Making Lemonade: Teaching Young Children to Think Optimistically

by Laura J. Colker, Derry Koralek

Overview

The benefits of an optimistic thinking style have slowly been seeping into early childhood teaching practice through research on resiliency, leadership, health, and what has been termed “grit.” Yet there remains a large vacuum in teacher education on both the importance and mechanics of teaching young children to become optimistic thinkers.

Making Lemonade is the first-to-market book on the topic of learned optimism in young children and provides 14 practical, hands-on exercises and activities teachers and families can use to positively affect children. Learned optimism can equip children to be more successful learners and healthier individuals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605546612
Publisher:	Redleaf Press
Publication date:	06/11/2019
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Laura J. Colker is an international author, lecturer, and trainer in early childhood education. She is the author, or coauthor, of over 150 publications and instructional guides and has contributed to the development of more than 40 educational videos and PBS programs. Dr. Colker is a coauthor of the widely used The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, now in its sixth edition, and High-Quality Early Childhood Programs: The What, Why, and How.

Derry Koralek spent more than 14 years writing and editing publications for National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She was the editor-in-chief of Young Children, NAEYC’s peer-reviewed professional journal and creator and Editor-in-Chief of Teaching Young Children, a magazine for preschool educators. While at NAEYC, she served as chief publications officer, overseeing the publication of periodicals, books, and digital content. As the president of DGK & Company, she develops early childhood training materials and guidebooks for private groups and for state and federal clients. Derry is the coauthor of High-Quality Early Childhood Programs: The What, Why, and How.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Understanding Optimisim

Chapter 2: Explanatory Style: How Optimism is Learned

Chapter 3: Creating a Climate for Teaching Optimism

Chapter 4: Activities for Building Children's Optimism

Chapter 5: The Optimistic Educator

Appendix A: Children's Books with Optimistic Themes

Appendix B: Tools to Help Families Support Optimism at Home

Appendix C: Learned Optimism Resources

Editorial Reviews

In this ground-breaking, research-based, and practical book, Colker and Koralek, two of the most optimistic and creative educators I know, have given us something we didn’t know we needed and weren’t sure could be taught—ways of helping children, families, and teachers themselves learn optimism. Hopefully, these strategies for promoting optimism and building resilience, mindfulness, grit, growth mindset, gratitude, happiness, and kindness will become essential elements of all programs in these challenging and stressful times.” —Sue Bredekamp, PhD, early education consultant and editor of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8

“In a time when our children are reaching out for emotional partners and teachers are feeling the daily frustrations of extremely challenging children’s behaviors—teachers are feeling helpless and hopeless. Making Lemonade systematically helps teachers to understand optimism, build a culture of optimism and provides realistic strategies and tools to embed optimism as part of the classroom climate. I am positively sure you will love reading and experiencing Making Lemonade.” —Stephen P. Zwolak, executive director, University City Children's Center, CEO, LUME Institute

“A great strength of Making Lemonade is its respect for the early childhood workforce. This book is a feast of practical resources—easy-to-implement tips, adaptable classroom activities, lists of children’s books, links to useful programs and lesson plans—all grounded in research and in the authors’ broad experience and deep wisdom.” —Marilou Hyson, PhD, early child development consultant

“Supporting children in developing an optimistic outlook is critical in fostering their resilience. In this practical and extremely important book, Laura Colker and Derry Koralek offer us many strategies for planting such seeds of hope.” —Travis Wright, EdD, counseling psychology and early childhood education director, The BASES Project (Building Academic, Social, and Emotional Supports for Children Experiencing Homelessness)

From the Publisher