Ish... (confidence)

I recently did a blog post about The Dot.  I was blown away by all of the great teaching ideas that are out there for The Dot.  I have had the companion story, Ish for about a year and started searching for lessons to go along with the story.  I didn't find nearly as many, however, I am sharing what I did find because I like the book so much.

Ish, by Peter Reynolds, is a companion story to The Dot.  Ish follows the little boy inspired by Vashti in The Dot.  The stories are different in that Vashti didn't believe that she could draw while Ramon, the character in Ish, loves to draw.  In fact, he draws everywhere he goes until his older brother laughs at his artwork.  Ramon loses confidence and is about to quit drawing when his little sister shows him that she has kept all of his crumpled up drawings.  Roman's sister shows him that art doesn't have to be perfect and that his drawings can be "vase-ish".  Ish shows students that imperfection can be a beautiful thing.

So many students are used to hearing "you're not good enough".  This is a beautiful message about feeling important and valued.  It is a must-have for every school counselor!  You can purchase Ish HERE (and it's under $10)

Description from Amazon:  A creative spirit leans that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful that "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.
Ramon loved to draw.  Anytime.  Anything.  Anywhere.
Drawing is what Ramon does.  It's what makes him happy.  But in one split second, all that changes.  A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles.  Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently.  She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right".  Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care.

Connections:
A Guide for Classrooms Using The Dot and Ish

TPT: Ish comprehension questions (free)

TPT: Free Book Activity and Lesson-ish

TPT: Free Activity Sheet Using Ish

TPT: Response Activity

TPT: Ish worksheet (Free)

An Art-ish Activity

TPT: Drawing something -ish worksheet (free)

TPT: Activity Sheet for "-ish" (Free)

The Dot Blog Post

The Dot (Self-Esteem)

Tuesday, September 15 is International Dot Day. The Dot is a great book for school counselors to have on hand and there are endless lessons/activities/ideas on the internet to go along with this book. To to www.thedotclub.org to sign up and download the free Educator's Handbook.  Make sure you take some time to browse the website.  There are some great ideas!

The Dot is about Vashti, a student who is reluctant to complete a task.  Vashti is encouraged by her teacher to take a risk and to believe in her abilities.

Description from Amazon:  With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark-and follow where it takes us.
Her teacher smiled.  "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."
Art class is over but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper.  The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself.  But Vashti can't draw-she's no artist.  To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There!" she says.
That one little dot marks the jouney of Vashti's journey of surprise and self-discover.  That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds's delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.

You can purchase The Dot HERE.

Connections:  I encourage you to check out each one of these:)

Lesson Ideas from the Handy School Counselor

A Guide for classrooms using the dot and ish

Life Lessons for Little Ones: Activities to go with The Dot

Station Ideas

FREE International Dot Day Discussion Cards

Mindset and The Dot

Mindset and The Dot

Dot Day Activities

TPT: Dot Day HAT Pattern

Also check out:

Similar Lesson Ideas using Beautiful Oops...  (making mistakes)

Ish...another book by the same author

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

One of my favorite counseling books is, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, written by Patty Lovell and illustrated by David Catrow.  It can be used for so many different topics:  bullying, self-esteem, confidence, conflict resolution, overcoming obstacles, respecting differences, etc...

Molly Lou Melon is the shortest girl in the first grade.  She has buckteeth and several other traits that make her different.  Her grandma told her, “Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you". Taking her grandmother’s advice, Molly Lou doesn't worry about being different at her new school.  She deals with the school bully by showing him that her faults are actually talents.



I found several great lesson plans online that I will share:
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon- lessons FREEBIE

Free Worksheet

http://www.bedford.k12.mi.us/~mre/Book%20of%20the%20Month%20pdfs/bommollylou.pdf

http://literacyinstructions.wikispaces.com/Making+Inferences+About+Characters+(Grade+3-5)

http://www.spokenartsmedia.com/StudyGuides/Stand%20Tall.pdf

Vocabulary:

alongside:  side by side

boa constrictor:  a snake covered with spots

proudly:  having or displaying excessive self-esteem or being proud of yourself

foolish:  lacking good sense or judgement (silly)

glee:  high spirited/joy

revealed:  to make known or to show something

bully:  A person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.

unique:  Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else

flaw:  An imperfection

strength:  being strong
fumble:  to drop something
glee:  happiness

Questions:

Before Reading:

• Looking at the cover, what do you notice about Molly Lou?
• What do you think this story is about?
• What do you think "Stand Tall" means?
• Have you ever had a time when someone was not nice to you?
• Have you ever been called names because people thought you were different?
• How did that make you feel?
• How did you solve the problem? (we talk about using Kelso's Choices here) http://kelsoschoice.com/

While Reading/After Reading:

• What made Molly Lou different from her classmates? (use pictures in story for reference)
• What advice did Molly Lou's grandmother give her?
• What did Molly Lou do when Ronald picked on her?
• How did Molly Lou feel about herself?  How do you know?
• How did Molly Lou “stand tall”?

Follow-up Activities:

• Common Core encourages cooperative learning. Pair students and have them interview each other in order to find unique facts about one another.

Common Core Connection:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy RL.1.3  Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

CCSA.ELA-Literacty.RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL1.7 Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas



ASCA Standards:

A1.1  Develop positive attitudes toward self as a unique and worthy person
A2.3 Recognize, accept, respect and appreciate individual differences
A2.6 Use effective communication skills
B1.3 Identify alternative solutions to a problem
B1.4 Develop effective coping skills for dealing with problems
B1.6 Know how to apply conflict resolution skills