Modifying Classroom Behavior

One of the primary goals of education is to ensure that children learn varied and complex self-management skills to become more self assured, more self reliant, and responsible for their own behavior, as well as to succeed academically. Although learning experiences designed to actively teach self-management techniques are usually directed toward children with severe academic and behavior problems, these skills are also extremely beneficial for the general student population. An excellent resource for school-based practitioners who wish to address the needs of all school-aged children and adolescents, this book presents practical approaches for designing and implementing self-management interventions in school settings.

In this follow-up to the popular What Works in Schools, Robert J. Marzano discusses the research-based strategies that every teacher can use to effectively manage the classroom and help students take responsibility for their own behavior.

Since the early 1800's, children have been taught and encouraged to function as instructional agents for their classroom peers. However, it was not until the last decade that peer-mediated intervention was studied in a rigorous, systematic fashion. The purpose of this edited volume is to provide an up-to-date and complete account of empirical research that addresses the general efficacy of classroom peers as behavior change agents. As a result of various social and legal developments, such as the passage of Public Law 94-142 and its accompanying demand for indi vidualized instruction, peer-mediated interventions seem likely to prolif erate. As I have noted elsewhere (Strain, this volume), close adherence to the principle of individualized programming has rendered obsolete the "adults only" model of classroom instruction. Whether the utilization of peers in the instructional process comes to be viewed by school personnel as a positive adjunct to daily classroom practices depends in large mea sure on our ability to carefully design, conduct, and communicate the findings of applied research. I trust that this volume will function both to accurately communicate existing findings and to stimulate further study. My colleagues who have generously contributed their time and skill to this volume have my deepest appreciation. They have performed their various tasks in a timely, professional manner and, in my opinion, have provided considerable insight into the problems and potentials of peers as instructional agents.