Because children’s brains are still developing during the K–12 years, educators can positively influence students’ development, including strengthening the essential skills of empathy, self-management and problem-solving. Most social skill training groups involve a top-down process where adults teach young people what they should do. But the over-generalized, one-size-fits-all approach to social and problem-solving skills leads to a mental disconnect for students. Unsurprisingly, the fact that many young people often find such material to be boring or irrelevant to their own lives provides a significant roadblock to understanding and retention.

Dr. Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin, one of the world’s leading experts on children and brain development, shares award-winning techniques that connect with students’ lives and concerns. Readers will find:

• A research-based approach refined through ongoing work in public schools
• Classroom exercises grouped by age, but adaptable for all grade levels
• Lively, thought-provoking activities that relate to students’ lives and keep them engaged and interested
• Valuable content for anti-bullying initiatives and counseling programs
• Strategies that positively shape individual students’ emotional development, classroom dynamics, and overall school culture