Given our schools' mission to teach all children in regular classrooms, working with children damaged by prenatal substance exposure is tremendously challenging. Even the best-taught lesson may be forgotten within a day or an hour. Teachers should reduce the excitability factor, keep a uniform pattern of change, give advance warning, follow…

A case study is presented of a female adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse where the perpetrator was her older brother. The family dynamics are described, emphasizing the physically absent father (a clergyman), the emotionally distant mother, and the surrogate parent status of the perpetrator. The individual's efforts to receive appropriate…

Recommends a technique designed to foster creative thinking in the business communication classroom. Describes an approach that incorporates several different communication tools, including analytical letter reports, oral presentations, and the use of computer-based technology in an ill-structured problem situation. (KEH)

Evaluated six-week support group for six preadolescent siblings of children with mental or physical handicaps. Comparison with five nonparticipants revealed that group had significant effect on participants' perceptions of social support. Parents indicated some improvements in participants' behavior toward siblings. Found no significant…

This survey found that teachers (n=775) are willing to have mainstreamed students in their classrooms if students do not exhibit emotional or behavioral problems. They are willing to make interactive adaptations but not spend time conducting preplanning or postplanning. Elementary teachers were more likely to make planning adaptations. Barriers to…

Surveyed 97 adults self-identified as coming from dysfunctional families. Although level of family dysfunction was generally high, no significant differences were observed between adult children of alcoholics and adults from families whose dysfunction was not due to substance abuse. Degree of family dysfunction was significantly associated with…

Investigated effects of recent life events, psychological adjustment, and social support on lymphocyte count among 192 older adults. For males, recent sexual dysfunction lowered lymphocyte count, whereas psychological adjustment and percentage kin in intimate network elevated it. For females, family or legal problems elevated count as did frequent…

Students do not associate traditional word problems with their own experiences because they describe situations textually, rather than contextually, and seem artificially geared to specific number operations and single correct answers. Aided by a state grant, elementary teachers in one Minnesota district are using video anchors to simulate…

Reports on a classroom management project conducted by an induction-year teacher with support from university supervisors. Notes that a functional analysis of the behavior of a 10-year-old male (receiving special education services for learning and behavior problems) combined with nonaversive intervention strategies resulted in positive outcomes…

Psychologists, counselors, social workers, clergy, teachers, and others are often in the position of needing to train parents in parenting skills, particularly in the area of discipline. "The Discipline Package" offers a succinct plan for parents to follow involving three steps. Each step is described, along with options for responding…

Presents a review of 54 studies on math practices for students with learning disabilities. Validated practices included strategy and self-regulation interventions. Students benefited from step-by-step processes that guided their thinking and performance when solving math problems. The use of manipulative devices and drawings also were effective.…

This guide to Tourette Syndrome addresses prevalence and etiology, associated behaviors (such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), treatment approaches and medication, and classroom management techniques (such as handling tic release/stress and managing hyperactivity/controlling attentional impulses). (DB)

Examines a moderately sized Washington school district's efforts to move beyond strategic planning as a segregated activity toward thinking strategically about long-term plans to govern both tactical operations and the district's future. Top management grew to recognize the legitimacy of multiple external and internal constituent claims. (25…

School officials have a moral and legal duty to preserve all students' safety and well-being while not trampling on the constitutional rights of students involved in disruptive behavior. Administrators must adopt defensible school policies, ensure parent understanding, observe due process, and exercise administrative authority in a reasonable…

This case study describes use of a program of self-mediated recording and intervention, including distraction techniques, with monitoring within the family, with an 8-year-old child with leukemia and a generalized anxiety about health. Anxiety was reduced to the normal range and maintained at that level at a nine-month followup assessment.…