This study evaluated the effects of covert positive reinforcement (CPR) on a nine-year old, third-grade student who was causing a classroom disturbance. There was an immediate improvement in three target behaviors following the implementation of CPR by the school psychologist. (Author)

Presents a personal anecdote illustrating how a teacher learned to control an attention-seeking student who was disruptive in the classroom. (MD)

Is there more disruptive behaviour in schools today? The simple answer to this often asked question is probably yes. But the reasons lie more outside teenagers than inside. For too many teachers there can be an attitude of: "I was a teenager once, therefore I know what it is like." We all develop in a unique time and the issues are unique to that…

Schools throughout New Jersey are embracing character education programs. A study conducted in the fall and winter of 2001-2002 at a school in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, assessed student behavior over a 20-week period, focusing on four classes of second graders (n=75) during their recess period. Surveys addressing student communication and…

Timeout from positive reinforcement is frequently used by special educators for dealing with undesired student behavior. Six types, or levels, of response contingent timeout found in the literature are as follows: planned ignoring, reduction of response maintenance stimuli, planned ignoring plus restraint, contingent observation, exclusion, and…

Three behavioral approaches to the management of behavior problems in the classroom are discussed. (PHR)

Urges community psychologists to act as behavioral ecological matchmakers--a role entailing identifying individuals or groups desiring behavioral change and linking the target participants with networks of settings analyzed previously as facilitating the specified changes. (Author/DB)

In this exploratory study, the communicative process in conjoint behavioral consultation was investigated with a coding system designed to measure two dimensions of communication (i.e., influence and involvement). Results indicated that CBC meetings were characterized by a high degree of affiliation among participants; however, few significant…

Doctors increasingly use psychiatric medications to treat children and adolescents who have psychosocial difficulties. Briefly describes the most commonly prescribed medications for the following categories: (1) inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity; (2) depression, obsessions, and anxiety; and (3) severe aggression and out-of-control…

To reduce problem behaviors in the classroom, teachers should emphasize the desired behaviors they want students to exhibit, through differential reinforcement of zero rates of behaviors, incompatible behaviors, lower rates of behavior, and communicative behaviors. This paper discusses the advantages of differential reinforcement, potential…

Investigates whether a well-defined coaching process used at the moment of anger will help students internalize the cognitive processes learned in counseling sessions and enable them to use the anger management strategies independent of coaching. Offers school counselors reasons to implement such a model as an adjunct to individual or small group…

Aggressive and violent behaviors are increasing among today's students. Some children maintain consistently high levels of aggressiveness that affect them academically and socially. Abundant technology exists for assessment and intervention, and it should be used on a schoolwide basis as part of early intervention. The paper describes two types of…

Teachers of young children are concerned about biting. While it is unusual for a preschooler to bite, biting is still within the range of normal behaviors a 3- or 4-year-old may exhibit. Children at this young age have neither sophisticated language nor refined social skills, so they tend to express their wants physically. This article discusses…

An increasing number of students diagnosed with difficulties such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Asperger?s syndrome are being seen in schools. Sensory integration difficulties may be part of the symptomatology of these disorders. These difficulties may result in difficulties with both classroom behaviors and academic performance.…

Functional behavior assessment (FBA) is an integral component of a positive behavior support approach to preventing problem behavior across all students in the school. As primary prevention, FBA is a collaborative school-wide practice to predict common problems and to develop school-wide interventions. As secondary prevention, FBA involves simple…