Children with autism spectrum disorder may experience different levels of social and behavior deficits in the early elementary years. Behavioral deficits may impact the development of appropriate interpersonal problem-solving skills and peer acceptance, supporting the need for instructional support. This column discusses the implementation of a…

Writing can be a method of expression for those who cannot or do not feel comfortable expressing themselves verbally. For students with disabilities, however, writing can be a challenging task because they often fail to see writing as a process. This article examines how to use the self-regulated strategy development model of writing, an…

As many educators can attest, the quality of teacher-student relationships often has enormous impact on student success at every level. When teacher-student relationships improve, concurrent improvements in classroom behavior such as reductions in aggression and increases in compliance with rules can be expected. Students have also shown…

Recent legislation has increased the emphasis on including students with disabilities in the general education classroom. However, students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exhibit a wide range of behaviors that make inclusion difficult. To date, there has been little research to identify best practices in reducing problem behavior and…

Many students with emotional and behavioral disabilities do not receive the social skills training required for success in inclusive school settings or life after graduation. Teachers often cite lack of training and motivation as factors explaining this. This article describes a teaching sequence that enables students to create and utilize their…

This article describes interventions available for remediating the social and personal problems of students with learning disabilities. Problems are categorized as environmental conflicts or personal disturbances. Interventions described include contingency management, cognitive-behavioral interventions, social skills training, stimulant…

Discusses strategies for teaching social skills to children with learning and behavior problems, including how to select students for training, which social skills to use, teaching discrete skills and problem-solving routines, and helping students generalize training. Different types of social skills and assessment approaches are identified.…

A school audit is described, based on the PeaceBuilders program, which helps to create a more peaceful school environment. A research-driven violence prevention program, PeaceBuilders has identified characteristics that help in creating this environment, such as common language, positive stories and behavior posters, daily rewards, group rewards,…

The Yes I Can Social Inclusion Program fosters the development and maintenance of social relationships of students with and without developmental disabilities by helping them to overcome negative behaviors and increase interpersonal skills. A sample lesson plan is included. Two case studies illustrate the program's effects on socially isolated…

This article discusses social behaviors related to success in school and offers practical suggestions for helping students with social-behavioral deficits to master them. Skills and subskills relating to peer relationships, work habits, and general coping are discussed. A teacher rating scale for assessing these skills is included. (PB)

This article identifies the components of school programs necessary for preventing physical or emotional "bullying." The need for a systems approach that places power with the "caring majority" and encourages the assertive use of prosocial interventions is stressed, along with the importance of training all school staff and non-bullying students.…