Grading is one of a teacher's greatest challenges and most important professional responsibilities. However, few teachers have any formal training in grading methods, and most teachers have limited knowledge about the effectiveness of various grading practices. As a consequence, when teachers develop their grading policies, they typically reflect…

This study examined the emotional and behavioral adjustment of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in school and its relationship to post-injury academic performance and educational interventions. Teachers' ratings of child behavior and academic performance were collected during a prospective, longitudinal study of 53 children with severe…

Some people view bullying as a normal aspect of childhood; teachers who prevent bullying know that this is not true. Bullying is a deliberate act that hurts young victims, both emotionally and physically. Aside from the victims, bullying affects people around them by distracting, intimidating, and upsetting them. Basically, bullying in the…

The shift at the beginning of the year from the summer at home to the fall at school can be both an exciting and an anxious time for young children. Often, there is a fine line between the two emotions, with one considered positive and other negative. Awareness of how to manage these feelings in a teacher's group is essential to creating the right…

In this article, the author provides tips for teachers on how they can help children who make fun of others. These strategies include: (1) maintaining a united front; (2) being consistent in set policies; (3) setting boundaries; and (4) implementing a "kindness curriculum." In addition, a teacher may adopt just one rule in his/her classroom--by…

The terms ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are applied to several symptoms, including: difficulty in paying attention, distractibility, having a hard time following through on things, and sometimes over-activity and impulsivity. There are many different reasons why children have these symptoms.…

This article talks about how a middle school handled discipline, the consequences for students not living up to the school's behavioral expectations. Lack of a visible school response is interpreted by students as a moral void, a silence in which good and bad behavior have equal worth. To make the school's response to misbehavior visible to all…

Female students in community colleges have been classified into two distinct categories: those who enroll to take advantage of cost savings and streamlined requirements, and those who seek a safe-harbor as they enter higher education for a variety of reasons. Community colleges enroll substantial numbers of female students and must make a…

Drinking and driving is perhaps the most serious problem associated with heavy drinking among college students in the United States. In this study, the authors examined drinking locations prior to impaired driving in a college student sample. They administered the Impaired Driving Assessment to 91 college students identified as high risk for…

This study examines college students' beliefs about health, prescriptions, doctors, and the influence those beliefs have on adherence to prescribed medication regimens. After a brief review of attitudinal factors that influence adherence to prescription medicine directions, the authors discuss measurement issues and explain the reasons for their…

Extensive attention has been put on same-gender bullying. Yet, very little emphasis has been placed on an issue of growing concern, girls who bully boys. This article reviews characteristics of bullying; highlights the issue of female bullies who target males; and discusses anti-bullying strategies and practices for home, school, and community…

A common justification for state-sponsored merit scholarships like Georgia's HOPE program is to promote academic achievement. However, grade-based retention rules encourage other behavioral responses. Using longitudinal records of enrolled undergraduates at the University of Georgia between 1989 and 1997, we estimate the effects of HOPE on…

The authors examined the conditions that promote or discourage engagement in the classroom among kindergarten students. Engagement included learning behaviors (on-task behavior) and pro- and antisocial behavior. The authors examined 3 policy-manipulable features of kindergarten classrooms: (a) whether the class met for a half day or full day, (b)…

School refusal behavior is a common problem seen by mental health professionals and by educators but little consensus is available as to its classification, assessment, and treatment. This study assessed 143 youth with primary school refusal behavior and their parents to examine diagnoses that are most commonly associated with proposed functions…

This article describes the development of behavioral school care consultation services to public schools within a not-for-profit community behavioral health organization. An overview of the process of behavior consultation is presented. A description of the growth of behavioral school consultation services is outlined in regard to (a) the types of…