The purpose of this article is to present findings from a case study of two urban elementary teachers' classroom management practices and students' interactions during science instruction. The two teachers had antithetical (i.e., one intrinsic, the other authoritarian) classroom management styles, yet substantial negative student classroom…

Refusing to be disheartened by all the negative press surrounding education today, Ms. Chenfeld travels the country and encounters one inspiring educator after another. In this article she tells four of their stories. The stories of the following educators are told: (1) Tom Tenerovich, a second grade teacher; (2) Cathy Arment, a first grade…

This article describes how the author finds a tool for behavior management in the special education teacher's classroom. The author had just began teaching a self-contained special education class of five-year-olds with developmental delays when a student hit her. In the moment, she chose to ignore it. However, ignoring him was a mistake--he…

If the headlines are any measure, it's been a dismal year for racial harmony on campus, with controversies erupting in Boulder, Colorado; Chicago, Illinois; and Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Jesus Trevino, associate provost and head of the Center for Multicultural Excellence at the University of Denver, says "unfortunately, it always seems to take a…

More than 2 decades ago, Hallahan and Kauffman and others suggested a cross-categorical approach to teaching students identified with high-incidence disabilities (i.e., emotional-behavioral disabilities, learning disabilities, and mild intellectual disabilities) because their behavioral and academic characteristics were seen to be more similar…

This article describes factors that teachers can use to create a task-involving motivational climate, discusses behavioral practices for increasing student compliance, and provides specific recommendations for addressing behavior concerns in the physical education setting. A good teaching philosophy built upon established principles is the best…

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an approach that teaches self-regulation, self-monitoring, and social skills in school settings. SEL has been shown to be an effective method of reducing negative social interactions and increasing academic achievement. This article relates the experiences of one intermediate school principal and her staff as…

This study examined the relations between school climate and school adjustment among 101 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) high school students and the moderating influence of social support on those relations. Students completed surveys to assess three aspects of the school climate (the school's exclusion/inclusion of LGB people, personal…

Psychotropic medications prescribed frequently to children and adolescents for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are reviewed. Pediatric pharmacological options based on double-blind, randomized studies are examined. We advocate that psychotropic medications be used only in conjunction with…

Student perceptions of what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate classroom behavior are affected by who is being asked. (Contains 3 tables.)

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is the process of identifying the events in the environment that consistently precede and follow challenging behavior. The use of FBA has increased significantly following the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1997, which mandated FBAs be conducted when children with…

Background: The shortage of teachers in England and Wales continues to be a high profile area of scrutiny. Particular subjects (including mathematics, science and English) are categorized by the Training and Development Agency (TDA) for schools as priority or shortage subjects, and London especially has experienced particular shortages in teacher…

An article by Ellie Ashford condensed from School Board News (Jun 28, 2005) is presented in this article. Proponents of mental health screening point to stories to illustrate the benefits of screening seemingly healthy teenagers. Yet, opposition to mental health screening is growing, with one school health expert calling it "as controversial…

The aim of this study is to compare substance use between urban and rural secondary school districts in Texas between 1998 and 2003. The differences were analyzed using chi-square and analysis of variance. The analysis found that rural schools had students who reported higher rates of use of tobacco, frequent binge drinking, and driving while…

The purpose of this study was to examine preservice and experienced teachers' ratings and comments on teacher effectiveness and student learning after observing videotaped music classes. Comparisons were made among experience levels of observers and between focus of attention of observation. Subjects for the study included college junior and…