Today’s Book Club Hour at Thorntree Preparatory School included a reading from Wonder by RJ Palacio (ISBN: 9780552565974) to the Intermediate Phase students.
The teaching objective was to think about our thinking, “be aware of our own thoughts, strategies, feelings and actions and their effect on self and others” (Habits of Mind #5) and to manage impulsivity (HOM #2) – thinking before we speak (or act), because our words can make or break a person.
Since the school’s theme for the week is “My Body”, I thought it well to include a connection to the mind, because what goes on in our minds majorly affects our physical well-being.
Discussing Auggie’s problem – his not being “normal” – the kids wanted to know if there was also something “wrong” with Via (Auggie’s older sister). Then they wanted to know IF it is possible for parents to have some “normal” kids as well as kids with serious health problems, and how that happens. It was great that they entered a discussion about it, and some could relate their families to such a situation, where for example the child himself is physically fine, but has a sister with asthma. In the novel, Via explains how it happened in their family, and I encouraged the kids to read the book to find out.
Some of the kids have already seen the movie Wonder, though, and it was great to have them relate it to the book. But explaining why they should still read the book even though they’ve already seen the movie was a bit of a challenge. Books are more descriptive, and movie directors can only put “so-much” in a movie.
I used this story to try to bring home consideration for the feelings of others, acceptance of others and self, and how our thoughts become our beliefs, which are proven in our actions and words.
To demonstrate, I poured some water into an empty Coke-bottle and tried to convince the kids that I was going to enjoy some Coke from the bottle. They immediately corrected me – the water wasn’t going to magically turn into Coke! I then poured some water into two (prepared) paper cups, and after they told me it was only water in the cups, I asked for volunteers to test that the water was truly pure water. Two brave lads came to taste, their faces spoke volumes and they hurriedly left the room to rinse their mouths, because the water tasted aweful – it was mixed with WHAT WAS INSIDE (one cup contained bicarb, and the other salt)! [Before I told them what was in the cups, all the kids wanted to taste first!]
What’s inside of us, will come out in our actions and words. A tree will be known by its fruit. How we treat others and what we say show who we truly are, and buying nice clothes or nicknacks, wearing makeup, or having the best/newest toys won’t cover it up!
We then discussed learning to accept differences in ourselves and other people, to change our thinking to change our beliefs, to change our words (and deeds) to be positive and upbuilding to ourselves and to others.
We ended Book Club Hour with a simple loving-kindness [breathing] exercise to send loving thoughts to ourselves, to those we love, and the most difficult part – to those we really dislike.
These little brainiacs also wanted to know if the story was based on real events! The author based the book on real life events, even though it doesn’t follow somebody’s life in particular.
The kids then each received a bookmark they could colour and take home.
There is also a picture book available by RJ Palacio, called We’re all Wonders.
