Three approaches to classroom management--assertive discipline, cooperative learning, and behavior management/mastery learning theory--are described. Assertive discipline was observed in a fifth-grade class taught by a teacher who would not allow students to interfere with her teaching or another child's learning. The assertive discipline approach is a system of understanding the rules of the class and accepting the consequences related to obeying and disobeying them. Cooperative learning was observed in a sixth-grade class during a lesson on "put-downs." Cooperative lessons involve content, social skills, and processing elements. Within each lesson ground rules were established. The classroom teacher led students through a five-step lesson plan that included an anticipatory set focusing on what "put-downs" are; instruction, including getting information and modeling; guided practice; and closure, including a final check for performance; and independent practice leading students to use "I-messages" instead of "putdowns." Use of behavior management and principles derived from mastery learning theory were observed in classes serving learning disabled students with severe behavior problems. This program stresses rules and consequences for student behavior through consistent and fair awarding of privileges and assignment of consequences. It is concluded that each program discussed can potentially be effective in managing classroom behavior. (RH)