Accelerating Appropriate Behaviors of Children in a Head Start Program

A research and demonstration classroom was established through the cooperative efforts of the University of Washington's Experimental Education Unit and the Head Start Program of the Seattle Public Schools. The demonstration classroom enrolled children demonstrating severe social, emotional, and/or language deficits, as identified by Head Start teachers. The aggressive or acting out child was most often seen as the child needing help. Of the 25 children originally referred, 12 were enrolled for a term which ran up to 43 days. Principles of programing the arrangement of activities in language and social discrimination were followed in the classroom. Behavior modification procedures were utilized and introduced to the regular Head Start teachers. The demonstration class teaching staff worked with the Head Start teachers when the children returned to their home class and throughout a followup period.