In this essay, we discuss how teachers and students can use children's literature and literature-based activities to intentionally foster hope. The previous years have proved to be challenging on many fronts. Teachers of all levels are focusing on ways to support academic development in an oft-shifting context. Drawing on research using…

It is commonly accepted and expected that gifted students enjoy reading and other forms of creative modes of storytelling. A core principle from bibliotherapy is that students engage in reading when they identify with one or more characters, and challenges and interests like their own. The same principle applies to multicultural literature--when…

Play is one of the essential components in proper development of first-grade students. Since the adoption by various states of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), two outcomes have developed: (a) increased instructional time and (b) decreased public school recess periods across school districts. Given the complex nature of daily instructional…

Bullying continues to be a challenging issue for classroom teachers. The authors provide seven recommendations to prevent bullying and for intervention if bullying occurs: (a) know the forms of bullying and recognize the effects forms of bullying and recognize the effects, (b) promote a positive classroom environment, (c) teach a variety of…

While governing bodies have mandated that all students have the right to an education, with disabled students treated to the same rights and opportunities as non-disabled students, policymakers do not always agree on what all-inclusive education should look like. "Challenges Surrounding the Education of Children with Chronic Diseases"…

For difficult or challenging children and teenagers in therapeutic or school settings, creative activities can be an excellent way of increasing enjoyment and boosting motivation, making the sessions more rewarding and successful for everyone involved. This resource provides over one hundred tried-and-tested fun and imaginative therapeutic…

Sierra Leone is only one of the more than 50 armed conflicts currently going on around the world. It is estimated that 20 million children were either refugees or displaced internally, and some 300,000 children under the age of 18 were used in hostilities at any given time as government or rebel soldiers, with about one-third reportedly fighting…

A rationale is presented for the use of bibliotherapy with students who are gifted. Teacher responsibilities and the bibliotherapeutic process are explained. The process is then applied in a unit on perfectionism in literature for high school students and for elementary and middle school students. (JDD)

This annotated bibliography describes literature for children that addresses issues concerned with developmental disabilities. The 15 references are grouped into those for children in prekindergarten through grade three and those for children in grades four through eight. (DB)

Description of the social skill literature strategy (SSLS), an instructional approach that involves integrating social skills intervention into the literature curriculum, focuses on its application using the study of Shakespeare to develop the social skills of secondary students with learning disabilities in an inclusive setting. (Contains…

Indicates that bibliotherapy can be combined with puppetry techniques to help children resolve developmental problems. Suggests that additional benefits may include appreciation for children's literature as well as increased knowledge of story structures, enhanced language fluency, and increased vocabulary. (Author/KS)

Discusses the importance of rituals and concrete things to help children deal with the death of a loved one. Eight books of fiction for elementary students that portray young people dealing with death are summarized, and ideas for classroom and library activities are suggested. (PEN)

This article discusses disability as one aspect of diversity in inclusive early childhood classrooms and offers a framework for evaluating children's books that address disability as a part of diversity. The nine criteria are explained and discussed: illustrations, story line, lifestyles, relationships, self-image, author/illustrator backgrounds,…

This article discusses how students with high-incidence disabilities can benefit from using bibliotherapy by learning to become proactive problem solvers. A sample lesson plan is presented based on a teaching framework for bibliotherapy and problem solving that contains the elements of prereading, guided reading, post-reading discussion, and a…

This article offers guidelines for using children's and adolescents' literature as a means of fostering social learning while developing literacy skills. It reviews the literature on teaching social skills, considers book selection, offers a model for using literature to teach social skills, suggests literature formats for teaching social skills,…