Classroom Behavior Management Research Articles

Early professional development in the Scottish context: pre-service high school teachers and the management of behaviour in classrooms

This paper gives an account of an exploratory piece of research focused on understanding more fully the nature of pre-service teachers’ developing approaches to classroom behaviour management on a one-year postgraduate teacher education programme in the Scottish context. Drawing on individual and focus group interviews as well as journaling of significant behaviour management moments experienced by student teachers on school placements, key narratives are outlined and the complex tensions and issues arising from the data are discussed. The powerful narratives of control and compliance around young people and the emphasis on social and relational early professional learning as opposed to cognition are explored and discussed.

From Consultation to Student Outcomes: The Role of Teacher Knowledge, Skills, and Beliefs in Increasing Integrity in Classroom Management Strategies

Classroom behavior management strategies are effective in reducing impairment and improving functioning in children with or at risk of ADHD. Although these interventions are well established, there is significant concern about the integrity with which teachers implement these strategies. Possible barriers to integrity include limitations in teachers’ knowledge of ADHD and classroom management strategies, limitations in classroom management skills, and beliefs that may interfere with intervention implementation. We hypothesize that these barriers are malleable and can be targeted in school-based consultation programs. In this paper, we describe the development of a multi-component consultation package designed to address teacher knowledge, skills, and beliefs as a mechanism for enhancing intervention implementation integrity and student outcomes. Using a case study design, we examined the hypothesized relationships between the consultation strategies, intervention integrity, and student outcomes. Results provide initial support for the multi-component package and our theory of change. Limitations that will inform continued development of the package are discussed.

Guided by Theory, Informed by Practice: Training and Support for the Good Behavior Game, a Classroom-based Behavior Management Strategy.

Moving evidence-based practices for classroom behavior management into real-world settings is a high priority for education and public health. This paper describes the development and use of a model of training and support for the Good Behavior Game (GBG), one of the few preventive interventions shown to have positive outcomes for elementary school children lasting through to young adulthood, ages 19-21, including reductions in the use of drugs and alcohol, school-based mental health services, and suicide ideation and attempts. We first describe the conceptual framework guiding the development of the model of training and support. Data on implementation of the model, from an ongoing trial of GBG being conducted in partnership with the Houston Independent School District, are then presented. We end with a discussion of the lessons learned and the implications for the next stage of research and practice.

Classroom Behaviour Management: The effects of in-service training on elementary teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs

We examined a training program in classroom management in relation to the efficacy beliefs of elementary school teachers. The training program used a quasi-experimental design with a waitlist control group. Twenty-seven elementary school teachers in the greater Quebec City area participated. The repeated measures ANOVA results revealed positive effect of the program on teachers’ personal teaching efficacy beliefs, and in the teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in managing difficult behaviours in the classroom. A group by time interaction effect was also observed with regard to the teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in eliciting principals’ support where participating teachers were more confident in their interactions with principals at follow-up. Factors that influence the development of self-efficacy beliefs of teachers and implications for practice are discussed.

Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The purpose of this research was to update the Pelham and Fabiano (2008) review of evidence-based practices for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. We completed a systematic review of the literature published between 2007 and 2013 to establish levels of evidence for psychosocial treatments for these youth. Our review included the identification of relevant articles using criteria established by the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (see Southam-Gerow & Prinstein, in press) using keyword searches and a review of tables of contents. We extend the conceptualization of treatment research by differentiating training interventions from behavior management and by reviewing the growing literature on training interventions. Consistent with the results of the previous review we conclude that behavioral parent training, behavioral classroom management, and behavioral peer interventions are well-established treatments. In addition, organization training met the criteria for a well-established treatment. Combined training programs met criteria for Level 2 (Probably Efficacious), neurofeedback training met criteria for Level 3 (Possibly Efficacious), and cognitive training met criteria for Level 4 (Experimental Treatments). The distinction between behavior management and training interventions provides a method for considering meaningful differences in the methods and possible mechanisms of action for treatments for these youth. Characteristics of treatments, participants, and measures, as well as the variability in methods for classifying levels of evidence for treatments, are reviewed in relation to their potential effect on outcomes and conclusions about treatments. Implications of these findings for future science and practice are discussed.

Classroom behavior management practices in kindergarten classrooms: An observation study.

