PPBF: Bounce Back!

One of the reasons that I was given for my transfer to the Bales side of our campus was to help reignite some of the school's vibrancy, to help turn the lights back on, essentially to help the school bounce back. You see, that school has been through so many losses and changes in the past ten years, since my mentor Sally was the counselor there, and some of those challenges have been difficult at best.

So today I'm excited because I've got the whole day to fix up the old band hall, 
my huge new counseling space.

Here's what the 3rd-5th graders will see as they enter: 

To the left as you enter, the masterpiece that Kathy just painted.

Straight ahead, storage rooms for right now,

practice areas for activities down the road,

or peaceful spots, for quiet time or de-escalation.

And a staging area, for our role plays.

I got the pillar posters up today ... is it providential that there were SIX spots for them?

To the right, two huge bulletin boards

and the kidney table I use for small groups and Counselor Cafe.

It almost makes me want to go back to school right now!

But, first things first, summertime awaits.

So what do those pictures have to do with today's PPBF?

It's that new space that's helping me bounce back

from the shock of being moved to help them bounce back ... 

and the grief and pain of leaving the familiar behind,

letting go, and, well, bouncing back!

Title: Bounce Back!

Author: Cheri J. Meiners

Illustrator: Elizabeth Allen

Publisher: Free Spirit Press

Date: May 21, 2014

Suitable for: ages 4-8

Non-fiction

Themes: feelings, resilience, problem-solving

Brief synopsis: This title from the Being The Best Me series helps children understand the concept of resiliency and offers tips and strategies to help them bounce back from set backs. 

Opening page: 

I'm learning to take care of myself and to solve my own problems. 

Resources: 

Building resilience in children

Developing resilience

The tools to help build resiliency

Visit the publisher's page {here} for Common Core alignment.

Check out Sesame Street's Child Resilience Initiative {here}.

Watch and share this awesome resilience animation.

Why do I like this book? Because it's a teaching book, and I'm a teacher. Here's the thing; when we name something, it gives it credence and facilitates the process of understanding it, accepting it, and moving through it. It's empowering when we normalize stuff for our littles, and this series masterfully does just that. Cheri's books, brilliantly illustrated with engaging real-life scenarios, 

make what could be complex, simple.

I love the last page the most, because the girl wearing the superhero cape chooses these powerful words: I can decide to bounce back. 

Resilience is a decision. I needed that.

I'm planning to couple the above animation clip with this treasure in one of my counseling stations next year so that they can understand, truly understand, the meaning of resilience so that we can figure out strategies to turn the lights back on together. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some bouncing forward to do.

For more PPBF picks, go to Susanna's blog now.