Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching

Modern teachers increasingly encounter students who enter their classroom with low motivation, learning problems, or disruptive behavior. The mission of this book is to provide teachers and other human service professionals specific tools they can use to teach more effectively without using the punitive methods that are too often part of educational practices. At the same time, the book explains the behavioral science on which behavioral practices are based. This text is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in teacher education, special education, physical education, and educational psychology as well as for practicing teachers who would like to know what behavior analysis has to offer. The book is also appropriate for students in school psychology, school counseling, school social work and other human service areas. A course using this book as its basic text would qualify as one of the five courses required to sit for the credentialling exams given by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. Outstanding features include: Classroom Focus -- The book seamlessly integrates behaviour management with effective instruction within a classroom context. It focuses on practical steps that teachers can take in any classroom setting to improve performance and reduce disruptions. It explains topics that teachers frequently encounter such as functional analysis, functional assessment, and behavior support plans. It addresses from a behavior analysis framework recent advances in Tag teaching, Precision Teaching, and verbal behavior. Exercises at the end of each chapter provide quick checks on basic concepts and problem-solving exercises, with answers where appropriate Presentation -- The author is an exceptionally clear writer who uses a wealth of real (not imaginary) classroom examples. Pedagogy -- The pedagogy follows behavior-analytic principles including clear behavioral objectives and coordinated end-of-chapter exercises. The book contains an end-of-book glossary and bibliography. Website -- A coordinated website provides additional web-based quizzes, illustrative video clips, and guidelines for research projects that can be done as part of course requirements.

Table of Contents:

Part I Science and the Art of Teaching

1. Adding Science to the Art of Teaching

2. Finding the "Causes" of Behavior in Functional Relations

3. How We Learn

Part II Planning for Improvement

4. Setting Goals to Improve Achievement

5. Improving Sensitivity to Progress: Recording Methods

6. Making Progress Visible: Charting Methods

7. The Teacher as Researcher

Part III The Design of Instruction

8. Shaping Behavior: The Role of Postcedents

9. Teaching Concepts and Understanding: The Role of Antecedents

10. Verbal Behavior

11. Punishment and Why to Avoid it

12. Beyond Testing: Reaching the Ultimate Goals of Education

"Applied behavior analysis has become a large field. Vargas’s book aims to outline the principles and procedures of behavior analysis for educators, describe advances that have been made in the area of behavior analysis in education, provide real life examples of the application of behavior principles in educational environments, and give students opportunities to apply the principles in their teaching and everyday life. The book will be especially useful in teacher education programs. Specifically, I believe that Vargas’ book will be adopted in undergraduate and graduate courses in general education, special education, applied behavior analysis, behavior management, and behavior change. The content will also be useful for students training to be school psychologists and/or clinical psychologists." - Judy Cameron, University of Alberta

"The market for behavior-analytic teacher texts is increasing with the increased prominence of behavioral approaches in educational contexts. Potential audiences for this book include special educators (high incidence disabilities), behavior analysts, general educators (K-12), special educators (low-incidence or early childhood) and school psychology. The pedagogical features of the book are excellent. The topics covered are a good balance of depth (within chapters) and breadth (between chapters). The major strength of the proposed text is that it seamlessly integrates behavior management with effective instruction within a classroom context. This is different from Alberto and Troutman, for example, which really focuses on behavior management, while attending much less to effective instructional practices." - Craig Kennedy, Vanderbilt University

"Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching is an excellent source for prospective and current teachers, particularly for those who are struggling and wanting to improve. It is even a more useful resource for school psychologists and others who work with teachers. ... [It is] a unique contribution to the literature on effective teaching." - Larry A. Alferink, PsycCRTIQUES (November 2009), Vol. 54, Release 46, Article 4