This Research Action Brief describes five studies designed to test techniques for decreasing disruptive student conduct in the secondary school classroom. The two behavior modification studies discussed showed strong positive results. Questions remain, however, concerning the permanence of behavior changes that are dependent on reward systems and…

This document describes the work of the Pupil Services Branch of the Maryland State Department of Education in its efforts to assist school districts and individual schools in the state in examining the causes of student disruption and in developing programs that are aimed at impacting disruptive students and creating more effective schools. A…

Intended for parenting classes of parents of young children having difficulty with discipline, this leader's guide and videotape paint a dramatic picture of the wrong way to discipline children and give clear practical ideas of how to talk to children using encouragement and effective reprimands to change behavior. The first part of the guide…

This study compares three six-week programs for weight control that were followed by several booster sessions and a 15-week followup. Although subjects in all programs showed significant weight losses (an average of 8.1 pounds for the 22 weeks), no significant differences between groups emphasizing stimulus control, reinforcement or general…

Classroom management is discussed in terms of effective instruction, successful group management, maximum use of space, time, and resources, meaningful discipline, student rights, and change strategies. The discussion of effective instruction stresses appropriateness, completeness, clarity, and a variety of lessons. Techniques for successful group…

Parents who abuse their children are found to lack adequate knowledge of child development and child rearing, and to exhibit a tendency toward more negative and less positive parent-child interactions and a tendency for anger responses to occur in every day child rearing situations. The Institute for Mental Health Initiatives (IMHI) pilot tested a…

This case study of a project designed to change a junior high school's approach to discipline focuses on the change facilitators' interventions in implementing the innovation. Data assessing how teachers change are presented and discussed in relation to the intervention data. (JMF)

This second article of a two-part series describes how success counseling techniques can be used to handle discipline problems by helping campers to accept personal responsibility and develop effective problem-solving skills. Instead of using punishment, success counseling techniques enable campers to recognize what they want, identify appropriate…

This Boys' Town paper for parents examines the reactive aggression of children who respond aggressively to what they view as provocation. The paper differentiates between reactive and proactive aggression by presenting examples of each. Factors that can increase aggression in families are noted, including punishment acceleration, crossover,…

Schools in the Eugene, Oregon, area are participating in the Peaceable Educational Practices (PEP) project, which identifies research-based best practices for reducing school violence. Three general strategies include school data collection, schoolwide policies and programs, and tailoring strategies to the school. PEP schools have seen a dramatic…

Every child has "ornery" moments, but more than 1 in 20 American children exhibit behavioral problems that are out of control. This book was written to help parents struggling with an unyielding or combative child. The book's eight-step program emphasizes consistency and cooperation, promoting changes through a system of praise, rewards,…

Parents' use of logical consequences to their children's misbehavior can be an effective component of child rearing. Noting parents' need for a resource providing information on effective consequences, this book discusses the importance and use of consequences as a guidance tool for parents to use with children. The book lists common misbehaviors…

This paper reviews various discipline models and applies them to obtaining cooperation and compliance with medical treatment of children with chronic and acute medical conditions, especially End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The definition of Other Health Impairments in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is cited and related to the…

This report describes a program that was designed to identify and modify disruptive student behavior and improve academic performance. The targeted fifth grade class had been noted for inappropriate behavior and sporadic academic success, with problems documented by teacher observation surveys and self-reporting by students. Probable causes…

Based on the belief that all children need some kind of discipline when they misbehave, this book presents Time-In, a 4-part discipline process that helps parents and teachers connect with children, teach them to solve their own problems, and become responsible for the outcomes of their actions and attitudes. The four disciplinary tools are: (1)…