Transform the hostile nature and flavor of your school into an environment that promotes compassion, respect, self-motivation, peace, and safety. Keeping It Positive is a comprehensive approach to deterring the societal ills that so often plague our schools. It provides methods and techniques that challenge common issues and dilemmas from a lively, fun, interactive, and student-centered prospective. Stimulate your students' consciousness through the creative activities and introspective rhetoric contained in this manual. This book includes: - Anti-Bullying Programs - Over 300 Thoughts of the Day - Conflict Deterrent Strategies - Behavior Modification Techniques - Self-Esteem Enhancement Resources - Climate Control Activities - Academic Enhancing Strategies - Peer Mentoring Activities - Citizenship Promotion Tactics - Anti-Violence Materials - Peer Pressure Resistance Activities - Substance Prevention Resources - Techniques for Students at Risk - Motivational Tools - Confidence Boosting Resources - Physical Altercation Management About the Author Olga Van Beverhoudt is a retired educator from the Miami-Dade County Public School system in Miami, Florida, where she worked as a teacher, counselor, and assistant principal. She holds a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida; an M.A. degree in Guidance and Counseling from Clark-Atlanta University; and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She is now an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in which she volunteers her service to projects promoting the enhancement of youth and the quality of life for the elderly. During her 30-year tenure within the public school sector, Van Beverhoudt was inspired by the needs of the students and her assigned schools to develop techniques to foster a more congenial environment by generating appropriate behaviors, positive self-esteem, and optimistic attitudes. Many of her techniques were acknowledged within and outside of the district and garnered awards and grants for their effectiveness, including Teacher of the Year (Nathan B. Young Elementary School); Peace Educator of the Year (Peace Education Foundation); Citi Bank Grant Recipient (for program implementation); Educator Recognition Award (City of North Miami Youth Opportunity Board); Certificate of Excellence in Conflict Resolution; and Mediation (Office of Multicultural Programs, Miami-Dade County Public Schools). Over the past 3 decades, she has been asked to serve as a peace education/conflict resolution presenter at conferences and seminars.
