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CM . . . . Volume XX Number 38 . . . . May 30, 2014
excerpt:
Moment to Moment is written for all teachers whether they are experienced or new to the profession, whether they are classroom teachers, resource or special education teachers. This book provides educators with explanations, step-by-step procedures and accommodations for a variety of situations and students' behaviours to assist all students in developing and improving their social skills. The Introduction includes four student profiles, two in grade 1, one each in grade four and grade six, that describe student behaviours that many teachers may see reflected in their own students. Mandel's purpose for this book is to provide teachers with information and knowledge that can empower them to identify social and emotional skill deficits students often demonstrate, and then to teach students these skills by using game-based activities. Studying the information will lead teachers to re-examine what they have thought of as misbehaviour and instead recognize it as a skill deficit - a skill which can be taught. Mandel has used knowledge and insight gained by experience as a special education and ESL teacher, a parent coach and education consultant to write an insightful and practical book. The detailed games and activities are meant to include all children in real-world social learning opportunities that help children succeed, instead of allowing them to opt out of activities they find difficult because they have been labelled with Asperger's, or OCD, or ADHD, etc. The initial chapter explains the importance of looking beyond the behaviour, identifying triggers, and breaking down broad ranges of skills into discrete skills. These discrete skills are easy to visualize as they are reflected in the behaviours of the four profiled students. Subsequent chapters focus on developing physical, language, social, emotional, and cognitive skills. A chart to conduct a class skill deficit observation survey is included. The instructions for the games are detailed and easy to follow as they are described in numbered steps, and suggestions for discussion before and after are included. Moment to Moment support for each skill activity encompasses (as appropriate) suggestions for grouping students, working with-in their zone of proximal development, scaffolding, modeling, redo, self-talk, verbal or nonverbal cues, detailed positive praise, and regulating the environment. "Chase the skill" suggestions are included for activities that are suitable to be practised throughout the day. Homework suggestions with wording for a message to be sent home to parents are also part of the plan for some activities. The final chapter guides teachers with steps to deal with meltdowns, to stop their own and the child's escalation, to develop de-escalation skills, and to prevent meltdowns. A list of professional resources for further reading and a detailed index are also included. These real life social skills support children as they arrive at school, move from independent to group work, change classroom spaces, and before, during and after recess. Mandel's goal is to help teachers guide children with empathy and feedback instead of punishment and direction, and she does so with insight and practical wisdom. Highly Recommended. Betty Klassen teaches in the Faculty of Education in the Middle Years Program at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB.
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