This article addresses the use of behavioral interviews in school consultation programs to identify problems that may require student referral to special education. It examines elements that make up the interview, presents ways to bolster the technical adequacy of the behavioral interview, and calls for interview skills training. (JDD)

This article reframes school violence in the context of educational mission goals so that teachers can understand their role in responding to it and acknowledge their skills in addressing it. The article examines types of violence that occur most frequently in schools, evaluates what is known about teacher preparedness, and encourages educators to…

In this informational survey, the author briefly explores the needs of professional staff and administrators who serve students in alternative educational settings and special education and provides a listing of helpful Internet resources. Initially, the author provides general information concerning the current state of alternative education…

Twenty-six suggestions for setting up a class environment in which children with learning or behavior problems can develop friendships are presented, including integrating friendship into the curriculum, teaching necessary social skills, structuring successful recess and lunch periods, honoring children's friendships in placement decisions, and…

Twelve practical strategies that can be used by classroom teachers to prevent behavioral escalation are discussed, including reinforce calm, know the triggers, pay attention to anything unusual, do not escalate, intervene early, know the function of problem behavior, use extinction wisely, teach prosocial behavior, and teach academic survival…

The article describes 15 staff/student prereferral intervention strategies developed by teachers in Montgomery County (Maryland) for use with students having academic difficulties. Strategies are concerned with self-monitoring, metacognition, curriculum integration, simplifying English, study skills, home reading, and mentoring. (DB)

A systematic process for planning, implementing, and maintaining peer-tutoring interventions is presented. Academic and social benefits of peer tutoring are briefly documented. The process includes four components: planning, training, monitoring/evaluation, and problem solving. (DB)

A draft policy developed by the Minneapolis (Minnesota) public schools concerning the use of aversive or deprivation procedures with students who are handicapped is presented. The policy model covers such elements as response to prior interventions; written treatment plan; informed consent; supervision; maintenance and retention of records;…

Research with gifted children has identified certain clusters of traits which are directly related to a visual/spatial orientation in learning. This article presents common traits of visual/spatial learners, including introversion and behavior problems, and offers adaptive techniques that have been found effective in teaching "nonsequential"…

This article provides a brief introduction to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) including characteristics, incidence, current government programs, successful local programs, and implications for school administrators. (DB)

Academic failure must be seen as a failure by school and student together. By discarding faith in the "average needs" of the "average child" and instead accepting diversity in learning styles (both abstract and concrete, sequential and random), teachers can approach school failure from a problem-solving perspective. (PB)

This article provides suggestions for treating test anxiety by training students in stress management strategies. Detailed instructions for teaching deep muscle relaxation are provided, followed by an introduction to Wolpe's (1958) technique of systematic desensitization, which features identification of a hierarchy of anxiety-producing situations…

Describes the use of a flexible grouping strategy called "group retellings." Students are grouped heterogeneously into two- to four-member groups, read a portion of the text, and then retell the content to other group members. (DB)

Strategies are presented for dealing with factors that can be responsible for failure in mathematical problem solving. The suggestions include personalization of verbal problems, thematic strands based on student interests, visual representation, a laboratory approach, and paraphrasing. (JDD)

Techniques for developing self-management skills in students with learning and/or behavioral difficulties are explained, including self-monitoring and self-instruction. Development of self-management skills is seen to facilitate mainstreaming and provide prereferral intervention assistance. (DB)