Stephen Smith

The purpose of this project is to examine the efficacy of I Control, an intervention for middle school students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) that targets self-regulatory mechanisms collectively known as executive functioning skills (e.g., inhibiting impulses, maintaining information in working memory). Students who exhibit significant and chronic behavioral problems and are consequently placed in special education programs for EBD are typically the most difficult to teach an...

The Principal Investigator (PI) will conduct a program of research to better understand how working conditions (e.g., instructional resources, planning time, collegial support) contribute to special education teacher instruction and student education outcomes. In addition, the PI will participate in mentoring and training activities to develop expertise in evaluating teachers' instruction, conducting mixed-methods research, designing and analyzing single-case studies, and grant writing. The ...

The purpose of this project is to examine the effectiveness of the Tools for Getting Along (TFGA) intervention designed to help upper elementary school teachers (Grades 4-5) establish a positive, cooperative classroom atmosphere and enable students to become more self-reliant, effective, and proactive problem solvers as they encounter social challenges. Prior evaluations of TFGA indicated students who were taught TFGA had a more positive approach to problem solving and a more rational proble...

The purpose of this project is to examine the efficacy of the Social-Emotional Learning Foundations (SELF) intervention for improving social-emotional learning, behavior, and school adjustment for children at risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD). Students with social-behavioral problems early in their school careers are at high risk of developing long-term pervasive behavioral and academic problems, and early school success depends on successful social-emotional development. Giv...