Teachers who work with students who display challenging behaviors need to implement interventions to support them in the classroom. A daily behavior report card (DBRC) is one intervention that research suggests can reduce challenging behaviors and replace them with more socially appropriate behaviors. With step-by-step instructions, this column…

Research focusing on school climate has shown that healthy, safe, and positive school environments are associated with improved psychological, social, behavioral, and academic outcomes for secondary students. For this reason, it is important for schools to understand how to improve perceptions of school climate through effective, evidence-based…

With the increase of students with autism in public schools, alternative schools, and in-home programming, attention to effective learning procedures has increased. A general model based on precision teaching for practicing behavior to fluency is presented as a guide for teachers and parents. This model applies to a wide variety of skills and can…

This paper reviews several approaches used by special education teachers in collecting and maintaining pupil performance data. Techniques using work samples, graphs and charts, and audio or videotapes are discussed. A three-stage data maintenance system is outlined, and blank forms for recording student data are included for reproduction and use.…

This article presents a rationale and explanation of a personal profile assessment summary, a means of gathering, synthesizing, and conveying critical information about students with moderate and severe disabilities. A summary of information from a preliminary study on the use of personal profile summaries is included. (Contains references.)…

This article suggests detailed steps to assist in the construction and implementation of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) to track reading progress. Information includes how to construct and organize a CBM, how to administer and score a CBM, how to use the information for instructional changes, and how to use data collected to inform parents…

This article discusses effective preassessment team procedures for identifying students with special needs, including collecting comprehensive information about the student, documenting the student's problems, developing specific and detailed intervention plans, identifying support personnel to help implement the intervention plan, and…

Faculty questionnaires can be used by college personnel working with learning-disabled students to collect information essential for developing support services. A sample questionnaire on instructional methods and one on classroom adaptations are included. (DB)

This article provides guidelines for conducting culturally sensitive functional assessments by forming a diverse multidisciplinary team, employing culturally sensitive ways of selecting target behaviors, collecting data on students and their behavior, analyzing data and formulating hypotheses; and developing culturally responsive behavioral…