Externalizing behaviors are a common component of the clinical presentation of Autism Spectrum Disorders and are typically the initial focus of treatment for children within this population. This article examines the appropriateness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) as a first-line, gateway treatment for preschoolers with High Functioning…

In our clinical practice, we have attempted to use a positive psychology approach in working with people with schizophrenia and youths with behavioral disorders. We present three clinical applications that use a positive psychology approach with these populations: group treatment with persons with schizophrenia; individual cognitive stimulation…

The ancient Greeks proclaimed, "Know thyself." This prescript is particularly critical in the educational arena because no pedagogical tool can serve a teacher or a student who lacks self-knowledge. Effective educators understand that only by knowing and capitalizing on their own and students' strengths can they achieve true excellence.…

Since the publication of their seminal article entitled, "Transmission of Aggression Through Imitation of Aggressive Models" (Bandura, Ross, & Ross, 1961), the work of Albert Bandura and his co-authors has had an immeasurable impact on the field of psychology, in general, and educational psychology, more specifically. The purpose of this report is…

Mark Twain once famously quipped, "I never let schooling get in the way of my education." Paul Simon, the American folk singer, begins one of his songs "When I think back on all the crap I learned at high school, it's a wonder I can hardly think at all." These men could just have easily been discussing schooling in Ireland, for…

A social worker and a psychologist, working with troubled youth in a day treatment setting, describe unique ways to use the concepts of Positive Peer Culture (PPC) to facilitate groups from the elementary to high school levels. The authors have adapted the well-known PPC concepts and incorporated them into their strength-based program, SPLASH, to…

This case study is an inquiry about feedback in the context of professional development. It tells the story of the feedback process between a teacher and his colleague as they work with a group of adolescent science students. The entire process is reported in a day-to-day description of the interaction between the two men: (1) "Beginning the…

Many forces work to undermine the self-esteem and attitude toward school of an elementary school student. A program to reverse this trend, the V.I.P. (Very Important Person) Program, was undertaken in a Florida elementary school. For the counselor this program provides contact with every student, positive communications with parents, and a way to…

The effect of a self-instructional (SI) training paradigm on the arithmetic deficits of orthopedically handicapped children and the degree to which training effects generalize to the classroom and to another arithmetic function were studied. The study consisted of two experiments, each conducted with three orthopedically handicapped students with…

The "PEZ" candy dispenser has been used effectively to deliver reinforcers to moderately handicapped preschool students who display desirable behaviors. Contingency management procedures are described for using the candy dispenser to deliver reinforcers and subsequently to fade out the edible reinforcer and have the colorful dispenser itself…

Use of primarily reinforcement-based behavioral procedures decreased aggressive pinching in a 10-year-old severely retarded female to near-zero levels. Procedures included differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO), DRO plus timeout, DRO plus response prevention, and differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior. Results were…

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, schools may need to plan to address the suffering and loss of many. These Guidance Notes discuss five areas in which schools can help students cope with loss: (1) Fostering Resiliency; (2) Facilitating and Fostering Social Ties and Resources; (3) Stages of Grieving; (4) Helping Students Deal with Loss; and…

Describes a tool for trainer self-development called "mental rehearsal." The process uses mental images (visualization) to practice trainer behavior prior to the actual training session. Trainers use mental rehearsal for: (1) physical relaxation, (2) positive thinking, (3) mental and physical readiness, (4) verbal and nonverbal instructional…

Effective classroom management is an important step toward successful teaching. Research on classroom management is reviewed, and points about effective management as it relates to teacher behavior, groups of students, and individual students are cited. Consistent enforcement of behavior standards by teachers is stressed. (PP)

The behavioral approach to health education described in this article has the potential to facilitate a decrease in the prevalence and incidence of some diseases. The techniques of positive reinforcement, modeling, self control, and stimulus control are described. (CJ)