Unpacking the Pyramid Model

A Practical Guide for Preschool Teachers

Mary Louise Hemmeter, Ph.D., Michaelene M. Ostrosky, Ph.D., Lise K. Fox, Ph.D.

Created by the Pyramid Model developers and experts with extensive training experience, this is the first book to provide a comprehensive, step‐by‐step overview of the Pyramid Model for children ages 2–5. Early childhood educators will get a complete overview of the framework, plus in‐depth guidance, evidence‐based strategies, and helpful checklists for implementing all tiers of the Pyramid Model: universal, targeted, and individualized.

Contains Companion Materials

For more than a decade, the widely used Pyramid Model for Promoting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children has been helping early educators use research‐based practices to boost social‐emotional development. Now there’s a practical guide that makes it easier than ever to implement this highly effective framework in preschool classrooms.

Learn how to use the Pyramid Model to:

• Construct a positive classroom environment that supports access and engagement for all students
• Develop predictable schedules and routines that maximize participation and learning
• Clearly define and teach behavior expectations and rules
• Deliver intentional, explicit instruction in social‐emotional competence
• Support smooth and streamlined transitions that prevent challenging behavior
• Create a culture of friendship and actively teach children friendship skills
• Teach children about emotions and help them develop a “feeling vocabulary”
• Give children the skills they need to solve interpersonal problems appropriately
• Provide individualized support for children with persistent challenging behavior

See more resources on supporting children's social-emotional competence with the Pyramid Model.

Reviews

Midwest Book Review - March 1, 2021

"Especially and unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university library preschool education collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists ... lso] noted for the personal reading lists of daycare center staff, preschool teachers, school administrators, teacher education students, [and] academia."

Judith Carta, Ph.D. - September 1, 2020

“ Unpacking the Pyramid Model is a clear and comprehensive roadmap for implementing the Pyramid Model. Hemmeter, Ostrosky, and Fox and an all-star cast have distilled a wide array of research-based Pyramid practices into a guide that will be helpful for brand-new teachers and veteran early educators alike. Every teacher of young children should have this book and learn from the experts.”

Susan Sandall, Ph.D. - August 20, 2020

“An invaluable resource at a time when preschool teachers encounter new classroom configurations, new roles and stresses for families, and new sources of children’s struggles with their emotions and behavior. Each concise, practical chapter is a gift, offering visual examples of classroom tools, real-world anecdotes, and easy-to-use checklists that encourage teachers to reflect on and strengthen their practices. By using this book, teachers will become more empathic and effective in their essential work with young children and their families.”

Learn more about the authors here and related works.