Merrell's Strong Start—Pre-K

A Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum, Second Edition

Sara A. Whitcomb, Danielle M. Parisi Damico

• Publisher: Brookes Publishing
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN: 9781598579697
• eBook ISBN: 9781681252117
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Behavioural Management

Teach social-emotional competence to preschoolers with the NEW edition of the Strong Start—Pre-K curriculum! Part of the Strong Kids™ series, Strong Start is the fun, easy way to help young children develop the social-emotional skills they need to build a strong foundation for school success. Developed by a team of educational and mental health experts, this evidence-based, age-appropriate curriculum is

• Low cost and low tech
• Proven to help increase young children's knowledge of healthy behavior
• Easy to implement with no training required
• Brief enough to use with any program

Through engaging classroom activities, children learn about emotions and the social-emotional skills they'll use for the rest of their lives: managing anger, reducing stress, solving interpersonal problems, and more. This scientifically based curriculum runs for 10 weeks, and lessons are easy to fit into your existing schedule. Partially scripted lessons, handouts, and worksheets are included—all photocopiable and available as downloads—so you have everything you need to implement the program with little added cost or preparation.

Learn more about the Strong Kids series.

See how this product helps strengthen Head Start program quality and school readiness.

SECTION II

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The Strong Start—Pre-K Curriculum

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The Feelings Exercise Group

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Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to the Strong Start—Pre-K curriculum.

• Students will learn expected behaviors for participation in the program.

• Students will demonstrate a developmentally appropriate understanding of the concept of confidentiality.

Materials Needed

Henry (stuffed animal mascot)

Supplement 1.1 (laminated card)

Book from the literature list (or one of your choice)

Strong Start Bulletin

Running Short on Time?

This initial lesson is fairly short, but if you are still feeling short on time, you can consider segmenting this lesson into parts. You might describe the curriculum and introduce Henry on one day, and you might read and discuss a book from the literature list on another day.

Instructor Reflection

As you prepare to begin this curriculum, which focuses on helping students to build emotional awareness, coping skills, and empathy, think broadly about your own skill set. How did you learn about your own feelings when you were growing up? How aware are you of your own feelings and coping strategies? What about your students? Do they have some awareness of their feelings? What are the ways in which you have observed helpful or unhelpful coping strategies in your students? How aware are students of others’ feelings? How do you typically intervene when students engage in unhelpful coping strategies?

Introduction

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3 MINS.

Communicate the lesson’s purpose and objectives clearly. Explain to your students that they will be starting a new curriculum, Strong Start. Tell them how often it will be taught, and give examples of some of the topics that will be covered. Make it clear that the skills learned during this unit are skills that are important to their social and emotional health during all phases of life.

Throughout the lessons, we use a small stuffed bear named Henry as a class mascot. You may select a different stuffed animal or name if you wish. Introduce the children to Henry.

Sample Script

Today, we are going to begin a special class called Strong Start. In this class, we will be learning with a new friend. His name is Hen...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• About the Downloadable Material
• About the Authors
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Section I: Introduction and Overview
• Section II: The Strong Start—Pre-K Curriculum
• Section III: Appendices