DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET A Note to Readers There are times when young children don’t know that what they’re doing might be considered “misbehaving.” This is especially true when children don’t know what is expected of them. (And even when they do, they sometimes forget!) The old adage “Practice makes perfect” is certainly true when it comes to mastering positive behaviors. And it all starts with understanding what the expectations are. In When You Just Have to Roar! Ms. Mya helps the children understand what an expectation is and encourages them to come up with a list of classroom expectations. She uses positive statements instead of negative ones. For instance, she writes, “When you’re in the classroom, walk instead of run,” rather than “Don’t run in the classroom.” Ms. Mya has the children practice each expectation so that all the children will understand what it means. Grown-ups shouldn’t expect children simply to develop positive behavior skills on their own. Time spent teaching, practicing, and modeling these skills is time well spent. As children learn how to focus, direct attention, manage emotions, and regulate behavior, they are learning important life skills. And when grown-ups provide solid guidance, like setting expectations, children learn even more. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL