Character education : Books about Respect

When talking about “Respect,” an important place to start is with our own self-esteem. Here are several books from SRCSA library that support readers respecting and appreciating themselves.
https://youtu.be/h1jAQhX_Ulk

Asking for a Friend (eBook preview)

Presenting … First-chapter Friday, the eBook edition. This month’s selection features Asking for a Friend, by Ronnie Riley.

Character education: Books about Courage

SRCSA’s character-education focus for April 2025 is “Courage.” Here are several books that support the theme of courage.
https://youtu.be/m7d5IQkncmY

Character education: Books about Cooperation

SRCSA’s character-education focus for March 2025 is “Cooperation.” Here are books from the school library, which address the character trait of Cooperation.
https://youtu.be/c87v7MpKU0o

Tone policing through accusations of ‘unsafe’

At EdSurge, school principal Damen Scott shares that a subordinate recently told him that his tone made them feel “psychologically unsafe.” While I appreciate Scott being able to thoughtfully consider and act upon criticism, I’d be worried about accusations such as this being misused as tone policing. One more social landmine to worry about as a neurodivergent individual. Is my tone socially palatable? Am I doing it right, or will someone accuse me of making them feel “unsafe”?

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-03-20-as-a-principal-i-thought-i-promoted-psychological-safety-then-a-colleague-spoke-up

Character education: Books about Creativity

SRCSA’s character-education focus for May 2024 is “Creativity.” Here are several books from our school library that support the theme of creativity.
https://youtu.be/DNv92k-4Rh4

Character education: Books about Courage (#2)

SRCSA’s character-education focus for April 2024 is “Courage.” Here are graphic novels and prose novels that support the theme of courage.
https://youtu.be/tom5uMG9PB0

Character education: Books about Courage (#1)

SRCSA’s character-education focus for April 2024 is “Courage.” Here are several picture books that support the theme of courage.
https://youtu.be/L676shx19Gc

Character education: Books about Cooperation

SRCSA’s character-education focus for March 2024 is “Cooperation.” Here are books from the school library, which address the character trait of Cooperation.
https://youtu.be/GscWigU4lvg

Character education: Books about Honesty

SRCSA’s character-education focus for February 2024 is “Honesty.” Here are books from the school library, which address the character trait of Honesty.
https://youtu.be/yfQ5FB9vviE

Character education: Responsibility

SRCSA’s character-education focus for October 2023 is “Responsibility.” Here are books from SRCSA’s “Social Emotional Learning” collection, as well as books from the school library, which address Responsibility.

Scholarships for students with a disability

Scholarship applications have opened up for Academic Year 2024-2025, and I’m considering which scholarships I can apply for. This morning I applied for a couple of scholarships for students who have a disability.

Character education : Books about Friendship

SRCSA’s character-education focus for May 2023 is “Friendship.” Here are books from SRCSA’s “Social Emotional Learning” collection, as well as books from the school library, which address the character trait of Friendship.
https://youtu.be/iC7Sd_mOMGM

Character education : Compassion

SRCSA’s character-education focus for April 2023 is “Compassion.” Here are books from our school library and from the Social Emotional Learning collection, which address compassion.
https://youtu.be/84RV4DSDuP8

Character education : Integrity

SRCSA’s character-education focus for March 2023 is “Integrity.” Here are books from SRCSA’s “Social Emotional Learning” collection, as well as books from the school library, which address the character trait of Integrity.

Character education : Perseverance

Here are several books available from SRCSA library, which address the character trait of Perseverance.

‘Let’s Pretend We Never Met’ by Melissa Walker

I could intensely relate to the drama that is central to Let’ s Pretend We Never Met, seeing parallels from my own life with circumstances for the character of Agnes.

At Calistoga Elementery School and at Calistoga Junior/Senior High School, I was the weird girl, the person ostracized and shunned by the school population. There was no understanding for an autism spectrum when I was going to school, so my differences went unexplained.

Learning that the character of Agnes in this book is possibly autistic, made me interested in reading it. I’m interested in the ways that authors portray characters who are on the autism spectrum.

‘Mockingbird’ by Kathryn Erskine

Caitlin, an 11-year-old girl, is struggling to understand and deal with her older brother Devon’s death in a school shooting — an event that staggered her entire community.

When she discovers the concept of “closure,” Caitlin decides to pursue it for herself, her family and community.

Caitlin is autistic and, as a reader on the spectrum, I could relate to Caitlin’s difficulty understanding social situations.

Like Caitlin, I had no friends when I was going to school and could imagine that her struggles when interacting with peers, could easily have been my own.

‘Culture fit’: LinkedIn HR head offers caution

Appreciation to Pat Wadors, Head of HR at LinkedIn, for her cautionary take on using the term “culture fit” (LinkedIn Talent Solutions’ “Talent on Tap” video series and blog). I share Wadors’ concern that assessing for culture fit can lead to a “hire like me” mentality.

‘6Rs of Bullying Prevention’

The latest reading in my ongoing focus upon resources to combat bullying is, 6Rs of Bullying Prevention by Michele Borba, Ed.D (Free Spirit Publishing, August 2016).

This book belongs in every school’s staff-resources collection. Its value is incalculable if it spares one child from bullying and years of post-trauma, but I actually believe it has the potential to transform entire schools.

The “6Rs of Bullying Prevention” are:

1. Rules -- Establish an anti-bullying policy and expectations for respect
2. Recognize -- Teach stakeholders how to recognize bullying
3. Report -- Create procedures to report bullying
4. Respond -- Teach student witnesses how to respond to bullying
5. Refuse -- Help targets refuse provocation and cope with victimization, and
6. Replace -- Help students replace aggression with acceptable skills

Borba describes the 6Rs as a “process,” not a “program,” moreover it’s ongoing and involves an entire school community. Because it’s not a program in itself, it can be integrated with programs already in place at the school.

Bullying prevention “aims to change a culture of cruelty to one of kindness” (location 417 in a digital advance reading copy). Success is measured by “positive and lasting change in student behavior and attitude” (417, 418).

As a person bullied in childhood who hopes to spare others from suffering the same trauma, I found much of practical benefit in The 6Rs of Bullying Prevention.

I’m especially grateful for insights it affords in my professional capacity: a school library paraprofessional who works directly with students and hopes to guide and model for them, respectful and inclusive behaviors. I will look with keen interest over this book’s several lists of books at varying levels of readership: great resources in themselves for building a library collection.

Personal reflection in response to this book:
Bullying and ‘zero tolerance’

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. The opinion expressed is my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”