Books by Ronald Mah

	Difficult Behavior in Early Childhood: Positive Discipline in PreK-3 Classrooms and Beyond Description: "Teachers of young children will feel validated by this book that explains the issues underlying behaviors that challenge us on a daily basis and shows how to address them effectively." -Xiomara Sánchez, NBCT, Dual Language Pre-K Teacher, Darwin Elementary School, Chicago, IL "Covers the breadth of children's behaviors that teachers are likely to see, and describes the major motivators for them very well. The examples and scenarios are highly interesting, meaningful, and transferable to classroom practice." -Gail Hardesty, Early Reading First Mentor, Chicago Public Schools, IL Increase your understanding of children to guide and shape behavior in positive ways! Teachers are masterful in balancing the diverse backgrounds, social-emotional needs, and academic goals of children in their classroom-that is, if they can only get them to sit still, pay attention, keep their hands off of each other (or out of the fish tank), or a host of other effective aggravations! But creating a classroom of attentive learners takes more than swift discipline-it involves helping children make good behavioral choices by developing their self-control rather than controlling them to make the choices we prefer. Difficult Behavior in Early Childhood offers insight into understanding why certain children behave in certain ways, so teachers can react appropriately to individual behaviors and needs. In an engaging, conversational tone, the book covers: Reconciling the different behavioral expectations of families and schools Applying timeout effectively Motivating children immediately and powerfully Establishing and following through with boundaries Developing behavior incentive plans that work Identifying early signs of depression, anxiety, grief, and special needs Through informed practice, teachers can bring about positive behavioral change and healthy, productive development. To order online from Corwin Press, follow link to Difficult Behavior in Early Childhood: Positive Discipline in PreK-3 Classrooms and Beyond
The One-Minute Temper Tantrum Solution with  Tantrum Igniters, Tantrum Styles, & Types of Tantrums Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, CA (est. publication in Winter 2007)
Beyond Difficult Behavior in Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, CA (est. publication in Summer 2008)

DVDs of Workshops by Ronald Mah from FixedEarthFilms.com

To order follow links to www.FixedEarthFilms.com

CHILDHOOD BASICS

"ME AND YOU, KID,"  BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM IN THE ADULT-CHILD SYSTEM, w/ "The 90 Second-A-Day Self-Esteem Prescription Plan"   Self-esteem is the foundation of mental health for a child in childhood and for his or her entire life.   The video helps adults who strive to build self-esteem in children but sometimes overlook their own issues that can either foster or harm that process.  The Adult-Child System of Self-Esteem is discussed to facilitate a mutually empowering process between adults and children of emotional and psychological development.  The video discusses the four components of self-esteem and how they guide the adult to build self-esteem in the child.  The video uses the building of a house as a metaphor for teaching how the adults' forming of their own self-esteem and psychological health become the foundation to building the self-esteem of children.  Seven fundamentals to creating the adult foundation in the adult-child system to build self-esteem are discussed in depth.  Seven guidelines to building self-esteem in the child are then introduced with examples that viewers will find relevant and practical.  In addition, the “90 Second-A-Day Self-Esteem Prescription Plan” for developing children is revealed. Video sample of this dvd for PC users Video sample of this dvd for Mac users

VICTIMS, ABUSERS/BULLIES, & SURVIVORS: THE DYNAMICS OF SELF-ESTEEM IN AGGRESSION AND/OR VIOLENCE         Not all children become victims although many children experience being bullied in childhood.  This video reveals the dynamics that cause a bully, a victim, and a survivor to develop.  The short-term and long-term costs of becoming either a victim or a bully are discussed.  This presentation makes the connections between aggression, violence, and self-esteem as they develop in children.  The developmental processes of the victim, abuser/bully, and survivor are discussed with reference to parenting styles, both positive and problematic.  Guidance is given so that well intended parents do not make the critical mistakes that disempower their children and increase the likelihood of their children becoming victimized.  Adults with challenging children are guided to avoid the dynamics that inadvertently promote abusive bullying behavior.  Methods are presented to build self-esteem in children and to protect them from becoming abusers/bullies and/or victims.  In addition, key understandings for protecting children from being victimized and the formation of anti-bullying programs in schools are discussed. Video sample of this dvd for PC users Video sample of this dvd for Mac users

UNDERSTANDING CHILDREN…UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR…FOR MORE EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE This information and video was developed in response to parents, teachers, and social services professionals who needed a systematic process to understand the motivations behind children's behavior (and adult behavior as well!).   Often adults make assumptions about what may be the reasons behind a child's behavior.  Children may exhibit the same behavior for a multitude of reason.  Or, several issues contribute to a particular behavior erupting.  Although it is usually important to set boundaries regarding the behavior, adults also need to understand what causes the behavior.  Unless the underlying issues are addressed, the behavior often reasserts itself or is not responsive to boundaries. This video uses two sets of questions to better understand and address the underlying emotional, psychological, and other issues that arise in children that affect behavior and potential discipline responses by adults.  First, six simple questions are presented to gain insight and an overview of the emotional state of the child having behavior problems.  Next, an orderly diagnostic process is presented, starting with looking at things from a developmental perspective to higher levels of concern.  In many situations, when several of the issues may apply to the child, viewers can more systematically, practically, and successfully provide the discipline and support the child requires.   Video sample of this dvd for PC users Video sample of this dvd for Mac users

