Discusses the specific skills and the critical and creative thinking that go into confronting problems. Organized for easy classroom use, the book introduces a five-step plan for handling almost any situation—defining the problem, considering possibilities, choosing the best option, taking action, and evaluating decisions. Concrete examples teacher-specific tips, and educational games complement this important resource.

Includes index.

Approaching problems with care -- Defining the problem : step 1 -- Determining possibilities and choices : step 2 -- Narrowing and making choices : step 3 -- Acting and evaluating : steps 4 and 5 -- Facing big, scary, life-threatening problems -- Building students' self-confidence to facilitate problem-solving -- Troubleshooting and consolidating problem-solving -- Helping parents deal with children's problem-solving -- Games that promote problem-solving skills -- Appendix A: Table of possible problems -- Appendix B: Table of possible "general" solutions -- Appendix C: Unit plan for problem-solving -- Appendix D: Classic fairy tales with problems.