A study examined (1) whether student attitudes toward French as a second language (FSL) could be changed by classroom events occurring early in the school and (2) the relationship of expressed attitudes toward FSL learning and behaviors in the language classroom. (MSE)

Evaluation of the school adjustment of Down's Syndrome six- and seven-year-olds (N=8) who had participated in an early intervention program from birth indicated that the subjects were at least as attentive, compliant, socially integrated, and no more disruptive than nondisabled children. Teachers' attitudes ranged from very positive to very…

Examines home environments of children aged ten and eleven when they were six months and two years old. Significant correlations were observed between the home environments at two and ten years, children's achievement test scores, and classroom behavior. Home environment at six months was related to a minimal number of classroom behaviors. (RJC)

To counteract influences which encourage children and adolescents to smoke, schools can provide smoking prevention and cessation education and a supportive nonsmoking environment. This article suggests resources to develop such programs through student education, school and district policy, and/or governmental regulation. (Author/JL)

This study assessed the effects of an activity-centered health education program on the general health beliefs and self-reported behavior of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. This program and a more traditional, science text-based program, were compared. Methodology and results are reported. (JL)

Survey of 174 college students reveals that the ideas proposed by Becker, Geer, and Hughes (1968) apply to students in 1988: a Grade Point Average (GPA) orientation is translated into patterns of teacher evaluation, resource assessment, and test taking and studying behavior. (BJV)

Indicates that situational factors such as perceived novelty, subordinate status, conspicuousness, dissimilarity and prior history correlate significantly with public speaking anxiety. Presents a causal model based on a confluence of previous research and the results of the present study. Includes classroom implications.(NH)

A 1980 study of special education teachers' reports on the availability and usefulness of several types of assessment information for emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered students was replicated and results compared. Overall progress was found, with notable increases in availability for types that teachers consider educationally relevant,…

Examined the influence of problem severity, type of intervention, and student ethnicity on evaluations of classroom interventions by white and Mexican-American elementary school teachers (N=80). Data analysis revealed nonsignificant main effects, while teacher ethnicity x student ethnicity and student ethnicity x problem severity factors…

Process reinforcement is proposed as a reinforcement method that is more comfortable, personal, comprehensive, and interactive than traditional behavior modification. Process reinforcement strengthens desired behaviors by engaging learners in a one-on-one examination of how they achieved correct responses and by practicing comfortable eye contact…

Failure to solve school discipline problems is attributed to four factors: school district priorities, unclear problem dimensions, inadequate teacher training, and flaws in teacher/ administrator applied psychology. Psychological approaches that provide systems to control student behavior are described, including biophysical, interactionist, and…

Guidelines for effectively integrating learning-disabled or behavior problem students into regular classrooms are discussed. They include meetings between regular and special education teachers, class rules, discipline, clear directions, individualized instruction, direct instruction for skill acquisition, peer tutoring, structured activities,…

Research on gender differences in classroom interaction patterns is reviewed. The analysis of 24 Year 8 science lessons in Brisbane, Australia, indicates that the interaction patterns of girls are not significantly different from those of boys. Suggestions for future classroom interaction research based on more complex perspectives are proposed.…

Presents two methods of enhancing therapeutic relationships through having special education teachers observe and use students' verbal and nonverbal behaviors during social interactions. Discusses how teachers can identify students' predominant sensory modalities used to communicate experiences and can adopt behaviors similar to their students'…

Two self-report techniques assessed student behaviors before and after life-skills substance abuse prevention program for inner city seventh graders. Retrospective pretest/posttest technique demonstrated no significant changes in drug usage; traditional pretest/posttest indicated significant increases in tobacco use. Results support continued use…