American schools are faced with complex and deep-rooted challenges such as poverty, discrimination, weak school-family relationships, low student motivation, and high student mobility. These challenges must be overcome if children and youth are to meet their needs for belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity; experience social competence…

Many school personnel are becoming increasingly frustrated with the impact of student behavior on their schools. More than ever, the public perception is that student behavior is out of control. Although isolated instances of violence (e.g., school shootings) contribute to this perception, people are most concerned with the lack of discipline and…

Much has been written about the adaptation from criminology of the "Broken Windows" theory of order maintenance in successful urban educational models. Yet, the manner in which the theory is written and discussed often misses the nuances and feel of the theory as successfully applied. This misunderstanding has lead to its conflation with the "Zero…

Classroom management strategies designed to improve problem behavior directly affect student achievement. Researchers have demonstrated positive behavior supports (PBS) can reduce problem behavior. However, researchers have also found evidence that PBS may not always be successful and further studies are needed to improve the use of PBS as a…

A range of interventions exist to prevent and respond to disruptive classroom behavior. This study documents the efficacy of a function-based intervention conducted using a multiple baseline across settings design. Despite moderately variable levels of treatment fidelity, results suggest a functional relation between the introduction of a package…

Initiatives to stop school bullying often prescribe counseling for the bullies. However, specific strategies for the counseling of bullies are not well defined. To succeed in stopping the aggressive behavior of bullies, school counselors must first understand the needs and motivations behind the behavior. This article distinguishes the…

The prevailing concern for teacher and student accountability in education and increasing problems with student discipline have led some schools to adopt a single model of classroom discipline. For example, in one district in Florida, Lee Canter's model of assertive discipline, a behavioristic approach to classroom management, was mandated for use…

This study evaluated the effects of covert positive reinforcement (CPR) on a nine-year old, third-grade student who was causing a classroom disturbance. There was an immediate improvement in three target behaviors following the implementation of CPR by the school psychologist. (Author)

Presents a personal anecdote illustrating how a teacher learned to control an attention-seeking student who was disruptive in the classroom. (MD)

Is there more disruptive behaviour in schools today? The simple answer to this often asked question is probably yes. But the reasons lie more outside teenagers than inside. For too many teachers there can be an attitude of: "I was a teenager once, therefore I know what it is like." We all develop in a unique time and the issues are unique to that…

Schools throughout New Jersey are embracing character education programs. A study conducted in the fall and winter of 2001-2002 at a school in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, assessed student behavior over a 20-week period, focusing on four classes of second graders (n=75) during their recess period. Surveys addressing student communication and…

Timeout from positive reinforcement is frequently used by special educators for dealing with undesired student behavior. Six types, or levels, of response contingent timeout found in the literature are as follows: planned ignoring, reduction of response maintenance stimuli, planned ignoring plus restraint, contingent observation, exclusion, and…

Three behavioral approaches to the management of behavior problems in the classroom are discussed. (PHR)

Urges community psychologists to act as behavioral ecological matchmakers--a role entailing identifying individuals or groups desiring behavioral change and linking the target participants with networks of settings analyzed previously as facilitating the specified changes. (Author/DB)

In this exploratory study, the communicative process in conjoint behavioral consultation was investigated with a coding system designed to measure two dimensions of communication (i.e., influence and involvement). Results indicated that CBC meetings were characterized by a high degree of affiliation among participants; however, few significant…