The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the types of management practices that teachers use when disturbing behaviors occur in their classrooms. Teachers and children were observed in 14 kindergartens during daily classroom activities. Data was collected through the use of observation checklists, documents, and teacher’s short interviews. The present study distinguishes the classroom management practices into two broad categories: positive non - punitive practices and negative punitive practices. The results showed that teachers combine most of the non - punitive practices such as, establishing and re-establishing rules, encouraging children to be responsible, promoting students to discuss a topic involving behavior, emotions or situations of concern, etc., with punitive practices such as verbal reprimand, intervention by yelling etc. Research has yielded important information that has practical implications for the improvement of classroom behavior management practices.

One Year on: First-Year Primary Teachers’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Manage Misbehaviour and Their Confidence in the Strategies They Use

This article reports the findings of a one-year follow-up study of Australian beginning primary teachers’ perceived preparedness to manage a variety of problematic student behaviours, and their confidence and use of behaviour management strategies based on their preservice coursework in classroom behaviour management. A total of 216 primary teachers in their first year of employment located across Australia responded to the online survey. Based on their coursework preparation in classroom behaviour management, the first-year teachers felt, at best, only somewhat prepared to manage disruption, noncompliance and disorganisation problems, and closer to not at all prepared to manage aggressive, antisocial, or destructive behaviours. Their perceptions of preparedness to manage all categories of problem behaviours had decreased significantly since course completion in the past year. First-year teachers were aware of a wide range of strategies for responding to problem behaviours, and felt somewhat confident in using most of the strategies. Their confidence in use had increased for most strategies, but only minimally, since completing their teacher education programs. Issues with current preservice coursework in classroom behaviour management in teacher education programs are discussed, and suggestions for addressing preparation and confidence issues are offered.

Active and Reflective Learning to Engage all Students

This article describes how teachers effectively manage learning through active engagement of all students throughout each class period. A case study is presented which demonstrates how students learn through active and reflective engagement with ideas, the environment, and other learners (National Middle School Association, 2010). The case study demonstrates the complex task of facilitating integrated, thematic collaborative learning. The case is based on a middle level classroom, but the concepts can be naturalistically generalized by readers to elementary or secondary settings. The case study can be used with pre-service and in-service teachers in a variety of professional development contexts. It can be useful to help educators differentiate between classroom management and behavior management. This paper advances what is known about managing integrated, thematic learning through connecting the theoretical literature with an actual case where these principles are applied.

High School Teacher Professionalism in Enhancing the Quality of Teaching and Learning

This study aims at exploring teachers’ perceptions of characteristics of teacher’s professionalism. This study also identifies understanding of teachers on seven criteria of teacher professionalism that are educating, teaching, guiding, instructing, training, evaluating, and reflecting. In addition, this study was conducted to observe how the seven elements of teacher professionalism have been practiced in high school classroom. The research instruments were (1) open-ended questions to explore the teachers’ perception of the characteristics of teacher’s professionalism, (2) fixed-response forms to identify percentage of teachers’ understanding on the scope of duty of teachers’ professionalism, and (3) observation checklist to identify percentage of teacher’s professionalism practices in classroom. Data was analysed by using thematic and descriptive approaches. Four themes emerged from this study are students’ behaviour management, teaching and learning in classroom, encouragement and Evaluation, and students’ performance. The data shows that the teachers are familiar with teaching professionalism. Data also revealed that quite a high percentage of teachers understand the scope of teacher’s professionalism. However, when it comes to practice, they employ it unsatisfactorily. The implication is that practice of professionalism in the classroom needs to be promoted in comparison with the other elements.

Preparing pre-service teachers for classroom practice in a virtual world: A pilot study using Second Life

Many pre-service teachers feel under-prepared to teach students with a diverse range of needs and abilities and continue to be concerned about classroom behaviour management when undertaking practicum experiences. In order to address these concerns, teacher educators have explored alternative pedagogical approaches, including computer based simulations and immersion in virtual worlds. This paper reports on the results of a pilot study conducted with eight pre-service teachers who operated avatars in a virtual classroom created within Second Life (SL)™. The pre-service teachers were able to role-play students with a diverse range of behaviours and engage in reflective discussion about their experiences. The results showed that the pre-service teachers appreciated the opportunity to engage in an authentic classroom experience without impacting on "real" students, but that the platform of SL proved limiting in enacting certain aspects of desired teaching pedagogy. The findings of this pilot study are discussed in relation to improving the preparation of pre-service teachers for practicum.

