This book integrates traditional understandings of care of the dying and bereaved with the use of arts and other forms of cultural creativity in therapy and funeralization. Authors provide insights into the practical aspects of caring for the dying and bereaved as well as new understandings of creativity. Chapters include: (1) "The Knowledge…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a 9-week collaborative metacognitive social skills intervention program on 16 middle school students attending a private, alternative suburban school for students with learning problems. The program used cooperative learning, role play, and art therapy to improve the students' social problem-solving…

Helping young children to cope with stress plays a vital role in today's classroom. It is normal for children to experience stress, which comes from pressures such as family, friends, and school. Some of the indicators of stress in young children are behavioral changes (e.g., mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, and incontinence) and physical…

An art therapist addresses the issue of art therapy within the public school system. She describes her involvement within a cooperative special education program in which she provides direct individual and group therapy as well as consultation to regular class teachers. She reviews methods, materials, and approaches she has used in working with…

This composite of occupational information about the job of art therapist describes the job functions in terms of rehabilitation for mental patients, the retarded, and criminals. Copies of art work created by the mentally ill are included. Background information about mental illness and the historical development of the job are presented. As an…

This article discusses the use of visual arts activities to help young children cope with separation anxiety and sibling rivalry. Addressed to preschool and elementary school teachers seeking therapeutic classroom activities, the article suggests ways of using children's literature as starting points for drawing activities focused on anxiety…

Discusses the potential of continuing education in the visual arts for older adults. Reviews the characteristics of older adult students, the role of community colleges, older adults' interest in the arts, and benefits from arts participation. (AYC)

Compares and contrasts discipline-based art education with Viktor Lowenfeld's creative self-expression approach, using growth, medical, and molding metaphors. Maintains that these two approaches are similar because the views of the child, the teacher's role, and the relationship between them has not changed. (KM)

Maintains that art therapy encompasses the areas of mental health and art education. Presents a case study of three sisters from a family with a history of sexual abuse and illustrates how art therapy was used as part of their overall treatment. (CFR)

Presents three studies of children's ability to create and detect expressions of emotion in drawings. Compared to younger children, older children used more strategies, experimented with line and color, and were more likely to explore themes of death, aging, and illness. Includes sample drawings and statistical tables. (MJP)

Discusses the use of human figure drawings (HFDs) to uncover children's perceptions of the remarriage family. Such techniques may help counselors gain information, generate hypotheses, and plan interventions to improve children's lives. HFDs may provide counselors with the details needed to help children reframe problems and resolve conflicts.…

Provides a rationale for establishing art education programs for mentally retarded adults. Suggests that community-based programs can be set up in museums, senior citizen centers, libraries, universities, and recreation centers. Includes recommendations for future research on this topic. (CFR)

The Silver Drawing Test of Cognition and Emotion was standardized for Brazilian children (N=2,000). ANOVA results are presented for age and education groups from early grades on, including distinguishing adult education levels; results are compared for U.S. and Brazilian populations. Growth in test scores, emotional content responses, and…

The biology and art departments at the University of Indianapolis collaborated in creating a Biology for Artists course. It was first offered on a trial basis and was well received by students and the art faculty. This four-credit course consists of 2 hours of lecture and two 2-hour laboratory sessions per week, and it fulfills the university's…

Five articles describe effective ideas and techniques suggested by correctional educators. In "Warming Up: Mental Exercises for Successful Learning" (Louise Henick), warm-up exercises to help students get ready to learn are discussed, such as daily journals, word of the day, and quote of the day. "Keeping Students Posted" (Richard Johnson) shows…