This paper addresses the training of health workers to become more effective communicators and teachers in third world countries. The first part introduces the health worker to the traditional medicine and cultural beliefs of third world people. Part two on educational psychology deals with helping the health worker manage people's resistance to…

A set of practical behavior change techniques for improving young children's classroom behavior are briefly discussed. Techniques are classified and discussed under two general categories: those that reduce frequency of behaviors ("sticks") and those that increase their frequency ("carrots"). Included under "sticks" are techniques such as ignoring…

Intended primarily for regular education teachers, the book discusses the education of mainstreamed children with emotional, learning, and behavior problems. The first section addresses some of the critical issues that have to be taken into account in designing services for such children, including determining goals, defining the population, and…

This book offers an alternative set of goals for physical education focusing on human needs and values rather than on fitness and sport skill development per se. The first chapter provides an overview of goals and strategies that respond to the trends in society that currently confront students. Descriptions are given of the developmental levels…

B.F. Skinner applied his concept of operant conditioning to education. Skinner believed that people acted the way they did because they had been reinforced for behaving in a certain manner. His orientation to pedagogy was predicated upon the notion that a student's behavior could be modified by guiding the student through the learning process…

The performance of five students (ages 6 to 10) in an adjustment class for deaf children was compared under fixed and variable ratio schedules of reinforcement. During the VR condition, students visually attended more and engaged in disruptive behavior less often than during the FR condition. (Author)

Tips for working with students who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder include putting them in charge of something, providing structure, giving feedback, using logical consequences for unwanted behavior, being patient, teaching in novel ways, helping them with their gear, pairing them with another student, allowing blow-out time, and…

The historical development of special education in Germany is summarized. Four cognitive teaching methods for special education are described: cognitive behavior modification with a focus on problem solving and metacognition, intelligence training based on inductive thinking, application of Piagetian concepts, and dynamic testing. (Author/JDD)

Briefly described is Project Impact, a British project which (1) developed and evaluated a modular diploma for teachers of students with special educational needs; (2) developed and evaluated short courses on special educational needs; and (3) conducted a follow-up study of a course on behavioral methods of teaching students with severe learning…

The use of cognitive behavior modification is suggested to remediate problems of illiteracy with deaf students. The discussion focuses on the costs of illiteracy among deaf youth; intervention to improve academic performance; self-efficacy and academic achievement; Vygotsky's zone of proximal development and the concept of scaffolded instruction;…

Describes strong empirical support for the efficacy of behavioral interventions for ADHD and much less than expected support for cognitive behavioral interventions. Asserts that literature suggests that children with ADHD are better suited to highly structured, teacher-centered, well-managed classrooms. Describes reluctance of some teachers to…

This article discusses the contributions of applied behavior analysis (ABA) in effective instruction of students with autism spectrum disorders. Emphasis is on the use of antecedent interventions and curriculum-based assessment. It also notes that the principles and methods of ABA are being integrated into routine educational procedures, including…

In spring 1994, the author was hired to be the assistant principal at McLoughlin Middle School in Medford, Oregon. Disciplinary referrals in the 804-student school were on the rise. Teachers were frustrated, students were anxious, and parents were concerned. Casting about for a solution, she heard about a two-day workshop on schoolwide discipline…

Education professionals consistently rank disruptive/aggressive student behavior as persistent and troubling, reporting various types of maladaptive behaviors ranging from talking out in class to assault. Researchers suggest that childhood aggression accounts for a high proportion of the referrals to special education for emotional and behavioral…

Two staff members working in different preschools received training in the form of instructions, modeling, immediate feedback, and social reinforcement of good performance. Effects of training were assessed with a multiple baseline ABCDCDCD design. Correct use of basic behavioral teaching techniques increased from 16-31% to 92-95% and the rate of…