Describes how to handle noncompliant students in the classroom. Suggestions include eliminating excessive expectations, encouraging assertiveness, offering options and choices, giving the students specific responsibilities, taking control of homework, taking steps to avert potentially oppositional behavior, strategically rewarding compliance,…

Pullout pages provide suggestions for teaching elementary students at all levels about the wonders of human ingenuity. The suggestions help students see that great ideas come from the need to solve real-life problems and that one great idea leads to another, so current inventions help predict future inventions. (SM)

The article describes a program used to increase the self esteem of children with learning problems. (CD)

Discusses six proactive strategies to help teachers improve classroom discipline: (1) move around the room; (2) teach social skills; (3) have a sense of humor; (4) don't personalize unruly behavior; (5) look for causes of discipline problems; and (6) promote student responsibility. (SM)

Five suggestions help parents teach their children to make decisions: give children tasks and choices that encourage a feeling of competence; allow children to share their opinions; give children weekly allowances and let them decide how to spend it; have children plan specific activities; and involve children in family councils. (SM)

A first-year elementary teacher explains how she helped a slow learner work up to her potential. Two experts suggest strategies for teaching slow learners: setting up an at-risk program; peer tutoring; adapting teaching to the learner's capabilities; and understanding individual learning styles. (SM)

Classroom discipline methods are changing with the times. Assertive Discipline is a 20-year-old program designed to help teachers successfully manage students' behavior. In the 1990s, it involves building a rapport with students and creating a discipline plan at the same time. The paper details the basic principles of the Assertive Discipline…

The Positive Classroom Management program trains teachers to mean business without being dragged into fruitless power struggles and student backtalk. The program helps teachers learn to take control of the situation by remaining calm, thinking before speaking, and using effective body language. (SM)

Presents a framework for teaching upper elementary students about assertiveness: teaching them differences between passive, aggressive, and assertive behavior; encouraging role playing; discussing when assertive behavior is appropriate; constantly reinforcing the lessons; and teaching alternatives. Tips for assertive communication are provided.…

The article presents several activities designed to sharpen students' listening and observation skills and help them practice finding and evaluating alternatives to classroom conflicts and conflicts they may encounter elsewhere. Activities include solution skits, role playing, reading and writing conflict stories, and making comic strips. (SM)

Discusses what teachers should do when older elementary students lie. Guidelines for handling the situation are presented along with suggestions for making children feel good about telling the truth. Three activities for encouraging truthfulness in the classroom are suggested. (SM)

A middle school teacher describes a situation where a student repeatedly stole money from her desk. Her response was to have a custodian hide, catch the student in the act, then have her suspended. Another teacher and a psychologist present their views of the situation, recommending alternative intervention and discipline. (SM)

Describes a difficult sixth grade girl who spent her elementary school years fighting to feel happy. The article focuses on a teacher's efforts to raise the child's self-esteem by examining her home life then taking appropriate steps to encourage success (e.g., tutoring younger students). (SM)

Over 100,000 teachers and 200,000 students are physically assaulted each year. Teachers must be prepared to deal with school violence. Suggestions for defusing potentially violent situations include appear calm, observe closely, speak carefully, don't lie, ask appropriate questions, avoid confrontational language and actions, and separate the…