Recent research suggests that student behavior is influenced by many factors, and teacher responses to disorderly conduct must be based upon a careful assessment of each student's current situation as well as of the teacher's own role in the classroom. This review of the literature discusses common factors affecting student behavior; underlines the need for identifying behavior problems early and communicating with students and parents; and suggests 15 positive responses to behavior problems that are suitable to different circumstances. Five teacher behaviors that can influence student behaviors are discussed: modeling good behavior, designing suitable learning spaces, interacting with students, responding to student attempts to improve, and assessing student learning for purposes of promoting development. The possible impact of non-classroom staff, the curriculum, and the community on both the development of and the solutions to behavior problems is also explored. The document concludes with a listing of the 70 references concerning student behavior and discipline cited in the literature review, and two dozen additional references on the topic. (Author/PGD)