2151.K, Resource, Gordon, D. Belita Gordon's Favorite Mentor Text for Building Character and Supporting School Climate in Kindergarten

Dr. Belita Gordon has selected one of her favorite mentor texts for kindergarten that build character and support school climate.  Our students’ ability to understand and manage their emotions and impulses promotes learning. Many young students begin school without the knowledge to recognize, name, and manage their emotions. Characters in stories help them acquire these important life skills. Knowing what to do instead of disruption allows children to actively participate in learning.

Managing Impulsivity and Listening with Understanding and Empathy are important Habits of Mind that even the youngest students can acquire with support and repeated practice.

While the Allie All Along was selected to emphasize the problem of out-of-control anger, it illustrates the more general Character Traits of naming emotions and managing impulses.  It provides clear, multiple examples of strategies students can use to control their anger and impulses. It also conveys the important lessons that 1) it helps to have a variety of strategies and  2) it can take more than one strategy.  By practicing the strategies ahead of time students learn to use them as helpful tools to prevent disruption.

EACH REGISTRANT MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE TEXT BY COMPLETING A REQUEST FORM THAT IS SENT WITH THE REGISTRATION EMAIL CONFIRMATION.