Oops, Sorry! And Thanks: Social Skills for Strong Friendships

"Diego stood still for a moment, trying to control his anger and disappointment."

This gentle book reminds readers of all ages that even the strongest friendships encounter bumps along the way. Join five elementary school friends as they navigate challenges, show kindness, and offer forgiveness to each other. The practical how-to sections will give you the confidence to offer sincere apologies and express gratitude in your own life, and their stories will inspire you to nurture the bonds that truly matter.

These relatable stories, characters, and useful instructions for making apologies and saying thank you are guided by Patricia Saylor, an experienced Montessori teacher. In collaboration with two insightful elementary school students from Japan, she crafted this book based on years of successful 'grace and courtesy' and writing lessons.

Meet Diego, Sakura, Indigo, Mike, and Anna-characters vividly brought to life through twenty beautifully rendered watercolor illustrations by the talented artist, Yuma Ishizaka. Their tales of challenges and resolutions were developed by writer Nanami Nagao. Patricia harmoniously blends these elements with practical instructions interspersed between the stories.

Designed to empower young readers, the instructional segments encourage independent use. They also serve as a valuable foundation for writing instruction, making this book a versatile asset for classroom teachers.

The stories emphasize the value of friendship while fostering elementary school speaking skills and writing skills. While the wholesome social stories address the intricacies of social skills with the art of nurturing empathy for cultivating meaningful connections, the instructional sections support oral language and emergent writers. The book artfully weaves together threads of social-emotional learning and Montessori grace and courtesy principles. While the book stands alone as an independent reader for elementary school students, teachers will also find useful content to help with lesson planning for elementary writing instruction, making this a perfect addition to their collection of instructional materials.

Oops, Sorry!

• Accept responsibility
• Acknowledge the impact.
• Express regret.
• Apologize
• Commit to change.
• Offer restitution.
• Ask for forgiveness

Thanks!

• Say, "Thank you for..."
• Describe the gift
• Compliment the gift.
• How will you use it? How has it helped you?
• Compliment the giver.
• Say one more nice thing.