Learn how to engage in and resolve conflict productively to improve work relationships and create a more equitable community for children. Conflicts are inevitable, often hard to navigate, and can quickly multiply and become unmanageable. And resolving conflict requires self-reflection, understanding, and vulnerability. But knowing how to tackle difficult conversations will strengthen relationships, create a more equitable community, and improve the impact educators have on the young children they work with.   The first of its kind, Finding Your Way Through Conflict specifically focuses on conflict in early childhood education settings and gives concrete steps and strategies to help manage and resolve it productively.   Authors Chris Amirault, Ph.D., and Christine M. Snyder, M.A., have decades of experience in early childhood education programs and conflict resolution. Built on their expertise and their own experiences, the book’s conflict scenarios are engaging and authentic, empowering educators to get in and out of conflict in a variety of personal, organization, and cultural contexts.   Some of these scenarios include: The Discombobulated Team: The children’s artwork you posted in the classroom yesterday is gone. Who took it down—and why?The Intent/Impact Disagreement: You were only trying to help! So why is that parent offended?The Unexpected Disaster: Your team planned every aspect of that difficult parent meeting for days. So why was it such a catastrophe? A free PLC/Book Study Guide is available at freespirit.com/plc.  

Sparking Learning in Young Children: Classroom Best Practices provides a streamlined yet comprehensive overview of everything you need to kickstart your preschool, transitional kindergarten, or pre-K classroom to help ensure the best possible teaching and learning environment. Dive into relevant topics, offering insights from contemporary research, expert-defined best practices, and real-world examples from the author's twenty-plus years of experience. Whether a seasoned teacher or a dedicated aide, this guide is your roadmap to creating a vibrant, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate early childhood learning experience. This concise yet comprehensive resource equips you with the essential tools to create an engaging learning environment by focusing on key areas such as child development, planning and reflection, room design and materials, family engagement, and more!