Michaelene M. Ostrosky – författare

Bullying prevention starts with helping young children understand and accept diversity—the earlier the better. That's why your school team needs this ready-to-use resource, a simple, fun, and effective way to promote social acceptance in the critical early years of attitude development.Perfect for K–2 classrooms, this book presents the field-tested, research-based Making Friends program, a toolbox of adaptable, practical strategies that fit right into your regular school day. You'll help students respect and accept each other's differences through three methods: 1) reading diversity-themed stories and conducting brief whole-class discussions; 2) forming small learning groups that encourage children from diverse backgrounds to play and interact; and 3) sharing the storybooks you read with families so they can continue discussions at home. Aligned with DEC/NAEYC recommended practices and the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards, this proven program will boost students' social and academic skills as you create a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally responsive classroom.Use this Program to:enrich your existing classroom activities—circle time, class discussion, cooperative play—with important lessons on social acceptancestrengthen students' literacy skills while they learn to accept and celebrate differencessupport friendships among children of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and family structureslay the groundwork for bully-free school environmentschoose books, toys, and other materials that reflect our diverse world and give young children a sense of belongingimplement a universal design for learning (UDL) approach to address the needs of diverse learners"think on your feet" to work lessons on acceptance into small teachable moments and everyday conversationsincrease the home-school connection with strategies parents can use with their childrenstrengthen understanding of how acceptance is developed through reflective activities for teachers and school-wide teamsPractical Materials: The book includes a complete package of reproducible, adaptable materials for implementing the Making Friends program, including a sample activity schedule, discussion guides, and forms to send home with families. You'll also get step-by-step directions on working the activities into your school day, extensive lists of diversity resources, vignettes that model positive interactions, and more.

A proven and popular teaching method, the Project Approach engages the natural curiosity of children through in-depth investigations of topics that capture their interest. Now there’s a guidebook that helps you use this child-centered approach to reach and teach all learners in your early childhood classroom—regardless of background or ability. Developed by a team of experts that includes Project Approach leader Lilian G. Katz, this book is your go-to guide to implementing project-based learning in inclusive early childhood classrooms. You’ll discover how to support diverse groups of students as they study real world topics that fascinate them, play detective with peers to find answers to questions, and show what they’ve learned in interesting and creative ways. You’ll also get practical, start-to-finish guidance on how to apply the Project Approach, including a complete package of training materials, examples of successful projects from real inclusive classrooms, and a Project Approach Implementation Checklist that helps you use the approach effectively. LEARN HOW TO:• Use the Project Approach in combination with universal design for learning (UDL) strategies• Choose a compelling project topic that encourages hands-on learning in inclusive settings• Teach children effective strategies for investigating the topic and conducting research• Build on children’s natural motivation by actively engaging and listening to them• Make the most of each child’s individual strengths and expertise during project work • Support children in representing their learning through displays and presentations• Offer accommodations and supports that meet diverse learning needs

For more than a decade, the widely used Pyramid Model for Promoting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children has been helping early educators use research‐based practices to boost social‐emotional development. Now there’s a practical guide that makes it easier than ever to implement this highly effective framework in preschool classrooms.Created by the Pyramid Model developers and experts with extensive training experience, this is the first book to provide a comprehensive, step‐by‐step overview of the Pyramid Model for children ages 2–5. Early childhood educators will get a complete overview of the framework, plus in‐depth guidance, evidence‐based strategies, and helpful checklists for implementing all tiers of the Pyramid Model: universal, targeted, and individualized.Ideal for use in teacher trainings, preservice methods courses, and individual professional development, Unpacking the Pyramid Model will give current and future educators the foundational skills they need to promote positive behavior and build all young children’s social‐emotional competence.Learn how to use the Pyramid Model to: Construct a positive classroom environment that supports access and engagement for all studentsDevelop predictable schedules and routines that maximize participation and learningClearly define and teach behavior expectations and rulesDeliver intentional, explicit instruction in social‐emotional competenceSupport smooth and streamlined transitions that prevent challenging behaviorCreate a culture of friendship and actively teach children friendship skillsTeach children about emotions and help them develop a “feeling vocabulary”Give children the skills they need to solve interpersonal problems appropriatelyProvide individualized support for children with persistent challenging behavior