This paper discusses the outcomes of a study that examined social skills as a contextual factor of African American male students with and without behavior problems. Forty-four African American male students (grades 3-5) reported three placement designations: mainstreamed with learning disabilities, mainstreamed with emotional disturbances, or…

This action research project evaluated a program to improve students' ability to resolve conflicts. Many students of the targeted third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade classrooms lacked a well-defined sense of classroom community as well as the ability to resolve conflicts peaceably. Research indicated that specific skills needed to be taught. For this…

This book helps teachers develop personal plans of action to handle classroom discipline, offering progressive Plan A and Plan B strategies. Plan A strategies take seconds to implement. Plan B strategies take more time but are designed to turn around specific attitudes and behaviors. After an introduction, there are 9 chapters: (1) "Misbehaviors…

In 1996, North Carolina began a 5-year evaluation of alternative learning programs (ALPs). This report contains in-depth case studies of four ALPs during the 1996-97 school year. The ALPs were selected to represent different types of programs in the state, and include one middle school, two high school, and one elementary school programs. The case…

Much of this brief comes from the ERIC Digest on Zero Tolerance Policies (ERIC #: ED451579). State legislatures and school boards are adopting a growing number of zero-tolerance polices toward weapons, guns, and violence. Zero-tolerance polices are rules intended to address specific school-safety issues. Despite the controversies that it has…

A described intervention evaluates the effect of both a psychology course and the active service component of tutoring upon alienated underachieving adolescents and the elementary school pupils who receive their services. Results indicate that both the class and tutoring effectively improved the academic self-concept of the students. (Author/PN)

The authors examine the potential and the limitations of alternative schools for disruptive students by discussing positive features, such as small student-teacher ratio and enhancement of self-concept, and negative aspects, such as the tendency toward racial isolation and possible use as a tool for social control. (SK)

The shift in behavior therapy towards more cognitively oriented interventions in the treatment of behavior disorders in school children is reviewed. Recent applications of cognitive behavior modification have dealt with traditional academic concerns. (Author/MH)

Certain characteristics of schools make them adequate to the task of primary prevention of behavior disorders. Current preventative efforts center on two strategies: modification of school environments and competence building. Implications for school psychologists are discussed. (Author/MH)

The potential impacts of secondary school overcrowding upon student attitudes, behavior, and academic performance, and student-teacher, administrator interactions comprise the essential content of the paper. A review of current literature is presented. Implications and a discussion of possible alternatives to school overcrowding conclude this…

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,…

Studied the extent to which types of after-school care in grades one, three, and five predict behavioral adjustment and academic performance in grade six. Found that higher amounts of self care predicted poorer adjustment, particularly for children displaying behavior problems in kindergarten or not participating in adult-supervised…

Evaluated the group treatment program Helping Encourage Affect Regulation (HEAR), developed for parents of children with symptoms of excessive aggression and noncompliance. Found significant improvements in measures of child symptoms, including level of aggression and parent-child interactions, especially parent sensitivity, intrusiveness, and…

A study involving 17 elementary school teachers investigated the effects of directly training teachers in problem-solving skills to enhance their performance on a consultation-related activity (parent-teacher conferences) regarding student-related problems. Results found the direct training enhanced the teachers' skills in describing students'…

Details several instructional strategies for dealing with behavior problems in art education classrooms. These include establishing rules and procedures, structuring routine activities and procedures, monitoring student behavior, using a preplanned approach for dealing with misbehavior, and reflective teaching. (MJP)