Me, You, Us

Social/emotional learning is key to every child's ability to manage feelings and to interact successfully with others. Early childhood educators say this skill set is as essential to school readiness as the academic learning areas. This book covers 11 separate topics of social/emotional learning from developing a positive self-identity to creating and participating in a democracy and offers numerous teaching strategies and suggestions for professional development. Through a comprehensive approach that draws on extensive research and discussion from the early childhood field, this book helps the educators chart a path for young children to develop the social/emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgments

Part One Introduction
Chapter 1
- The Importance of Social?Emotional Learning
- What This Book Offers the Thoughtful Educator
- How This Book Is Organized
- What is Social?Emotional Learning?
- The Components of Social?Emotional Learning
- Why is There Renewed Interest in Social?Emotional Learning?
- What are the Implications of Renewed Interest in Social?Emotional Learning?
- Why is Social?Emotional Development Important In the Preschool Years?
Conclusion

Chapter 2
- An Overview of Child Development and Teaching Practices
- Social?Emotional Development in Child Development
- How Other Areas of Learning Affect Social?Emotional Development
- The Importance of Play in Social?Emotional Learning
- The Relationship Between Social?Emotional Development and Social Studies Teaching Practices
- Creating a Supportive Environment
- Fostering Specific Skills
- Classroom Practices to Promote Overall Social?Emotional Learning
- Classroom Practices to Promote Specific Social?Emotional Learning
In Conclusion

Part Two Emotional Development
Chapter 3 - Developing a Positive Self-Identity
Chapter 4 - Feeling Empathy
Chapter 5 - Developing a Sense of Competence
Chapter 6 - Recognizing and Labeling Emotions

Part Three Social Development
Chapter 7 - Developing a Sense of Community
Chapter 8 - Engaging in Cooperative Play
Chapter 9 - Valuing Diversity
Chapter 10 - Developing a Framework for Moral Behavior
Chapter 11 - Resolving Conflicts
Chapter 12 - Creating and Following Rules
Chapter 13 - Creating and Participating in a Democracy

Part Four. Beyond the Classroom
Chapter 14
- Preparing Ourselves to be Role Models
- About this Chapter
- Reflecting on Our Interactions with Children
- Why Our Beliefs and Behaviors with Children Matter
- Implications for Professional Development Reflecting on Our Interactions with Families
- Why Our Beliefs and Behaviors with Families Matter
- Implications for Professional Development
In Conclusion
Chapter 15
- Social?Emotional Learning at Home
- About This Chapter
- Working With Families
- Supporting Emotional Development at Home
- Young Children as Competent and Confident Learners
- Young Children as Decision Makers
- Young Children as Problem Solvers
- Young Children as Challengers
- Supporting Social Development at Home
- Young Children as Family Members
- Young Children and Resolving Conflicts
- Young Children and Dramatic Play
In Conclusion
Chapter 16
- Reaching Out to Our Communities
- About This Chapter
- Working Within Communities
- The Community Inside the Agency
- The Community Outside the Agency
In Conclusion

References
Index