Moment to Moment: A Positive Approach to Managing Classroom Behavior

by Joey Mandel, Joanne Cummings (Foreword by)

Moment to Moment offers teachers the tools they need to help children succeed socially, emotionally, and behaviorally and shows how to build important social skills—from controlling speech and movement to building attention and concentration, to adapting to the social environment. This important book empowers teachers to help children develop stronger character, sense of self, and emotional well-being, giving them the skills they need to deal with the emotional challenges they meet in school.

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2013

Reviews

[Pembroke Publishers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[Joey Mandel's] book does an excellent job of explaining the behaviours caused by social skill deficits and provides many examples of how these deficits affect a child's ability to function. … the activities are useful for the teacher and fun for the students. …However, these activities can often be integrated into physical education or arts programs, making them more feasible to include on a busy schedule. This book is a worthwhile addition to a teacher's classroom management and provides valuable insight into the issues that lie behind difficult student behaviour." - Education Canada Magazine


"…explores how to actively help students develop the physical, language, social, emotional and cognitive skills to alleviate the problem. Most useful is the section on how to address meltdowns and de-escalate challenging behavioural incidents. …Mandel's approach is very proactive. ...includes games and activities to target specific social skill deficits. Many of these tools are useful for teaching younger students how to be courteous and how to act in order to gain respect during discussions, group work and playtime. The book is most suitable for educators who work with children in the K to Grade 6 range. It would also be useful for special educators and those who support students with special needs at the higher levels." - Professionally Speaking, Dec. 2014

"Moment to Moment… 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. …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'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." - CM Magazine

"Grade E: Moment to Moment offers teachers the tools they need to help children succeed socially, emotionally, and behaviourally and shows how to build important social skills… Mandel has formulated a scientifically based framework that enables teachers to carefully observe, reflect, identify, and address critical skill deficits. She clearly communicates her ideas through detailed descriptions in simple, user-friendly language. ...This book provides a rich selection of learning activities and games designed to promote growth across the field of relevant social skills while considering students' feelings of engagement and accomplishment. There are before and after discussion points, and suggestions for extra supports that teachers can easily incorporate into their everyday practice." - Resource Links

"This book is an insightful and empowering resource based on the premise that some children need extra help and patience in developing social skills. Teachers will learn how to help students build these crucial skills, develop a stronger sense of character and self and deepen emotional well-being. This text is aimed at teachers of Grades K-6." - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Spring 2014

"Author Joey Mandel has taken an honest and reflective look at behaviors in the classroom, helping teachers not only guide children in the moment, but actively develop their skills in order to reduce future behavioral outbursts. ...Well organized and easy-to-read, this book provides meaningful whole-group, teacher-directed lessons focused on skill development through social engagement. It should be a staple in every elementary and learning centre teacher library." - TEACH Magazine

[Lrnspr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an excellent over-view of social and emotional needs of students. At the beginning of the book, there is a very useful needs assessment/checklist. I was using this with one student in mind--I knew he was"high-needs"--but, as I went through the checklist, I realized that most of my students could use some social and emotional support! There is a basic overview of each need, a suggestion for an activity or game in the classroom, and suggestions for further practice at home. I have used the games in the classroom (kids love them!), and when parents ask what they can do to support their students, there are specific ideas I can share with them.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

101 great games for building basic skills in students in K-6. I must admit that I was hoping for a bit more for older students.