This action research project sought to improve the social skills of targeted third-graders. The problem of students exhibiting a lack of social skills was documented by means of student discipline referrals, anecdotal records, and teacher surveys. Evidence indicated that students failed to solve conflicts in positive manners, were unable to work…

Noting that children want love and acceptance from trustworthy adults, this book reflects upon the destructive impulses that threaten the emotional, physical, and spiritual life of youth and families. The book identifies and describes behaviors that tempt adolescents with instant relief and gratification, but which ultimately lead to feelings of…

This study evaluated the outcomes of an ongoing child day-treatment program in operation at a health treatment center in the Midwest. The program emphasized development of social skills through modeling by adults and practice with peers in 3-hour sessions that met 4 times a week. Evaluation focused on the extent to which clients improved in social…

The integration of research and practice is considered essential to the effective delivery of school psychological services. The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate how school psychologists can implement the scientist-practitioner model in applied settings and deliver high quality consultative services to teachers and students. Behavioral…

This manual is designed to help school personnel conduct functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and to develop effective behavior intervention plans (BIPs). The manual begins by providing background information on FBAs including: (1) the four-stage model of collaborative problem solving that is used to conduct FBAs and develop subsequent BIPs,…

Adolescents' best friendships are often believed to contribute to their psychosocial adjustment. This study examined the relationship between students' adjustment to school and the positive features, negative features, and frequency of interaction in their friendships. Participating were 106 students, 90 percent of whom were white, in a small…

This action research project implemented and evaluated a program for enhancing students' social skills in order to increase their ability to work cooperatively and to resolve conflict. The targeted population consisted of kindergarten students in a lower income urban school, located in a medium-sized Midwestern city. The problem of insufficient…

Threats to teachers and students and acts of violence cause disruption in the normal functions of a typical school day by obstructing the learning process. Security in schools is a major concern. In the last few years, new research and procedures have expanded the issues of school violence. Studies have been conducted on the relationship between…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated the incidence and impact of serious student misconduct on schools, whether students with disabilities are being disciplined differently from those without disabilities, and the role that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 (IDEA) plays in schools' ability to properly…

Nursery teachers in Greece were surveyed to determine their definition of behavior problems and their relevance to management techniques employed. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 225 nursery teachers; 154 teachers returned the questionnaire for 280 children perceived to be exhibiting behavior problems. The findings showed that…

There is at the present time a strong movement to include in the school curriculum more preparation for character education. The schools have long recognized their obligations in this respect, but more progress has not been made because they did not know how to bring it about. With the coming of trained psychologists, psychiatrists, and other…

Autism spectrum disorders, as the name suggests, do not represent a single nor straightforward set of needs to be met. The challenges facing education and other professionals, and the young people whose needs are being addressed, are considerable. The key is to see past the presenting issues, often behavioural in nature, to the communication…

The hyperkinetic label can impair self-image and create negative expectation. It should be used only with confidence in its accuracy and when its use confers help not otherwise available. Guidelines for appropriate diagnosis include prevalence considerations, teacher reports, extent of home difficulties, psychological testing and clinical…

Support for this research was provided by The University Research Committee of the University of Alabama.

Presents PEERS, a broad based intervention program designed for remediating social withdrawal among isolate children and promoting increased peer interactions. PEERS examines deficits in four skill areas: the child's social, language, and motoric competencies, and the parents' child-rearing ability. (MJL)