Acceptance

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December’s superpower is acceptance. Acceptance is the willingness to embrace feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own. Acceptance is the ability to experience or survive something unpleasant. Acceptance is the willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation. We all have the human need and right to be accepted.

This month’s book of the month is Remember: The Journey to School Integration. It is a collection of photographs from the Civil Right movement and the era of public school integration with a story by Toni Morrison. In this two-minute mini-documentary, Toni Morrison introduces her book and shows young people the relevance of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision.

After reading Toni Morrison’s Remember: The Journey to School Integration, look back at photographs on page 22, 42 and 67. Select one photograph and write a dialogue between the two students. Post the conversation to this blog.

 

Gratitude

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This month the Hulk challenges to use our Superpower, Gratitude. Kid President has a few ideas for us too.


Here are three challenges:

  1. Call that special person on the green slip and let them know how grateful you are for him/her. Return the slip to school and link it to our gratitude chain.
  2. Bring in an item for our Food Drive.
  3. Be inspired by The Secret of Saying Thanks and keep a 21-Day Gratitude Journal. Read and listen to our book of the month here – Secret of Saying Thanks. Write down 3 things you’re grateful for. They can be super simple—and nothing is too small. For example: 1. Favorite cereal this AM 2. Warm bed to sleep in 3. Funny chat with my brother. Do this for 21 days, But you can’t list your family members by name over and over. You have to write different things each day—this is how you learn to flex your gratitude muscle.Why 21 days? Scientists believe it takes that long for something to become a habit. Good luck!

Optimism

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Our book of the month by Cynthia Rylant, An Angel for Solomon Singer, demonstrates optimism.

It also provides wonderful opportunities for philosophical discussions. For example:
  • What is home?
  • What makes a place a home?
  • Do we need a home? Why or why not?
  • Is being home about a place outside of us, or about something inside us?
  • Can we be at home anywhere?
  • Do homes change?
  • Can a home become no longer a home?Does home mean the same thing to all people?
Remember Mr. Onativia’s optimistic words, “I choose to be happy. I choose to look at the good. I possess the qualities to be happy and successful.” Practice optimism this month. Try the daily affirmations from our Character Education page, October’s Superpower is Optimism.

Pumpkin Book Characters

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It’s October and that means pumpkins are everywhere! Pumpkins here. Pumpkins there. Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere! Big ones, fat ones. Round ones, flat ones. Small ones, tall ones. Orange ones, white ones. Green ones, blue ones. Bumpy ones, smooth ones. So many to choose from!
Let’s harvest them and bring them to school for some book character fun! Follow the detailed directions below to participate in the October Pumpkin Character Challenge.

1. Select a book you have read or want to read.
2. Choose one character from the story to focus on.
3. Create this character using a pumpkin. Please be sure the pumpkin is small enough to carry to school. You may decorate it, glue things on it, or paint it! Be Creative!
4. Absolutely no carved entries!
5. Complete the entry form that was sent home or your October Pumpkin Character will NOT be accepted.
6. Deadline for the October Pumpkin Character Challenge is October 24th!