This article surveys several teacher interventions supported in the research literature to prevent the development of behavior problems in school-aged children. Strategies include specific teaching of social communication skills, clear communication of behavior expectations, creating a supportive school climate, and continual reinforcement of…

Discusses inequity in computer access for African-Americans and Hispanics in urban public schools. Topics include the importance of elementary school for later success; computer technology use by at-risk students; behavior problems and instructional strategies; and the need for sufficient numbers of computers, adequate teacher training, and…

Tested validity of the Portuguese version of the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation questionnaire. Found results similar to original French-Canadian instrument in stability, internal consistency, and factorial structure. Found associations between teacher's description of social competence and behavioral difficulties in Brazilian…

Assessed association between interspousal aggression and child problems after controlling for parents' general marital discord among 87 couples requesting marital therapy. Spouses completed measures of marital aggression, marital discord, child problems, and family demographics. Results showed that marital aggression contributed unique variance to…

This study of instructional priorities in preparing mentally retarded students for mainstreaming found that 41 primary-level regular class teachers gave higher priority to academic areas of reading and writing and to the behavioral problem of aggressive behavior than did 35 teachers in special schools for mentally retarded students. (Author/JDD)

Thirty male juvenile delinquents and 90 male high achievers, low achievers, and students with behavior problems were compared using an adapted version of Harter's Perceived Competence Scale for Children. The Australian students (aged 12-15) were compared on 4 different domains of perceived competence--cognitive competence, social competence,…

Studies the effectiveness of a free-time contingency on reducing the frequency of interruptions of 28 students in a residential treatment center high class room. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of implementation, use of peers for data collection and impact on the target behaviors. (FMW)

A small group program designed to improve social interaction between children and their autistic siblings is evaluated. Problem solving, role playing, rehearsal, homework projects, and contingency management procedures are used in group sessions. Results of the observational assessment confirm the feasibility of successful interactional training…

Eighty-three gifted children, aged 7-11, and their parents completed self-report instruments on personality adjustment. Intelligence was positively related to adjustment. Compared to the group as a whole, the children with higher IQs were less anxious and nervous and less likely to evidence problems in physical development, cognitive development,…

Addresses issues of safety and security in libraries. Topics discussed include keeping library collections safe; patron behavioral problems; factoring loss into the budget; staff theft; access versus security; apathy regarding library crime; a need for a unified security apparatus; preventive measures; staff and patron safety; and a…

This study examined patterns of social-emotional subgroups among 122 students with learning disabilities in Israel. Cluster analysis found four subgroups: two nonlonely (one behaviorally adjusted and one with externalizing maladjustment) and two lonely (with externalizing and internalizing maladjustment). Teacher ratings, student ratings, and case…

An orientation and mobility (O&M) instructor presents a case study of a blind 14 year old with mild cognitive deficits and emotional and behavioral problems. The case study demonstrates the importance of individualizing the O&M curriculum, including changing the usual sequence of instruction. (DB)

Teachers, student teachers, paraprofessionals, and college students (total n=1,037) in a region authorizing corporal punishment responded to scenarios describing misbehaving children, varying in seriousness of the transgression, severity of appropriate punishment, and appropriateness of the behavior in other settings. Intergroup differences were…

Suggests incorporating into practice those findings that emerge repeatedly in different foster care studies. Identifies four characteristics of children that have been linked to particular outcomes: age at time of placement, contact with biological family, length of time in care, and behavior problems. Shows how incorporation of these factors into…

This study examined the effects of a self-management procedure to teach three middle school boys with learning and behavior problems to improve the completeness and quality of their story compositions. Results indicated that stories were more complete when students used a simple check-off system to plan and monitor their work. (Author/DB)