The impact of the Good Behavior Game, a universal classroom-based preventive intervention in first and second grades, on high-risk sexual behaviors and drug abuse and dependence disorders into young adulthood.

The Good Behavior Game (GBG), a method of teacher classroom behavior management, was tested in first- and second-grade classrooms in 19 Baltimore City Public Schools beginning in the 1985-1986 school year. The intervention was directed at the classroom as a whole to socialize children to the student role and reduce aggressive, disruptive behaviors, confirmed antecedents of a profile of externalizing problem outcomes. This article reports on the GBG impact on the courses and interrelationships among aggressive, disruptive behavior through middle school, risky sexual behaviors, and drug abuse and dependence disorders through ages 19-21. In five poor to lower-middle class, mainly African American urban areas, classrooms within matched schools were assigned randomly to either the GBG intervention or the control condition. Balanced assignment of children to classrooms was made, and teachers were randomly assigned to intervention or control. Analyses involved multilevel growth mixture modeling. By young adulthood, significant GBG impact was found in terms of reduced high-risk sexual behaviors and drug abuse and dependence disorders among males who in first grade and through middle school were more aggressive, disruptive. A replication with the next cohort of first-grade children with the same teachers occurred during the following school year, but with minimal teacher mentoring and monitoring. Findings were not significant but generally in the predicted direction. A universal classroom-based prevention intervention in first- and second-grade classrooms can reduce drug abuse and dependence disorders and risky sexual behaviors.

A preventative intervention for disruptive young boys may reduce adult criminality by reducing antisocial behaviour in adolescence

QUESTION Question: How does a preventative intervention for disruptive boys reduce adult criminality? Patients: In total, 250 boys of low-socioeconomic status in kindergarten (age 7 years) who scored above the...

Classroom behaviour management content in Australian undergraduate primary teaching programmes

The ability to differentiate classroom behaviour management (CBM) strategies is an important skill for novice teachers in increasingly diverse classrooms. Worldwide, little is known about the curriculum content offered to pre-service teachers in the area of CBM. This article reports the findings from the first nationwide survey of Australian primary pre-service teacher educators coordinating units and programmes with CBM content. Twenty-five Australian tertiary institutions with primary programmes participated, providing information on 102 of the 118 units with CBM content. Stand-alone units were offered in 68% of programmes and embedded in 96% of programmes. Unit coordinators included a mean of 8.3 approaches/models per unit. They commonly included applied behaviour analysis, decisive discipline, positive behaviour intervention and support, and choice theory/reality therapy, among the 36 approaches/models listed. More than half (57.9%) of the stand-alone units and only 20% of embedded units were coordinated by an academic with a stated CBM research interests. Units coordinated by an academic with CBM research interests contained more hours/model and included research-based models more often than those without CBM research interests, although they still included non-research-based models.

Relations Among Student Attention Behaviors, Teacher Practices, and Beginning Word Reading Skill

The role of student attention for predicting kindergarten word reading was investigated among 432 students. Using Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behavior Rating Scale behavior rating scores, the authors conducted an exploratory factor analysis, which yielded three distinct factors that reflected selective attention. In this study, the authors focused on the role of one of these factors, which they labeled attention-memory, for predicting reading performance. Teacher ratings of attention-memory predicted word reading above and beyond the contribution of phonological awareness and vocabulary knowledge. In addition, the relations between four teacher practices and attention ratings for predicting reading performance were examined. Using hierarchical linear modeling, the authors found significant interactions between student attention and teacher practices observed during literacy instruction. In general, as ratings of attention improved, better kindergarten word reading performance was associated with high levels of classroom behavior management. However, better word reading performance was not associated with high levels of teacher task orienting. A significant three-way interaction was also found among attention, individualized instruction, and teacher task redirections. The role of regulating kindergarten student attention to support beginning word reading skill development is discussed.

Developing a Collaboration with the Houston Independent School District: Testing the Generalizability of a Partnership Model

Moving evidence-based practices into real-world settings is a high priority for education and public health. This paper describes the development of a partnership among the Houston Independent School District, the American Institutes of Research, and the Houston Federation of Teachers to support research on and program sustainability for the Good Behavior Game, a team-based classroom behavior management strategy that has shown positive impact in randomized field trials. The conceptual framework guiding partnership development is presented, followed by an application of the framework in Houston. Lessons learned and implications for the next stage of research and practice are then discussed.

