Researchers have identified low-intensity classroom management strategies that, when implemented consistently, lead to significant improvements in student behavior. The strategies detailed in this special issue--behavior-specific praise, high-probability request sequence, precorrection, active supervision, instructional choice, and instructional…

New--and often veteran--teachers find managing significant inappropriate student behavior a formidable challenge. Although more severe inappropriate behaviors, such as aggression, often receive attention in the professional literature, survey research has shown that the high frequency of milder inappropriate behaviors (e.g., disruptions,…

A functional behavior assessment is a process for identifying events in the environment that reliably precede (i.e., antecedents) and follow (i.e., consequences) problem behavior. This information is used to develop an intervention plan. There are two types of antecedents--triggers and setting events. Triggers are antecedent events that happen…

This study evaluated the effects of an acceptability questionnaire on classroom aides' treatment integrity during implementation of behavioral intervention plans, using a multiple-probe-baseline across-participants design. Four classroom aides in a special education preschool classroom rarely used procedures recommended to manage the challenging…

Background: Challenging behaviour is a common problem among people with ID and in services for people with ID. This paper aims to provide an overview of the views and preferences of people with ID on challenging behaviour. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen adults with mild to moderate ID and seven proxies (family or…

The use of a tiered approach provides a structured format for increasing consistency across educators to address the diversity of student needs within a school. The same logic of providing a tiered continuum of evidence-based increasingly intensive supports that is characteristic of schoolwide multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) can be adapted…

This essay provides a broad overview of adverse childhood experiences and their impact on the middle level learner. The author finds points of intersection between current research on traumatized students and tenets of the middle level philosophy to make the argument for trauma informed practices that holistically serve young adolescents.

A precorrection is an antecedent-based instructional approach designed to reduce problem behavior before it occurs. Colvin, Sugai, and Patching (1993) outlined seven steps as part of precorrection strategy. The purpose of this study is to determine if two of the seven steps are necessary components of the intervention package to reduce…

The only consistency with children, with and without disabilities, is that they are inconsistent. Much of a child's behavior is adult controlled by their reaction, methods used, and consistency in support and discipline. When adults change the way they respond to the child's behaviors, the child gradually will learn to modify their behavior.…

Applied behavior analysis provides a technology of human behavior that demonstrates great potential for improving socially important outcomes for individuals. School-based consultation may provide a vehicle for delivering applied behavior analysis services in schools to address academic referral concerns. In this article, we propose that…

This column shares reflections or thoughtful opinions on issues of broad interest to the community. This month's issue describes examples of challenging student behavior and provides ideas to help confront this type of behavior.

This study examined whether participating in the ViSC social competence program is able to reduce different types of reported problem behaviors including bullying perpetration and victimization as well as promoting various social competencies in elementary school children. Two wave longitudinal self-report and teacher report data was available…

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is an effective intervention to reduce disruptive behavior. The GBG typically involves immediate stimulus presentation (e.g., delivery of a token) following disruptions; however, experimenters have also removed tokens contingent upon disruptions. In the present study, we compared the effects of the GBG-stimulus…

Exclusionary practices, including suspension, expulsions, and office discipline referrals, to student misbehavior, can have a lasting impact on student outcomes. School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) is a universal behavioral framework designed to support school personnel prevent and respond to challenging student…

How many times have you been stumped by a student's failure to learn? You tried everything in your tool kit, but nothing worked. Now what if there were a process that would help you pinpoint the student's specific need and design an action plan to swiftly remedy the problem? In "Solving Academic and Behavior Problems," Margaret Searle…