Book Resources to Help You Enhance Early Learner Social Skills | By: Committee for Children High quality implementation involves taking it slow. It’s more than just implementing and completing the weekly theme activities and “getting through them all.” Successful implementation involves skill reinforcement during all other classroom activities and in other curriculum areas. That means taking the time and providing opportunity to further discuss, model, and practice the skills learned in each weekly theme. One great way to do this is through books, such as Free Spirit Publishing’s Best Behavior books. The series, written by Elizabeth Verdick for children ages 4–7, strengthens and supports many of the concepts in the Second Step Early Learning curriculum. The Best Behavior books offer more than just a story to read with children. Most of the books have activities and discussion starters that reinforce the story message and skills learned in Second Step weekly themes, saving time from having to create your own ideas for extension. The books also often include a parent/caregiver component, beginning with a letter to parents and/or ending with additional book recommendations, suggestions, and tips. One of my favorites in the five-book series is Words Are Not for Hurting. It supports at least five of the Early Learning themes in three different units. It sparks dialogue about choosing words wisely, thinking carefully before speaking, considering others’ feelings, communicating through body language, sticking up for oneself, and apologizing. The connections to concepts taught in the Skills for Learning, Empathy, and Friendship Skills and Problem Solving Units are a great reason to ignite deeper learning by reading and revisiting the book several times! The books are also often open-ended, and many pages leave room for additional questions and conversation. For example, pages 14 and 15 of Words Are Not for Hurting invite students to think about how they feel when they hear hurtful words, which would be a perfect time to have students generate lists of hurtful words and feeling that go with them. The same could be done with helpful words and feelings. Both activities align well with Empathy Unit lessons such as “Identifying Feelings.” For more information about other books that complement Second Step weekly themes, please see my last blog post: Complement the Second Step Early Learning Program with the Our Emotions and Behavior Book Series Also check out the many book extension activity ideas in the Second Step Online Community in the group: Book Activities to Support Second Step.