Temper Tantrums!! Understanding and Helping Children in Emotional Need with "The One Minute Temper Tantrum Solution!" The frustration of poorly handling a Temper Tantrum is discussed along with examples of Temper Tantrum Igniters.  Temper tantrums drive adults crazy!   However, they are also attempts by children to handle their own needs and their place and power in the larger world.  This video describes how to respectfully and effectively handle Temper Tantrums so that children are guided towards healthy ways to handle their needs; and the home, classroom, and other communities are not disrupted or disrespected.  The  FOUR types of Temper Tantrums along with the FOUR matching underlying issues and most importantly, the FOUR approaches and interventions to handle them with sensitivity and effectiveness are discussed.  In addition, viewers will learn how to handle aTemper Tantrum when the adult is not sure which of the FOUR Temper Tantrums has erupted.  Focus is on using participants awareness of their own emotional and psychological needs to create understanding of the child's emotional and psychological needs when he or she is in a tantrum state.  This knowledge is then translated into practical technique that the participants can use to effectively prevent and resolve children's temper tantrums with the “One Minute Temper Tantrum Solution.”  And a special bonus… how the evolution and practical experiences of childhood tantrums become adult tantrums! Video sample of this dvd for PC users Video sample of this dvd for Mac users

Childhood Stress Adults often inadvertently disable a child from being able to be strong and successful in their lives, by trying to protect them from stress.  This presentation discusses both the positive aspects of experiencing stress and how to appropriately support the development of the skills and strength necessary to avoid the negative aspects of stress.  A simple mnemonic, SFFSSSSSSF helps adults facilitate the development of a powerful child who will be able to welcome, handle, and grow from life stresses.  Adults will be better able to have children experience life stresses as life opportunities.  Adults, who integrate these lessons will also be freed from the impossibility of totally protecting and sheltering children from the realities of the world.

5-DVD set: CHILDHOOD BASICS  This series features these 5  titles:   * "Me and You Kid," Building Self-Esteem in the Adult-Child System, w/ "The 90 Second-A-Day Self-Esteem Prescription Plan" * Victims, Abusers/Bullies, & Survivors: The Dynamics of Self-Esteem in Aggression and/or Violence * Understanding Children...Understanding Behavior...For More Effective Discipline * Temper Tantrums!! Understanding and Helping Children in Emotional Need with "The One Minute Temper Tantrum Solution!" * Childhood Stress

The Developmental Series

“Just Playing is Just Great,” Articulating Play's Importance This presentation focuses on helping adults understand how play is appropriate and essential to early childhood development, i.e. that the children are never "just playing"; they are in fact always developing and learning.  Developmental theory is made real, understandable, and applicable to your interactions with your children.  Implications for activities and appropriate learning materials, and for setting the learning environment are addressed.  Also, seven interest areas focuses for early childhood development.

Temperament and Personality Affecting Behavior and Relationships "What's with this Kid?" As adults understand temperament, many of the negative judgments and fears about their children's behavior can be set aside.  Participants will learn nine temperamental traits and how to make temperamental evaluations of children and of themselves; how to use the temperamental evaluation to create constructive experiences with the child to minimize difficulties and to empower the adult with logical and effective strategies for interactions; how to diagnose learning styles of children; and how to diagnose adult's teaching/parenting styles.

Basic Rules of Developmental Theories, "How Growth Happens” There are many important developmental theories that help explain a child’s (or adult’s) growth and change processes; Piaget, Erikson, Freud, attachment theory, and family life cycle theory are but a few.  Understanding these theories help adults to better support, stimulate, and facilitate children’s healthy growth and development, and recognize the limitations and dangers in the process. This presentation presents the underlying rules of all developmental theories, and gives guidance on how to not only recognize how they manifest in children, but also how to best aid development.

Developmental Theories II "Practical Application for You...and Yours"  Outstanding theorists have presented highly informative developmental theories that are sometimes difficult for caring adults to translate into practical applications with the children they raise and teach.  The trainer presents the theories of Erik Erikson (stages of social emotional growth from infancy through childhood through adulthood and becoming elderly), Selman (how children move from ego-centric perspectives to other perspectives), Ainsworth (attachment), and Kohlberg (moral development) in readily understandable conversational language, that can be readily applied to better evaluate, teach, and parent growing children.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Growth,  "Learning the Rules of Life" Children are always trying to figure out how things work, and adults need to know how it works for them; that is, adults need to understand how children learn… how their “figurin’ out” process works and changes over time.   This presentation follows children as they begin their initial “explorations” and “experimentations” with the world, through the early childhood era into adolescent and adult intellectual functioning.  Pitfalls and misconceptions and the subsequent inappropriate well-intended interventions by adults to stimulate children’s learning, are contrasted with more effective strategies.  Conceptual clarity allows adults to better stimulate cognitive development, rather than inadvertently confuse children.

5-DVD set: The Developmental Series This series features these 5  titles: * Just Playing is Just Great "Articulating Play's Importance" * Temperament and Personality Affecting Behavior and Relationships "What's with this Kid?" * Basic Rules of Developmental Theories "How Growth Happens" * Developmental Theories II "Practical Application for You...and Yours" * Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Growth "Learning the Rules of Life"