A middle-school French teacher describes her frustrated efforts to discipline students and plow through the curriculum. She finally realized her job was not to dominate her classroom, turn out French scholars, or win a popularity contest. She settled for helping a few kids "beyond this point." (MLH)

Examines the incidence of teasing/bullying in early childhood classrooms and how teachers' responses help determine the extent of teasing/bullying. Presents tips for addressing this behavior before it becomes ingrained, including talking about teasing/bullying, making classroom rules, offering noncompetitive games and quieting activities,…

Reviews the basic principles of behaviorology, beginning with the work of B.F. Skinner, examining how these principles can be applied in creating responsive learning environments and delineating a system of steps needed to transform an ineffective instructional situation, characterized by chronic failure, into a learning environment that is…

Parents' reports of their child-rearing expectations and intentions were measured for 184 low-income urban families when children were in the third and fifth grades. Parenting strategies were stable over time. Parenting strategies were related to measures of adjustment at school, behavior problems in the home, academic achievement, and…

Describes a solution-oriented approach to practice with middle and high school students who had been referred to the school social worker for academic or behavioral difficulties in the classroom. Similarities between the solution-focused model and social work and the importance of shaping individual behavior are discussed. Explains…

A study used the Questions about Behavior Function Scale to examine the functions of five severe problem behaviors (self-injurious behavior, aggression, stereotypies, pica, and rumination) in 417 institutionalized persons with mental retardation. The most common function for all behaviors except aggression was nonsocial. Aggression was maintained…

A survey of 404 parents of children with hearing impairments born in 1989 or 1990 found that parents favorably evaluated intervention programs and reported teachers to be helpful. Parents from minority groups and those with no college training reported their children showed more behavior problems and less language progress. (Author/CR)

Nineteen individuals with autism either listened to auditory integration training processed music or unprocessed music for 20 half-hour sessions. A significant decrease in Aberrant Behavior Checklist Scores was observed in the experimental group at the 30-month follow-up assessment. In addition, three experimental subjects but no controls showed a…

Analysis of National Survey of Families and Households data suggests that parental conflict is partly responsible for negative associations between divorce and child welfare (academic achievement, other school-related variables, delinquency, health, and psychological well-being). In some areas, marital relations prior to divorce apparently helps…

Reviews the DSM-IV criteria for conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), comparing their counterparts in DSM-III-R. Results from DSM-IV field trials indicate interrater and test-retest reliability were only marginally improved compared to prior criteria. Although overlooked in DSM-IV, community factors, gender differences,…

Dr. Mitchell Yell, an expert in special-education law, is interviewed on the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that will affect the discipline of students with disabilities. He addresses suspension and expulsion of students with disabilities, the required manifestation determination hearing, and…

This study examined effects of guided notes on the academic performance of seven adolescent males with learning and behavior problems, who were in a medium-security juvenile detention center. The students' academic performance improved and six of the seven students reported they preferred using guided notes. (Contains references.) (DB)

Discusses the problem of toddler biting behavior in child care settings. Describes reasons for biting by toddlers, recommends caregiver responses to toddler biting, presents tips for observing children to identify the biter's patterns, and outlines ways to prevent biting in child care settings. (KB)

Explored whether teacher feedback modified first and second graders' preferences and perceptions concerning a target child with behavior problems. Found that feedback had at least minimal effects at each level (liked, average, disliked) of the target's reputation. When combined with a liked reputation, positive and neutral-salient feedback…

Examined parenting efficacy, perceived control over failure in caregiving, and mothers' likely affective, attributional, and disciplinary reaction to inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and oppositional-defiant misbehaviors, as reported by mothers. Found that parenting efficacy and perceived control over failure may be unrelated cognitive…