College freshmen wrote behavior contracts detailing changes they would make in their lifestyles as part of a personal health course, while control group students wrote a term paper. Students who wrote behavior contracts showed greater gains in health knowledge during the semester than did control group students. (PP)

The mastery approach was taken with physical education majors at the sophomore level. The approach was based on several considerations which included the achievement of a minimum competency level. The students were allowed to select one of three options to achieve this level. (JN)

Describes the process of negotiating a contract between school counselors and principals which defines role expectations. Suggests the contract can guide school counselors' job performance, create a harmonious relationship, and improve organizational effectiveness. (JAC)

Sixth to eighth grade students received points based on weekly quiz performance and a base score derived from a pretest and adjusted to reflect actual weekly performance. The points were reported in a weekly newsletter. Students in experimental classes achieved more on a final standardized test than did control classes. (Author/GDC)

Behavior of eight emotionally disturbed boys improved dramatically after a school psychologist observed their class and suggested management techniques. The psychologist clarified the teacher's role as educator, not clinician; restructured the daily schedule; increased the teacher's understanding of reinforcement; and implemented a token economy…

In the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Public Schools, thousands of gifted children are tackling challenging, real-world problems correlated with curricular expectations. This gifted program fuses three philosophies: multiple-intelligences theory, problem-centered learning, and a thoughtful atmosphere to foster critical and creative…

Educational contracts define the parameters of teacher obligations to students, parents, and other stakeholders freeing teachers to design and implement instruction rather than trying to fulfill roles (counselor, social worker, parent) best filled by other stakeholders. Describes analogous contracts used in the business world and provides examples…

Describes an at-home project whereby students collaborate with their parents in writing a book, and the resulting books are shared at year's end. Involves parents and students in signing performance contracts, developing reading and writing, and sharing skills. (ET)

These reflections on EC 606 263 (a paper examining the effectiveness of student versus teacher monitoring of behavior of students at risk for referral to special education) examines the development of interest in the topic, acceptability of the interventions to study participants, potential usefulness of the intervention, and evidence of changes…

A method for training physicians in a simple, efficient, and effective smoking cessation counseling strategy consisted of lunchtime seminar, follow-up reinforcement session, and prompt sheet for use during counseling. The counseling strategy emphasizes individual motivation, assessing and addressing obstacles to quitting, drug therapy, contracting…

This paper emphasizes the importance of listening to the feelings of the adolescent with a voice disorder before beginning an action-oriented approach to creating voice changes. Use of a "behavioral contract" between therapist and student to reduce vocal abuse and excessive vocal use is suggested. (JDD)

Outsourcing of school services creates a need for educators to learn how best to select a contractor. Contracted student transportation is used to illustrate flexibility and creativity in writing a request for proposal, the evaluation process, and the importance of contractors' willingness to work alongside the district as a genuine business…

Moving beyond question of whether on-line education is beneficial or harmful, explores conditions under which one or another of six instructional methods lecture, collaborative learning, experiential learning, learning contracts, televised courses, and Web-based learning work best. Finds specific methods more appropriate for some subject matters,…

In recent years, there has been much research on bullying in the United Kingdom. In 1990, the author, a school counselor and teacher, organized an antibullying workshop at a large secondary school. Since then, the school has been developing a schoolwide antibullying policy comprising various strategies, including an antibullying contract and a…

Presents a unit approach that utilizes Howard Gardner's seven intelligences (Linguistic, Logical/mathematical, Spatial, Music, Kinesthetic/body, Intrapersonal, and Interpersonal). Students are given a list of activities and make a contract to complete a certain number on the list. A sample unit for fifth graders on the bodily systems is provided.…