As a preschool teacher, you know that managing behaviors in the classroom can be a challenging. From fit-throwing, to hitting, to peer issues – behavior issues can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. I get it. But, there is a better way that can help you transform your classroom environment and help your little learners thrive. And I’ve put it all together in a brand new free guide called the Guide to Social Emotional Learning in the Preschool Classroom.
I created this guide because I was seeing and hearing from preschool teachers struggling with student behavior. And I was seeing advice that wasn’t actually getting to the root of the issue, rather using temporary fixes that didn’t actually change the child’s behavior. And as you are well aware…dealing with challenging behaviors can take an emotional toll. The constant need for redirection and discipline can leave you feeling drained and burned out. In fact, studies show that behavior challenges contribute to high levels of teacher stress and job dissatisfaction. But you’re not alone! These challenges are prevalent in preschool settings around the country, affecting teachers just like you.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. By flipping the script and looking at student behaviors in a different light can make real change and real progress. Understanding the underlying reasons behind student behaviors is KEY. It’s not just about addressing the surface-level behaviors; it’s about digging deeper to uncover the root causes. We see lots of different behavior issues in preschoolers – and the root causes could be anything from lack of social skills, difficulty regulating emotions, and trouble with transitions.
So, what is a preschool teacher to do? TEACH. It’s what we do with missing academic skills. So, why wouldn’t we TEACH missing social-emotional skills? Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a powerful approach that can promote positive behavior and emotional well-being in preschoolers. By focusing on the development of social skills, self-awareness, and self-regulation, SEL provides a foundation for lifelong success – not just stopping the behavior for the moment.
Want to dive deeper into how you can use social emotional learning to aid in teaching children missing skills (rather than just using punishments/rewards)? I encourage you to check out the FREE guide ‘Social Emotional Learning in the Preschool Classroom: go from frustration to real progress with student behaviors.
Inside you will find the ‘If-Instead’ strategy I used to help me change my thinking around student behaviors (including real life examples). You will also learn when and how to teach social emotional skills – both in the moment and proactively. And there is a list of which social emotional skills that are perfect to introduce to your preschoolers.
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