Sawhill, &; C. Snow, 2012 Murnane , R. , Sawhill , I. , &; Snow , C. ( 2012 ). Literacy challenges for the twenty-first century: Introducing the issue . The Future of Children , 22 ( 2 ), 3 – 15 .[Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]). Although there is substantial evidence that children's early prereading skills predict later academic achievement (K. M. La Paro &; R. C. Pianta, 2000 La Paro , K. M. , &; Pianta , R. C. ( 2000 ). Predicting children's competence in the early school years: A meta-analytic review . Review of Educational Research , 70 , 443 – 484 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), there have been mixed findings regarding the contribution of early social skills to later achievement (e.g., G. J. Duncan et al., 2007 Duncan , G. J. , Dowsett , C. J. , Claessens , A. , Magnuson , K. , Huston , A. C. , Klebanov , P. , … Brooks-Gunn , J. ( 2007 ). School readiness and later achievement . Developmental Psychology , 43 , 1428 – 1446 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Using data from the national Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten Cohort, we found that subgroups of children with a combination of low/average reading skills and higher levels of social skills (86% of the sample) in kindergarten performed better on later academic assessments than children with similar reading skills but lower levels of social skills during kindergarten. In contrast, children who were very strong early readers (14% of the sample), regardless of their level of social skills, performed similarly on the 5th-grade academic outcomes. Practice or Policy: Implications for early education and policy are discussed.     

Comparability of the Social Skills Improvement System to the Social Skills Rating System: A Norwegian Study

The Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales (SSIS-RS) is a multi-informant instrument assessing social skills and problem behavior in children and adolescents. It is a revised version of the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). A Norwegian translation of the SSRS has been validated, but this has not yet been done for the Norwegian translation of the SSIS-RS. This study compared the Norwegian versions of the SSRS and the SSIS-RS administered to samples of children (aged 8–12 and 13–16?years) and their parents and teachers (n = 599). The results indicated moderate to strong relations between the common subscales across all forms of the two instruments and acceptable to excellent internal consistency across all common subscales. We conclude that the SSIS-RS is a good instrument for measuring social skills and problem behavior among children and adolescents in Norway.     

Evaluation of Short-Term Impact of a High School Summer Science Program on Students' Perceived Knowledge and Skills

Summer science programs held in university research facilities provide ideal opportunities for pre-college students to master new skills and renew, refresh, and enrich their interest in science. These types of programs have a positive impact on a student's understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry and can open a youngster's eyes to the many possible career opportunities in science. This paper describes a study of high school students enrolled in the Summer Science Academy program at the University of Rochester that investigates the program's impact on students' knowledge of laboratory skills, as well as the impact on student interest in pursuing a career in science. Students' exposure to advanced laboratory techniques and their interaction with professional scientists provided them with a very positive hands-on experience. Students who attended the program felt more confident in their ability to use sophisticated laboratory skills and that the Summer Science Academy program provided a positive influence on their performance in advanced science courses, as well as their desire to pursue a career in science.     

Promoting Social Skills in Young Children

The literature reflects that numerous factors impact a young child's ability to have playmates and develop friendships. This in turn can influence health, happiness, and stability throughout life. Social relationships may be enhanced through a youngster's efforts and those of caring adults, especially teachers, parents, and other caregivers. Two checklists are provided, one to assist when observing and recording a child's personal behaviors and another to aid adults with the self-assessment of their child guidance techniques. These results are beneficial to those who teach, guide, train, and provide other essential experiences for children.     

高中政治课堂的提问技巧

在课堂教学中,提问是一种十分重要的教学手段。高中政治课堂上教师不能什么都不问,也不能全堂发问。有效的课堂提问必须做到"启而有发",实际教学中只要运用适当的提问技巧,激发学生的创造性思维,充分发挥课堂的提问功能,就能够达到教学效果的最大化。     

Social Skills as Exchange Resources

The documentation given in the 1970s and 1980s of social skills deficits in children and adolescents who lack friends and other positive peer contacts is well‐known, and so is the increasing attention paid to social skill development. However, it seems that a broad or integrating theoretical framework for the analysis of social skills remains to be developed, and that this makes application of research findings and experiences in this area difficult. The article suggests a conceptualization of social skills as exchange resources, as a contribution to an integrating process.     

Social Skills for Slow Learners

Some degree of skill in interpersonal relationships is essential if slow learners are to become socially adequate, writes Dr Alice F. Laing, senior lecturer in education, University College of Swansea     

浅谈高中阶段英语阅读技巧的训练

阅读能力的培养是高中阶段英语教学的一项重要工作，本文拟就如何在课堂上有效训练学生的阅读技能谈谈自己的认识。     

中学生暑期体育活动状况调研

对郴州市中学生暑期体育活动的现状进行调查、研究,结果表明:暑期体育活动深受中学生的喜欢;他们的体育活动时间主要安排在下午,且每次的活动时间在1h左右;选择的活动项目主要以游泳、篮球、健美操和骑自行车为主;"花钱买健康"的消费理念已在中学生中初步形成;学习负担重、没时间、无人组织和指导、经济限制和家长不支持是影响他们暑期体育活动的主要因素.     

浅谈高中数学课堂的提问技巧

数学课堂提问是教师有效促进高中数学课堂教学效率的方法,也是提高学生思维能力的重要途径。高中数学教学内容的讲授离不开教师对提问策略的应用。因此,教师应不断提高课堂提问技巧,真正激发学生的学习兴趣,从而有效实现教学目标,提高教学效率。     

视力残疾大学生社交技能与学校生活品质的关系

采用问卷法,对172名视力残疾大学生社交技能的状况及其与学校生活品质的关系进行研究。结果发现:(1)视力残疾大学生的学校生活品质总体水平不佳,除了在幸福感、自我概念及独立维度处于中等偏上水平外,其它维度及总问卷均处于平均水平以下;盲生的学校生活品质优于低视力生,低年级的学校生活品质高于高年级学生;(2)视力残疾大学女生社交技能优于男生;高年级学生的社交技能优于低年级;盲生的社交技能优于低视力生;(3)在控制了背景变量以后,社交技能各维度仍可以显著预测学校生活品质的得分。     

试论小学教师设计数学活动的技能

教师通过设计数学活动,能够激发学生兴趣,让学生获得数学活动经验,培养学生的数学理解能力和应用能力。从概念界定、功能、构成要素、类型、应用要点等几个方面阐述小学教师设计数学活动的技能。     

拓宽国际视野增强国际交流能力——清华大学"研究生教育创新计划"实施情况

为探索新世纪研究生创新教育机制,更新教育观念,推进制度创新,清华大学在深刻认识国内外形势、认真调研国内外高水平博士生教育、充分总结既往经验的基础上,提出了以激发博士生创新活力为工作重心的研究生教育发展战略,并在国务院学位委员会和教育部"研究生教育创新计划"的支持下,设立了清华大学"研究生教育创新计划",作为该计划中的一项重要内容,我校在研究生的国际化合作培养方面开展了以下工作。 1.研究生的中外合作培养 根据互利互惠的原则,我校通过与外方合作学校互派研究生在对方学校学习和研究的方式,达到