This practicum describes a method developed to address a high school problem involving grade 9-12 students who verbally and/or physically abused other students. In order to enable these students to interact appropriately, without abusive behaviors, a structured support group curriculum was written, the high school administrative staff and a…

This practicum project implemented and evaluated an 8-month program designed to reduce negative behaviors among first- through fifth-grade students. Counseling referrals, student interviews, and faculty surveys indicated that the negative behaviors of gossip, name calling, and exclusion of fellow students from class and play activities were…

Counselors at one middle school would see the same students repeatedly for disruptive behavior in the classroom. The counselors' efforts did not appear to reduce these repetitive referrals. This study used group counseling to address the maladaptive behavior of the students and to improve their self-esteem. Students were selected by six teachers…

This practicum report describes a program in which strategies for improving self-managing behavior skills of second graders were designed and implemented. The goals of the Self-Management and Responsibility Training (SMART) Program were to improve students' behavior and encourage development of students' critical thinking skills. The four basic…

A practicum project implemented a program designed to reduce negative behavior in the hallways and cafeteria of an urban middle school. The objectives of this program were to reduce by 15% the number of infractions in the cafeteria and in the hallway and to reduce by 15% the number of students suspended out of school. The target population was a…

This action research project implemented and evaluated a 12-week program using cooperative learning and Multiple Intelligences to increase student motivation for learning. The targeted population consisted of elementary and middle school students in a low-socioeconomic community in northern Illinois. The problem of motivation was documented in the…

This practicum was designed to reduce the instances of negative behavior exhibited by students in a special education setting. Various interventions were initiated and implemented, such as engaging students in conflict resolution workshops, involving student in extracurricular activities so as to help them use leisure time constructively, and…

Many Native American communities have high rates of alcoholism. Children growing up in alcoholic families often exhibit co-dependent or para-alcoholic behaviors, which place them at high risk of educational failure. The Love Bug model was designed to encourage culturally appropriate self-expression and to promote self-love and detachment from…

A practicum project was developed and implemented to reduce the incidents of aggressive behavior and impulsive actions among kindergarten students by means of win-win situations for conflict resolution. The objectives for the program were to achieve: (1) a 25 percent decrease of impulsive and aggressive behavior; (2) 50 percent of the target group…

This practicum project addressed the need to improve antisocial behavior in disruptive elementary school children, using a skill deficit perspective. Six student participants were selected on the basis of a high number of school suspensions and their identification as disrespectful, confrontational, and self-absorbed, as well as behaviors that…

The behavior and rehearsal habits of elementary level instrumental music students were addressed by the implementation of a behavior contract and computer managed recordkeeping system. A contract was developed following the principles of the "Assertive Discipline" system. Rewards and incentives were used to reinforce positive student behavior.…

A 12-week program was developed and implemented with the purpose of utilizing classical literature to encourage prosocial skills in eight students, with aggressive and violent behaviors, residing in a private residential treatment center. The program was initiated in response to the increasingly high numbers of student attacks on mental health…

An intervention with six elementary-aged students with behavioral disorders was designed to increase positive attitudes toward school and learning, to improve self-esteem and empowerment, and to decrease inappropriate behaviors. The Foxfire pedagogy was used to achieve academic goals and to empower students. Students identified characteristics of…

A 10-week program to increase assignment completion was implemented with 10 sixth graders who rarely completed assignments. This behavior modification program entailed the use of an assignment completion contract for the students. The criteria for meeting this contract increased each week. When students met the weekly criteria, they were given a…

This practicum report describes a 15-day in-room suspension strategy designed to reduce the increasing number of principal-initiated student suspensions resulting from inappropriate conduct. The program's distinguishing features entailed a central figure who predetermined the candidates by means of a pre-suspension interview, parental-student…