 Everybody's Different |
As another school year starts, kids will be meeting new
classmates and making new friends. They will meet children from diverse
areas of the world and who look and sound different
from themselves. They will also encounter students with different abilities. Help children gain the all-important skill of accepting
differences and specialties.
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 It's Okay to be Different by Todd Parr - Ages 3 to 6
This is a great choice for helping younger children understand differences. It focuses on accepting differences, including everything from ability to feelings to family structure, and learning about how they make each of us special.  Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester - Ages 4 to 7 Poor Rodney! With his lisp, he has trouble pronouncing his r's! Lester's adorable story shows children that our differences give us each unique abilities, which can be used to help out in unexpected ways. Halibut Jackson by David Lucas - Ages 4 to 7 Sometimes hiding is easier than showing differences, but Halibut Jackson learns that differences can be a good thing and even admired by others. Kids will love trying to find Halibut as he tries to blend into the scenery.
 Yoko by Rosemary Wells - Ages 4 to 7
Yoko's mom packs her a yummy lunch of sushi, one of her favorite comfort foods, for her first day of kindergarten. The other students in her class, though, think it's gross! Yoko's teacher and new-found friend help her teach the class about different cultures and see that all have great things to contribute.
 No English by Jacqueline Jules - Ages 4 to 8
The only words that Blanca says in school are "No English." This story of a recent immigrant helps children understand the challenges that come with moving to a new country. Blanca's classmate Diane finally understands what Blanca is going through and decides to help, even if they don't speak the same language. Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco - Ages 6-12
Teachers have great impact when they show compassion, like Tricia's teacher, Mr. Falker. When he notices that Tricia is having trouble reading, he discovers her dyslexia and helps her learn to read. 
Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco - Ages 6-12 When his students begin fighting, Mr. Lincoln works not only to help stop the bullying, but to teach about tolerance. By working with the student causing trouble, he shows compassion for a struggling student and helps him learn and grow.
 The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson - Ages 7-10
Carlson's story begins with a happy homeless man living underneath a bridge in Paris. When a widow and her family move in, however, he learns about compassion when he decides he wants to help them find a more permanent home. A Newbery Honor book from 1958.  Rules by Cynthia Lord - Ages 9-12 Twelve-year-old Catherine helps her autistic brother understand the world by creating very clear rules like, "When someone says 'hi' you say 'hi' back." Then she meets Jason, a boy her age who uses a communication book to speak. They become friends through words and pictures, but she isn't sure how her other friends will react to him.
 The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - Ages 9-12 At school, Percy Jackson simply doesn't fit in. Having both dyslexia and A.D.D. doesn't help and he is somehow always accidentally causing trouble. It isn't until he learns that his struggles are caused by his half-Greek-god heritage, that he grows into his strengths and has an adventure that prevents World War III. This best selling series will grasp children's attention and help them see that learning disabilities don't have to stop you.
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Activity Ideas:
- Gather objects that look different on the outside and the same on the inside, such as brown and white eggs or M&Ms
- Use ink and index cards to make thumbprints. Use a magnifying glass to examine the differences between prints. Then create thumbprint people and a scene to go with it.
- Give children only white paper and ask them to create something without giving them any colors (crayons, markers, paper) to use. When they are frustrated, give them all the colored items they want and explain that the world is better when all the differences come together.
- Draw self-portraits and point out that every one is unique.
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Constructive Conversations:
- Ask
the children at your Read-Aloud to share times when they either acted
compassionately towards someone who was different or someone did the same towards them.
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Coming Up...
Site Meetings & Kick-Off Parties
Keep your eyes open for e-mails from your site coordinator about your annual site meeting and kick-off party.
Ray's the Steaks Benefit Day
Come visit the brand new Ray's The Steaks restaurant at East River on September 12 at 3905 Dix St. NE,
Washington,
DC
20019. Ray's will be donating a portion of the day's proceeds to TRC, so enjoy a great steak while supporting TRC and Ray's newest restaurant.
Cause for a Dance Party
Join us on Saturday, September 25, in Dupont Circle at the Darlington House to get your groove on to the best hits of the 80s and 90s. All proceeds go to TRC so bring your friends for a fun time. Click here for more info:
http://rcdanceparty.eventbrite.com/
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TRC is on Facebook and Twitter
TRC has
expanded its Web presence to Facebook and Twitter.
Show your support and "Like" TRC today!� Log on to Facebook and
do a search for The Reading Connection and select the text "Like" from
the top right.
Not on Facebook? Join today (http://www.facebook.com)
and connect to friends who support TRC.
 You can follow TRC on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TheReadingConn.
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