Functional behavior assessment (FBA), although mandated by federal law in situations involving students with emotional and behavioral disorders, is not well defined in the literature in terms of how it should best be undertaken in widespread practice in schools. Functional behavior assessment can be defined as a process for determining the reason…

This article explains how cooperative-learning behaviors can be taught systematically and directly to students with behavior disorders using a four-step procedure in conjunction with an enhanced cooperative-learning environment to encourage generalization. Application with five primary grade students is reported. (DB)

The unintentional and unrecognized use of aversive stimuli that increase student escape and avoidance responses may contribute to educational problems of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Sources of aversive stimuli present in many classrooms include interactions between students and teachers, academic activities offered, and…

This article reviews what teachers can do to prevent aggressive behavior in students with emotional and behavioral disorders. It considers the dynamics of aggression, the role of the therapeutic teacher, creation of the positive classroom climate, functional assessment, and teaching alternative behaviors. (DB)

Reviews literature on classroom environment from 1980 onward. Emphasizes elementary settings and students with behavioral deficits. Discusses structure and organization of classrooms, the cognitive process, student and teacher characteristics, and student outcomes. Concludes that research has shifted from cognitive outcomes in the classroom to…

Prevention and problem solving approaches to behavior management in classrooms for behaviorally disordered (BD) students are reviewed. Attention is focused on positive strategies teachers can use to manage inappropriate behavior and to teach students alternative appropriate behaviors. The following components of prevention that contribute to a…

This study examined classroom life of children with behavioral/emotional disorders in self-contained classrooms. Site visits were made to 26 programs, and 200 parents responded to questionnaires. Despite visible mainstreaming efforts, results indicated gaps in quality of classroom life, amount of attention on students' mental health needs, and…

Provides teachers with basic information needed to prevent and manage aggressive children and youth, specifically, information on stages of crises (frustration stage, defensiveness stage, aggression stage, and self-control stage), effective strategies for each stage, and prevention strategies designed specifically for public school classrooms.…

Phase I of this study sought to identify the specific social skills that 21 teachers of students with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and nine regular education teachers deemed as essential for successful classroom functioning. Subjects were asked to list such behaviors in four categories: environmental behaviors, interpersonal behaviors,…

This article addresses effective techniques for teaching students with emotional disturbances and/or behavior disorders in group settings. Three stages of group development are described with specific teaching strategies for each stage identified and related to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, including needs for safety and trust, belonging and…

Intended for teachers of students with behavior problems, this manual provides information on developing and maintaining a positive classroom environment and managing specific behavioral difficulties. Major emphasis is placed on the importance of encouraging affective development among all students. The manual's first section addresses effective…

Two studies on reintegration of behaviorally disordered (BD) students into general education classroom are presented. Part I, by S. Huntze, considers five basic assumptions underlying the concept of reintegration and the following five areas that need to be considered when matching student and classroom environment: physical setting, academic…

This monograph is intended to help special educators design social behavior curricula that teach alternative or replacement behaviors for negative behaviors to students with emotional/behavior disorders (E/BD). Each section contains a brief description of a behavior replacement technique, an explanation of why a particular technique works,…

This paper discusses the overuse of medications to deal with attention deficit disorder (ADD) in the classroom, offering suggestions related to teaching strategies, classroom environment, school environment, and home environment to help keep students' attention without resorting to medication. A chart shows the difference between ADD and other…

Ten modules for training paraprofessionals who work in classrooms for students with emotional handicaps address the following topics: (1) awareness of emotionally handicapped (EH) students and the educational programs and services designed to meet their needs (assessment, evaluation, the individualized education program, case conferences, social…