2274.2, Resource, Gordon, D. Belita Gordon's 2nd Favorite Mentor Text for Building Character and Supporting School Climate in Second Grade

Dr. Belita Gordon has selected another one of her favorite mentor texts for kindergarten that build character and support school climate.  Knowing how to Persist (aka Persistence) is an important life skill. It is necessary for achieving goals and solving problems. The six Mentor Texts in this set introduce students to Persistence and the related traits of Resilience, Stamina, and Flexibility.  In addition, they cover problem-solving strategies and planning.

Persistence is the determination to achieve a goal in spite of difficulties, problems, or delays. The goal may be something to accomplish/achieve or a problem to be solved. Persistence is necessary for success in school and life.

Persisting requires more than “sticking-to-it.” Our students need to also acquire the character traits of resilience, flexibility, and stamina. They need a set of problem-solving strategies:  creating a plan, maintaining focus on the task, monitoring progress in achieving the steps in the plan, knowing when to seek assistance, and making changes when needed. Some plans are complex while others are simple.

Summary Book Background for the Teacher for I Am Courage by Susan Verde

Our unnamed hero has an explicit plan for meeting challenges. The illustrations show his experiences riding a bicycle. When he faces obstacles and thinks about giving up, he doesn’t. He begins by acknowledging there is a problem. Then he finds inner strength, believing in himself and  telling himself “Yes I can.” He accepts the challenges and keeps going. He remains aware of his emotions (such as feeling scared), and “still carries on.” When he falls, he gets up and asks for help. He realizes that there is nothing wrong with failing and needing help sometimes. He then helps others by listening, sharing his experiences, and encouraging other children.

The Message for Students

Learning to ride a bicycle is a familiar, if not universal, childhood experience. The hero of the story demonstrates the value of self-talk, resilience, and getting help from others. He has thought through what could happen and how he will handle it. He knows how to encourage himself.

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