A Special Behavior Unit provided short-term residential treatment to persons with mental retardation who displayed severe maladaptive behavior. Program evaluation data indicated decreases in frequency of targeted behaviors during clients' residence. Post-discharge follow-up data indicated that 40 percent showed at least adequate adjustment and…

Presents child care-related work experiences and training, teaching activities, and recurrent problems in the provision of child care as reported in a survey of 266 family day care providers in Texas. Results indicated training needs. Some Texas family day caregiver training programs are briefly described. (NH)

Compared ego identity in adolescents identified as having behavioral problems with those reported not to have behavior problems. Found ego identity achievement, including trust, initiative, and identity, but not autonomy and industry, significantly greater in those without behavior problems. Adolescents who had achieved a higher degree of identity…

Off-task and disruptive behavior in two fifth graders decreased rapidly during an intervention in which, working in dyads, they served either as peer monitors or point earners. Peer-monitor and point-earner roles, when alternated on an every-other-day basis, were equally effective in reducing inappropriate behavior. (Author/JW)

Evaluated the psychometric characteristics of the Children's Beliefs about Parental Divorce Scale with three nonclinic samples. Demonstrated six subscales: Peer Ridicule and Avoidance, Paternal Blame, Fear of Abandonment, Maternal Blame, Hope of Reunification, and Self-Blame. The number of problematic beliefs varied by family structure but not by…

Since the passage in 1975 of Public Law 94-142 with the intent of "mainstreaming" handicapped students, more students are moving from regular classrooms into special education rooms. Identifies and discusses eight disincentives to mainstreaming handicapped students. (MD)

The study assessed the effects of a negative practice contingency plus DRO on the self-stimulatory hand-clapping of three developmentally disabled students, aged 6-9. The procedure was effective in suppressing the behavior, and follow-up observations showed that the occurrence of hand-clapping continued to be low. (Author/JDD)

Over 50% of 219 K-12 teachers surveyed felt that overall school discipline was slightly or much worse than 10 years ago. Data on size of school, student population (urban, suburban, or rural), teacher sex, teacher age, grade level taught, use of corporal punishment, and out-of-school suspensions are also analyzed. (JDD)

Offers selective reviews on adult outcomes of severe mental retardation, autism, conduct disorders, mild retardation and adjustment disorders of childhood. Discusses important prospective study of mild retardation. Stresses that adjustment disorders of childhood only rarely continue into adult life; but incidence of these disorders is on the…

Indicates the differences between preteachers' and experienced teachers' cognitive schemes for classroom management. Experienced teachers reported using more pro and antisocial strategies than did prospective teachers. Both relied on antisocial techniques for active misbehaviors and prosocial for passive. (JK)

Describes a counseling intervention in the discipline process patterned after a concept called Personalized Behavior Modification which uses a therapeutic in-school suspension system to teach middle-school students who are maladjusted or show problem behavior the fundamentals of responsible school behavior. Claims that the program is effective and…

A group process can allow teachers and students to deal openly with sources of conflict causing surface behavior problems and enhance self-control among students. Specific guidelines for group meeting structure and teacher behavior are given. A table summarizes the variety of functions and goals for which groups can be used. (VW)

The scope and incidence of school-based aggression, specifically physical and verbal assault, are noted. Interventions discussed include: contingency management (reinforcement, ignoring, response cost, timeout, peer procedures, and aversive consequences) and self-management procedures (social skills training, problem-solving training, and…

A cost response program, implemented to reduce disruptive vocalizations of a moderately mentally retarded 12-year-old, integrated into fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms for study periods, focused on independent destination skills, correct completion of study work, and self-monitoring. Disruptions were reduced within seven days, with generalization…

Illustrates appropriate teacher responses to typical occurrences in early childhood settings through the use of four separate vignettes. The responses and rationales are offered as starting points for developing individually-planned, reasoned approaches to discipline situations and for encouraging self-discipline in young children. (DST)