Presents information to facilitate a one- to two-hour training session for teachers, other professionals, and parents on how to use peer tutoring to empower children and youth who exhibit challenging behaviors. Defines peer tutoring and presents what research reveals about best practices. Lays down steps for developing and implementing a peer…

A study investigated how providing choice opportunities to children (ages 5-9) with autism impacted their performance during teacher-assigned homework activities. Results showed that providing the students with opportunities to make choices regarding the order to task completion and use of stimulus materials improved participants' accuracy,…

This article summarizes articles related to functional assessment and its applications for individuals with problem behaviors. The research indicates functional assessment procedures have been established as a standard assessment tool that identifies environmental variables related to problem behaviors with links to the development of effective…

This article reviews recent advances in the "new genetics" and shows how such advances affect special education. Focusing on Williams, Fragile X, Prader-Willi, and Down syndromes, it notes how etiology-related cognitive-linguistic profiles and propensities to distinct personalities and behavior problems point the way to specific,…

Notes that neurobehavioral problems from exposure to lead and other toxins can be observed at doses far below those that cause more obvious signs of exposure. Calls for refining tests of cognitive and developmental skills in exposed children, identifying additional contaminants and mechanisms for behavioral effects, and improving dose- repose…

Describes a study assessing factors for developing a safer environment in an urban elementary school. Found that teachers wanted more student support, more resources, and less work pressure; that work conservation strategies to decrease work pressure led to student aggression; that teacher reluctance to share resources created more behavior…

The effects of combining positive behavior supports and person-centered planning on the problem behavior and general education participation of three students (ages 6-8) were examined. Two of the students increased or maintained high levels of general education participation and showed decreases in problem behavior. (Contains references.)…

Manifestation determination is a mandated provision for deciding whether a student's misbehavior is related to his disability and, consequently, whether cessation of services is allowed. This article critiques this provision by reviewing relevant case law and legislation, examining the mandate's social context, and questioning the validity of…

This article presents two case examples to demonstrate how teachers can use functional behavioral assessment (FBA) to design behavior support plans. FBA helps a second grade "class clown" to learn new ways to get attention and a first grade "class lawyer" to learn to stop arguing and stay on task (with the help of an electronic record keeping…

Examined affectively-charged moral narratives and attachment-related narratives of preschoolers. Found that, after controlling for child age, gender, SES, and expressive language ability, children with more externalizing problems were more likely to describe aggressive themes, and less likely to mention adult aid or taking responsibility for…

Examined gender differences in effects of menarche in females and voice change in males, specifically with regard to depression, self-esteem, body image, and externalizing problems. Analyses indicated prepubertal males had more externalizing problems and females increased in depression, externalizing problems, and negative body image post…

Advocates separating the curriculum of deviance from criminological theory. Offers descriptions of a deviance course (introductory material, theories and issues in rule-making, and understanding rule-breaking behavior) and a criminological theory course (introductory discussion, theory focusing on the individual and social context, and critical…

Examined relations between mothers' expressed positive and negative emotion and 55- to 79-month-olds' regulation, social competence, and adjustment. Structural equation modeling revealed unique effects of positive and negative maternal expressed emotion on children's regulation, and the relations of maternal expressed emotion to children's…

An alternative public school in Atlanta (Georgia) for expelled, violent, and adjudicated youth from grades 4-12 is described. Challenge courses and adventure initiatives are used to develop self-awareness, trust, empathy, communication, character, problem solving, conflict resolution, and leadership skills that translate into improved academic…

This article presents results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results, which may assist in developing appropriate intervention/prevention programs, indicate a critical age for involvement in risk behaviors, gradual increase in risk behaviors over time, and gender differences in risk behaviors. (BF)