Tips for Reading and Writing Success
Book of the Month
Book
Picks
October 2016
Hellenic Classical charter school
Literacy co
Book of the Month
The Invisible Boy
By Trudy Ludwig
This is a very good book about inclusion,
making friends and feeling like a valued
member of a group. The narrative
centers on a quiet boy named Brian that
nobody ever seems to notice. They never
think to include him in their group,
game or birthday party. Then, Justin, a
new boy arrives and Brian is the first to
make him feel welcomed.
Ludwig’s story helps to show how
everyone should be included in a
classroom, even the quiet children who
seem to be overshadowed by the louder,
more popular, and more disruptive
members. This is made more apparent
by the illustrator as she subtly shifts
Brian's coloration from gray to color as
he begins to feel more a part of a group.
.
The Invisible Boy is a book aimed at
helping students and adults think about
how they affect others. It is a book about
addressing the needs of quieter children.
This thought provoking book opens up
discussions about acceptance and
inclusion. Have conversations with your
children around how it feels to be left
out and the importance of including
others. Remind them that we all have a
special gift or talent to bring to others.
More books of interest
Xanda’s Panda Party
By Linda Sue Park
Stick and Stone
By Beth Perry
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary
Deed by Emily Pearson
FYI – An Engaging Website for Families
moma.org/learn/kids_families/index
(Museum of Modern Art)
Click on kids and families and explore the
wonderful resources available, including activity
cards, passports and sketchbooks.
Visit the museum – kids 16 and under are
always free
Moma art lab iPad app – free
Create your own artwork using shapes, lines and
colors.
Cathy Kakleas
Dean of Academics
Joyful, Successful and
Powerful Learning;
Teaching Kids Persistence
Last month I introduced five research driven attitudes that encompass a
“growth mindset”; Optimism, Persistence, Flexibility, Resilience, and
Empathy. As we continue in our effort to raise student achievement by
promoting a “growth mindset’, let us examine another habit of mind needed
for academic success; persistence.
Sticking with something even when it is challenging requires persistence.
When we describe persistence to children we can say; “having persistence
means you try and try again even when it feels hard”. As educators and
parents we want our students to adopt the mindset that you simply don’t
give up after trying something once. Whether zipping a coat, tying a shoe,
solving a difficult math problem, or understanding a difficult reading
passage we need to help our children understand that no matter how new
or difficult, challenges are achieved through patience, practice, and effort.
Persistence, like optimism, is a trait that can be taught and learned. Children
are learners and they need to know that they have the ability to grow and
change and that effort is the key. They should think of the brain as a muscle
that grows stronger with challenge just like the muscles in our arms and legs
grow stronger as we challenge them. Let’s teach our kids to persevere!
Tips for Encouraging and Instilling Persistence
One strategy for teaching kids persistence is “self talk” We can teach them different
ways to talk to themselves about problem solving. Get them in the habit of saying
phrases like; “I won’t quit”, “I can do it”, “It’s always hardest the first time, but it will
get easier” .Develop a household mantra; “stick with it” or “The family that doesn’t
quit”
Another strategy is to praise them when they focus their efforts toward specific,
clearly defined goals. Help them make the connection between effort and
achievement. For example, “those extra 10 minutes of reading each day are paying
off- you’re decoding unfamiliar words much easier now.”
Modeling persistence is also important. Talk to your children about times you had to
try something more than once to get it right. It could be a recipe or a weekend
plumbing project.
Students learn persistence in the same way that they learn sight words or
multiplication tables – through repetition. Strategies like modeling persistence,
connecting effort to achievement, and pushing students to do a little more than they
think they can aren’t a one-time deal. But when repeated over time, the cumulative
effect will likely be increased stamina, improved persistence, and intrinsic motivation
for even greater learning.