The modern perception of the role of school as a caring and nurturing environment that promotes not only learning but also the socio-emotional development and adaptation of children has given a new perspective to the longstanding demand for quality education and psychosocial support for children in the school environment. The ambition of all those involved with children, in any role, is to contribute towards this direction.

School-based prevention and intervention programs target either the entire student population or students who are at risk of or already experiencing learning difficulties and adjustment problems. Research data highlight the necessity of these programs, which have been implemented in many educational systems internationally over the past decade. In this context, the program "Social and Emotional Education in Schools: A Program for Promoting Mental Health and Learning in the School Community" was designed by the scientific team of the Center for Research and Applications of School Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Athens. The program has been implemented in schools of all levels for many years with positive results for both students and educators. It is a primary prevention program aimed at promoting mental health and well-being in the school community and creating an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding, and acceptance of individual differences within the classroom. It cultivates skills in communication, intercultural understanding, and collaboration. The program can be implemented by school psychologists or by educators themselves after specialized training.

The program includes the following thematic units: I. Communication Skills, II. Recognition, Expression, and Management of Emotions, III. Dimensions of Self-awareness and Self-esteem, IV. Coping with Anxiety-provoking Situations, V. Social Competence - Social Skills, VI. Conflict Resolution Process, VII. School and Multiculturalism, VIII. School and Students with Special Educational Needs, IX. School and Family, X. Study Skills, and XII. Crisis Management in the School Community.

This educational material is intended for educators and students in Primary Education (Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade) and consists of twelve issues. The first issue includes the conceptual framework and description of the program, while the remaining ten issues make up the Teacher's Book and refer to the above-mentioned thematic units. Finally, the twelfth issue of the series is the Student Workbook. Each issue corresponding to a thematic unit consists of two main parts: a) the theoretical part, which includes a brief overview of the contemporary literature related to the specific thematic unit, and b) the practical part, which includes the relevant activities implemented in the classroom, as well as a detailed presentation of the objectives of each activity, the implementation process based on specific discussion axes, and the required materials.

Contents:
1. Conceptual framework and description of the program: (format 24 x 17, pp.

- Preface
- Introduction
- Contemporary trends in school psychology
- Social and emotional development of preschool children
- Contemporary theoretical approaches - Development of conceptual framework
- "Social and emotional education in school: Program for the promotion of mental health and learning in the school community"
- Before implementing the program in the classroom
- Bibliography
- Appendix I - II - III

2. Communication skills: (24 x 17 format, pp. 41)

- Introduction
- Communication problems
- Counseling dimension of the teacher's role
- Stages of the counseling process and counseling skills
- Communication in the school environment
- Concluding remarks
- Bibliography
- Activities

3. Recognition, Expression, and Management of Emotions (24 x 17 format, pp. 71)

- Emotional development of the individual
- How children interpret negative emotions
- Dealing with unpleasant emotions
- General principles for managing unpleasant emotions
- Emotions and the learning process
- Gender differences and emotions
- The impact of emotions on individuals' physical health
- Emotional competence skills
- Emotional intelligence - Emotional education
- Emotional education in the school context
- Structure and content of the "Emotions" unit
- Concluding remarks
- Bibliography
- Activities

4. Dimensions of Self-Perception, Self-Esteem (24 x 17 format, pp. 53)

- Definition
- Self-perception - Self-esteem
- Dimensions of self-perception
- The evolutionary course of self-perception
- The multidimensional structure of self-perception
- Characteristics of self-perception
- Factors shaping self-perception
- Self-fulfilling prophecy: The teacher in the role of "Pygmalion"
- Concluding remarks
- Bibliography
- Activities

5. Coping with Stressful Situations (24 x 17 format, pp. 45)

- Conceptual definition
- Stress in children and adolescents
- Strategies for coping with stressful situations
- Factors influencing the way a stressful situation is coped with
- Variability of coping strategies for stressful situations
- Stress and coping strategies for stressful situations of teachers
- Coping with stressful situations in the classroom
- Concluding remarks
- Bibliography
- Activities

6. Social Competence - Social Skills (24 x 17 format, pp. [to be completed])

- Introduction
- The beginnings of social development: The theory of Emotional Bond
- Social development during preschool and early school age
- Social competence - Social skills: Definitions
- Prosocial behavior: Caring for others
- Classification of social skills
- Social competence in the school environment
- Classification of social skills inadequacy
- Social behavior of sociometric groups
- Social behavior of children with mild difficulties or disorders
- Bullying in the school environment
- Evaluation of social skills
- Social skills training programs
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Activities

7. Conflict Resolution Process (24 x 17 format, pp. 43)

- Concept and types of conflict resolution
- Intercultural differences in conflict resolution
- Conflict resolution in the field of education
- Intervention programs in schools
- Structure and content of the "Conflict Resolution" unit
- Conclusion
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Activities

8. School and Multiculturalism (24 x 17 format, pp. 54)

- Introduction
- Multicultural societies and psychological adjustment
- Cultural differences
- Differences in emotional processes
- Differences in cognitive processes
- Development of national identity
- Stereotypical perceptions
- Dimensions of adaptation for returning and foreign students
- Dimensions of adaptation for returning and foreign students in the Greek educational system
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Activities

9. School and Students with Special Educational Needs (24 x 17 format, pp. 83)

- Introduction
- Students with special educational needs
- Education of students with special educational needs - Contemporary trends
- Perceptions and attitudes of educators towards inclusion
- Families with children with special educational needs
- Conclusions
- Bibliography
- Activities

10. School and Family (24 x 17 format, pp. 60)

- Introduction
- Systemic view of the family
- Family and parental separation
- Family and loss
- Family and adoption
- Children growing up in child protection institutions
- Useful notes for appropriate support of children
- Bibliography

11. Crisis Management in the School Community (24 x 17 format, pp. 103)

- Prevention and intervention for crisis management in the school community
- Theoretical framework for the psychological dimensions of crisis
- Main objectives for counseling in crisis situations
- General principles of counseling in crisis situations
- Interventions for crisis management in the classroom and school
- Guidelines for supporting educators
- Development of a multi-level prevention and intervention model for crisis management in the Greek educational system
- Bibliography
- Appendix I - II - III

12. Activity Notebook for Kindergarten and First Grade Students (24 x 17 format, pp. 96).