While you have a little space to breathe and think about your next school year, consider your plans for intentionally teaching social/emotional skills. As you know, social/emotional development is the foundation for all other learning. Providing intentional opportunities to learn and practice these skills is an essential part of each and every day in our early learning classrooms. The following books will support the social and emotional skill development our youngest learners need to be successful:
Best Behavior Series by: Elizabeth Verdick/Martin Agassi/Marieka Heinlen
- Feet Are Not for Kicking
- Voices Are Not for Yelling
- Teeth Are Not for Biting
- Hands Are Not for Hitting
- Germs Are Not for Sharing
Toddler Tools Books by: Elizabeth Verdick/Marieka Heinlen
- On-the-Go Time
- Mealtime
- Naptime
- Listening Time
- Manners Time
- Bedtime
- Calm-Down Time
- Sharing Time
- Bye-Bye Time
- Clean-Up Time
Everyday Feelings Set by: Kay Barnham/Mike Gordon
- Clean-Up Time
- Feeling Scared
- Feeling Angry
- Feeling Jealous
- Feeling Sad
- Feeling Worried
- Feeling Shy
All of these books are published by Free Spirit Publishers which also has a great blog. Check out their site at: https://www.freespirit.com.
Incorporating social/emotional skill development in your daily routine will help to prevent challenging behaviors in the classroom. For our littles to attain the skills they need to be socially and emotionally competent, they need to be specifically taught the skills, be afforded plenty of opportunities to practice and be given consistent positive feedback in the classroom. These books can help to supplement the amazing, creative lessons you create!
