The Light Giver Stories Workbook: Activities and Lessons for Social Emotional Learning.

by Peggy D Sideratos, Mavrikos Stamatia (Illustrator)

Overview

Do you want to raise children who are secure and confident enough to reach their goals and handle challenges that come their way? Would you also want them to be kind and compassionate people who display good character? What if there was a way to make it easy for you to do this which didn't require much time at all?

The Light Giver Stories Workbook: Activities and Lessons for Social Emotional Learning, is a collection of 22 lessons, activities and discussions designed by a teacher to promote positive Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills in children. These quick and easy lessons and activities are the perfect complement to the stories found in, The Light Giver and Other Stories to Raise Emotionally Healthy Children.

The activities and lessons were designed to be extremely effective, yet simple enough for anyone to use. They address core issues that children regularly face such as coping with fear or disappointment, and teach decision-making skills. Other lessons help children develop confidence and recognize their gifts. The book also addresses the tenets of good character like patience, honesty, kindness and compassion.

For more information on the books and the topics addressed, or to view videos of sample lessons and story readings, visit www.thelightgiverstories.com

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781733462013
Publisher:	For the Love of Children
Publication date:	11/01/2019
Pages:	118
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.25(d)

About the Author

"Why didn't I know this when I was younger?" That is exactly what author and former teacher, Peggy D Sideratos asked herself after learning how to move past some of the insecurities and self-doubt she developed due to bullying she endured in her youth. She made it her mission to use her experience and knowledge to prevent her students from having to carry similar emotional damage with them into adulthood. She realized that stories were a wonderful catalyst to address many of the social and emotional topics she knew kids needed. However, when she couldn't find stories on all the topics she wanted to address, she decided to author a collection of stories and lessons that parents and teachers could use with the children they loved. Peggy, a seasoned elementary school teacher, taught a variety of grade levels in NYC schools. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters' Degree in Bilingual Elementary Education and received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Brooklyn College. Peggy also studied Social Emotional Learning and Character Education at Rutgers University. She has served as a Youth Coordinator for a non-profit organization and has worked with children and teens over the past 6 years to raise thousands of dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, and the Ronald McDonald House. Her love and devotion to children is the reason she has chosen to donate a percentage of the proceeds of her book sales to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Peggy lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family and her dog, Junior and enjoys traveling to Greece. Visit her website, www.thelightgiverstories.com for free resources and additional information.

STAMATIA MAVRIKOS was born and raised in Chios, Greece. She studied Elementary Education at Democritus University of Thrace and has worked as a teacher the past four years in Athens for Greece's public school system. She is a self-taught artist who has used her natural talent to create murals and paintings for many businesses, local municipalities and schools. Her artwork for the Light Giver series has integrated both her passions, her love for children and her talent for the arts. Stamatia also employs her devotion for both by providing face painting services for children's parties and events.

Table of Contents

1. Decisions, Decisions: What Do You Do When You’re Not Sure What to Decide (Follow-up lesson to “The Light Giver”)

2. The Treasure Chest: A Tool You Can Use to Encourage Yourself (Follow-up lesson to “Gabriel’s Journey”)

3. Secret Messenger (Follow-up lesson to “The Messenger”)

4. How to Handle Criticism and Words That Hurt: Is It Constructive or Destructive Criticism? (Follow-up lesson to “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”)

5. The Happiness Board (Follow-up lesson to “It’s Your Choice”)

6. Positive Affirmations (Follow-up lesson to “The Big, Ugly, Heavy Suitcase”)

7. Is It a Sincere Apology? (Follow-up lesson to “The Race”)

8. Guilt: The Bug That Won’t Stop Bugging You (Follow-up lesson to “The Guilt Bugs”)

9. The Secret Box: Dealing with the “What-If Monster” (Follow-up lesson to “The What-If Monster”)

10. Good, Healthy Fear vs. Bad, Unhealthy Fear (Follow-up lesson to “Do It Afraid”)

11. Sometimes Being Honest Is Scary (Follow-up lesson to “The Truth Behind Their Words”)

12. Gifts (Follow-up lesson to “Let Your Light Shine”)

13. The Most Important Secret (Follow-up lesson to “Not Like Everybody Else”)

14. What Would a Person of Excellence Do? (Follow-up lesson to “A Person of Excellence”)

15. Handling Disappointment: Is Change Possible? Determining When to Be Proactive and When to Practice Acceptance (Follow-up lesson to “Eleni’s Disappointment”)

16. Envious Thoughts: Can We Use Them for Good or Should We Lose Them? (Follow-up lesson to “Tommy’s Bike”)

17. Does That Label Define Me? Is It the Truth or Just a Stereotype? (Follow-up lesson to “Tuning In to Your Truth”)

18. The Kindness Boomerang (Follow-up lesson to “Penny’s Surprise”)

19. Planning a Trip to a Senior Home (Follow-up lesson to “A Trip to the Senior Home”)

20. Staying Cheerful During the Waiting Game (Follow-up lesson to “A Double Test of Patience”)

21. The Love Week Project (Follow-up lesson to “Love Is a Way to Live”)

22. There’s Always Room for More Love: Our Ever-Expanding Hearts (Follow-up lesson to “There’s Always Room for More”)

Editorial Reviews

“This book is beautiful! I enjoyed each of the illustrations, but the messages are the most important parts of the book. It can be used as read-aloud to 3rd and 4th graders, and they certainly would be intrigued by each of the stories. I particularly like the workbook with its tangible activities to engage students so they capture the true message of the story. I think this book would be of much interest in schools where character education is a strong focus.”

— Judith Nuss, Social and Emotional Learning Specialist, CASEL, Rutgers University Instructor, (SECD) certification program

“The Light Giver encourages positive, social-emotional behavior through a variety of stories. These tender and touching stories include characters that our young and adolescent students can relate to in today’s world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Peggy’s stories and highly recommend its use in our schools as part of a character education program.”

—Deborah Giannuzzi, Former Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Retired Principal, Adjunct Professor and Member of the Little Egg Harbor Board of Education in NJ

“A well-researched, beautifully written resource for teachers, parents and anyone working with children and young teens. The Light Giver Stories and Workbook are a must read for parents, teachers, social workers and children alike. She demonstrates with relatable stories and step by step tools in her workbook ways to facilitate emotional well-being as well as healthy interpersonal relationships. Both her children’s stories and workbook are resources that have come just in time”

—Amelia Monis, Social Worker and Elementary School Teacher

From the Publisher