The Role of Teacher Efficacy in Strengthening Classroom Support for Preschool Children with Disabilities Who Exhibit Challenging Behaviors

Challenging student behaviors are a prominent factor in the development of teacher stress and burnout. When classroom-based teachers of preschool children with disabilities were surveyed to identify their training needs in one North Carolina county, the most frequent request was how to address behavior challenges of preschool children with disabilities. This study examined how instructional support to teachers of preschool children with disabilities and challenging behaviors affected three teachers’ classroom practices. The teachers received training and mentoring in classroom behavior management strategies and engaged in an online community of learners discussion group. Interviews and interactions from an online learning community were used to disclose whether the participants had implemented effective intervention strategies in their classrooms following the training. Teachers felt more competent in managing challenging behaviors after the online interaction with their colleagues. Teachers’ online interactions were a highly effective way to impact teacher efficacy. Therefore, special education preschool programs should consider providing more opportunities for the teachers to build their own learning communities to interact and support one another.

Classroom behaviour management preparation in undergraduate primary teacher education in Australia : A web-based investigation.

Classroom behaviour management is an essential skill required by all teacher graduates to facilitate instruction in curriculum content. This article describes the classroom behaviour management (CBM) content on offer in Australian undergraduate primary education programs. To date, no nationwide studies exist that report the CBM instruction on offer in pre-service teacher education programs. Thirty-five primary teacher preparation programs were reviewed. Thirty programs (85.7%) contained mandatory course-work in CBM, 108 units contained relevant content, 33 of those were stand-alone CBM units (30.6%). More units were found with CBM content embedded within methods or inclusion units than stand-alone CBM units. The mean hours of CBM instruction per mandatory stand-alone unit was 31.46 hours, 25.5 for stand-alone electives, and 2.3 hours within embedded units. The content of CBM units is reported as well as the research interests of the unit convenors and instructors. Implications of the major findings are discussed.

‘You looking at me?’: investigating 9 and 13 year-olds' ability to encode and decode nonverbal communication and demonstrate ‘emotional literacy’

This small-scale study reports the findings from an investigation into non-verbal communication. It primarily seeks to analyse whether 9 and 13 year-olds can encode and decode non-verbal communication in the context of classroom behaviour management. This research showed that, in contrast to previous published research, there were no distinct differences between the ages, genders, or task types. One key finding was the frequency with which pupils misinterpreted the facial expression of anger, irrespective of the familiarity of the face, although accuracy of emotional interpretation improved with time. From observations, female staff consistently used more complementary non-verbal communication than conflicting, compared with the male staff.

Social and emotional pedagogies: critiquing the new orthodoxy of emotion in classroom behaviour management

This paper examines new structured attempts to address and manage emotions in the classroom. Critical analysis focuses on the broad emotional literacy agenda operating within schools, and more specifically the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme. Data are drawn on from an ethnographic study located in Behaviour Support Units in three mainstream, inner‐city comprehensives to highlight the gap between the ‘rational emotionality’ being promoted and the fraught, and often uncontainable, emotions that drive everyday school life. It is also argued that the therapeutic model underpinning SEAL activities in schools risks individualising and thereby misinterpreting socially and culturally embedded difference, pathologising particular pupils in the process.

Classroom behaviour management: educational psychologists' views on effective practice

The behaviour of children and young people in schools is a perennial concern to educators and the wider public alike. It also represents a significant focus for the work of educational psychologists (EPs). Research evidence has identified a number of strategies that teachers, students and school inspectors believe contribute to effective classroom behaviour management (CBM). Psychological theory has also been used to inform approaches to CBM. This study focuses on EPs' views about effective CBM. EPs within one educational psychology service completed an activity which involved them identifying strategies they considered were most effective for CBM. Their responses were analysed using thematic analysis. A number of psychological functions or mechanisms underlying effective CBM strategies were identified. Based on these mechanisms an approach to CBM is advocated which draws from differing psychological paradigms and principles, and which suggests that effective CBM strategies and practices should be implemented at different systemic levels. Limitations of the present study and possibilities for future research are discussed.