Positive social reinforcement (teacher attention) was used to modify the deficient social behavior of two disadvantaged Negro kindergarten children. Subjects were a girl who showed a very high amount of isolate behavior, and a boy who usually played alone, or with girls to the exclusion of boys. Data were collected for one month during half hour…

This study determined the effects of assigning students from speech classes to one of 14 positive sociometrically determined groups, 14 negative sociometrically determined groups, or 14 randomly determined groups upon individuals' satisfaction with the group and the time needed to solve a specific test problem. All significant differences among…

Outlined are plans for a 9-month elementary school-wide program of token reinforcement for the trainable mentally retarded (TMR), which is said to allow for later additional components. Program focus is to be application of reinforcement to TMR academic work. All children will take the Metropolitan Readiness Test in pretest and posttest design for…

To understand the developmental bases of moral-rational behavior in children, the effectiveness of four training paradigms in modifying social behavior was compared. The specific behavior studied was that of taking-turns in situations where mutual assistance was necessary in order for either of two children to receive prizes. The four training…

Six severely disabled young adults were taught to self-monitor work rate on job tasks, evaluate daily performance against a criterion, and recruit contingent feedback from supervisors. Performance results indicated a functional relationship between self-recruited feedback and maintenance of improved work rate. (Author/JW)

In a study designed to improve vocational productivity in five moderately/severely retarded adults, reinforcement and self-monitoring were compared to self-monitoring with movement training (prompting the most efficient task performance movement). Four subjects responded minimally to trainer-initiated reinforcement or self-monitoring but showed…

This discussion of the use of microcomputers by mentally handicapped learners focuses on software availability and selection. Criteria for evaluating software are given, including considerations of visual display, reading level, program design, drill and practice opportunities, positive reinforcement, format variety, graphics, instructional…

Argues the value of using the assertive discipline approach in the classroom, suggesting that in classrooms where teachers use this approach, students are happy, motivated, responsible learners. (RWB)

Questions whether assertive discipline techniques are responsive to the developmental needs of children or simply serve the convenience of adults.

Experimentally increased positive social interactions between an isolate, White first grader and socially active, Indian first graders. The procedure involved three five-minute observation periods, and brief feedback. Results showed that the child's rate of positive social interaction increased and was maintained across a period of six months.…

A skeptical review of recent congressional task force recommendations for public school teachers, which include only a limited endorsement of merit pay and strong encouragement for sabbatical leave for teachers to study and travel abroad. (JBM)

Describes the efforts of a Maryland high school to strengthen its position in the community by means of public service radio messages, a "positive family contact" system that emphasizes positive reinforcement of student achievements, and a weekly newspaper column that acknowledges the contributions of "students, staff members and…

This book describes a set of instructional methods called student-directed learning strategies, which combine effective instructional strategies to promote student learning in inclusive environments with a means to promote and enhance active student involvement in learning. The first chapter identifies student-directed learning strategies and…

This paper discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated whether applying the discrete-trial approach is effective in teaching children with autism to learn functional and pre-academic skills. Participants were four young children with autism (ages 3-4) attending a preschool special education program of an urban public school. Discrete-trial…

This book provides K-12 teachers with concrete, step-by-step guidance on how to improve student behavior through positive classroom management. It explains how to take control of the classroom, offering an alternative to threats, rewards, and punishments. The book is divided into an introduction and three sections with seven chapters. The…