B9 Powerful Practices: Improving School Climate and Changing Children’s Future Through the CA Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) Teaching Pyramid Framework

Linda M. J. Brault

The CA CSEFEL Teaching Pyramid’s tiered approach—promoting healthy social-emotional skills; preventing challenging behaviors and intervening for problematic behaviors—transforms early childhood classroom climates by focusing on social-emotional development and building the skills of the adults in the child’s life; while supporting children with specific promotion and prevention strategies. This strategy is being taught across California and connects to school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. There is also a strong emphasis on partnerships with families; and the approach directly supports several of the protective factors from Strengthening Families.