2274.3, Resource, Gordon, D. Belita Gordon's 2nd Favorite Mentor Text for Building Character and Supporting School Climate in Third 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 A New Day by Brad Meltzer

In this humorous approach to the seven days of the week, Sunday quits. She doesn’t feel appreciated or even noticed. The remaining six days have a problem, to find a New Day as quickly as possible. Monday immediately takes charge. No discussion with the other days and limited planning! Just posting a job opening, everywhere, announcing the tryouts. At least it contains the desired qualities of the New Day. Tryouts are held, which allows the six days to evaluate the success of their plan: some days were good, some bad. They don’t make any changes. As word spreads, the competition to replace Sunday becomes intense and chaotic. The contestants are out of control or impractical or to too limited in what they offer. Monday speaks out again, discouraged, STOPPING the tryouts. A little girl, rather than wanting to be the New Day, steps up to say “Thank You”, which is just what Sunday needed to hear. The competition ends when all the days realize what they need. The New Day is a day of kindness, participation, and cooperation-- the goal all along, and Sunday for sure.

The Message for Students

The story demonstrates the craziness that results when a complex problem is approached without planning and cooperation. Monday takes charge because she always does and the other days let her. The days do, however, show stamina through the many tryouts and flexibility in finally changing when the plan (i.e., the tryouts) doesn’t work.

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