What's the Right Thing to Do: Promoting Thoughtful and Socially Responsible Behavior in the Early Childhood Years

(Paperback)

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Making choices is one of the more pervasive acts of life. Almost every action we take demands that choices be made. Knowing how to choose wisely, to choose after reflection, to be aware of what motivates that choice, to see the consequences of that choice on others enables us to live healthier, more productive and more responsible lives.

We now live in a world in which our traditional moral exemplars have been less than honorable in their public behavior. With fewer heroes and flawed role models, how are children to come to an understanding of whats right, whats good, decent and socially responsible Do as I say, not as I do is hardly a viable tenet to guide childrens choices.

This book offers important tools for carrying out effective strategies that build caring environments in the classroom and home; for teaching children to weigh decisions in the face of potential consequences, examine rationales for their choices, and study the effects of their choices on others, i.e., to think more carefully about ethical problems, in the presence of the moral freedom to determine for themselves what it means to lead a good and virtuous life.

Reviews

Whats the Right Thing to Do: Promoting Thoughtful and Socially Responsible Behavior in the Early Childhood Years is clear, concise, and on target. This book is a valuable contribution to an important field. Indeed, what can be more important to our future than the moral education of the young -- William C. Cliett Jr., Ph.D, former superintendent of schools, Gainesville, Florida
The writing in Whats the Right Thing to Do: Promoting Thoughtful and Socially Responsible Behavior in the Early Childhood Years is clear and persuasive, and the book itself is significant and timely. -- James Raths, emeritus professor, University of Delaware
As an educator for over 40 years, I cant think of a timelier issue than the development of moral behaviour in our students. I began reading Whats the Right Thing to Do and couldnt stop until I was finished; its that compelling and easy to read. Once again Selma Wassermann has given teachers a very inspiring book with just the right balance of theory and practical activities to use in the classroom tomorrow. -- Gary Squire, retired teacher & principal, North Vancouver School District, former faculty associate, Professional Development Program, Simon Fraser University
During her forty years as an author, Selma Wassermann has been a consistently progressive force, inspiring learning and compassion. -- Alan Twigg, BC Bookworld
Make no mistake - no amount of our 21st century computer or technological proficiency can replace the need to guide kids towards informed moral choices as they develop into young adults. Selma Wassermann's wise book guides us in the training of a childs moral development, for teachers in the classroom and parents over the kitchen table. -- Dr. Mel Kaushansky, chemical neuropsychologist

Author Bio

Selma Wassermann is a professor emerita in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Her books include An Introduction to Case Method Teaching: A Guideto the Galaxy (1994), This Teaching Life (2004), Teaching for Thinking Today: Theory,Strategies and Activities for the K-8 Classroom (2017), Teaching in the Age ofDisinformation: Dont Confuse Me with the Data, My Mind is Made Up (2017).