A teacher cites her positive experiences with a pupil whose school record reported severe behavior problems to argue that teachers should not read student records until they have formed their own impressions of each student. Teachers should also be very careful and clear about what they write into students' records. (CB)

This ready-reference pull-out folder focuses on student discipline, discussing how to stop problems before they start, discipline in 1995 versus discipline in 1975, individual discipline style, steps to improving problem behavior, and resources for further information. (SM)

A teacher discusses classroom management techniques, explaining that discipline tends to involve the teacher maintaining his/her position of authority rather than creating a democratic community and noting that threats and bribes buy short-term behavior change but do not help students develop a commitment to positive values. (SM)

Total quality management is a business-oriented theory being applied to education as total quality learning (TQL). TQL lets students take responsibility for their learning; believes that everyone can learn; and makes students, teachers, parents, and administrators colleagues in learning. The paper describes one teacher's experiences with TQL. (SM)

Presents strategies that involve students in managing their own classrooms. The ideas include a teacher's mailbox for student suggestions, a classroom bill of rights and responsibilities, class jobs, an evaluation calendar, a bulletin board company, and an advice-to-the-teacher card. A student page offers an evaluation calendar. (SM)

Second-grade teacher explains the benefits of student portfolios in his classroom. Besides providing a complete picture of students' academic abilities, portfolios allow students to reflect on their work. The article explains how students help choose work samples for their portfolios and describes the quarterly teacher-student portfolio…

Active learning strategies help teachers grab students' attention and keep it. Three suggested learning strategies include the think, share, and learn method; the practice, instruct, and review method; or the whip around and pass method. The article offers resources for further information on active learning. (SM)

Presents positive strategies to help teachers turn behavior problems in the classroom around. Suggestions include looking for the good rather than the bad, avoiding negative labels, seeking coaches and avoiding critics, and working with parents. A list of 10 steps to success are provided. (SM)

Classroom discipline methods are changing with the times. Assertive Discipline is a 20-year-old program designed to help teachers successfully manage students' behavior. In the 1990s, it involves building a rapport with students and creating a discipline plan at the same time. The paper details the basic principles of the Assertive Discipline…

Describes the classroom life of Will, a kindergartner with fetal alcohol syndrome. The teacher met with the parents, the principal, and a support committee to determine how to handle Will's erratic behavior. A classroom aide provided Will with one-on-one assistance and helped him acquire appropriate social skills. (SM)

Despite the women's movement, there is still gender inequality in the schools, often because boys and girls are treated differently in school. The article discusses the various forms of gender inequality, presents nine steps to a bias-free classroom, and looks at the move toward gender equality. (SM)

This article presents insights from teachers nationwide who have experimented with writing workshops, describing what they see as the essential elements to their success (setting the tone, teacher-student and student-student communication, reflective thinking, high expectations, modeling from favorite authors, and working hard). Software, classic…

Students choose their own behavior, and teachers have the power to influence their choices. This article describes cooperative discipline and offers three strategies for positively influencing students' behavior: identifying the behavior, dealing with misbehavior immediately, and providing some encouragement. Resources for further information are…

Petty teasing, joking, and bullying at school can have devastating effects on students, leading to violent and disastrous consequences for both perpetrators and victims. The article makes suggestions for how educators can take a proactive stance to prevent a climate that allows bullying and harassment to flourish. (SM)

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,…