A question to kick off Mother's Day Weekend:
What makes this flower so unique?
It's a daylily, which means it only opens up for one day.
Is it weird that it reminds me a little bit of
how emotions visit us and then leave?
Enter today's PPBF. 
Title: Fergal and the Bad Temper
Author & Illustrator: Robert Starling
Publisher: Imprint
Birth date: April 30, 2019
Suitable for: ages 3-6
Themes: anger, fairness, emotions
Brief synopsis: Fergal is a nice enough fella, until something's not fair and he gets all fired up. When his family and friends have had enough, will they be able to help him control his temper?
Opening page: This is Fergal. What a nice dragon!
He's a friendly little fellow.
Resources: Enjoy a read-aloud with Tie Dye Reader {here}.
Read a comprehensive review from Literary Fusions {here}.
Why I like this book: Besides it being adorable, this gem has built-in strategies to help our littles when their emotions get too big. Counting to ten? It's in there, and they get to see how Fergal applies it to his overwhelming feelings. Watching a sunset? Stretching? Running? All in there, in bite-sized bits that our youngest learners can chew on and digest to help them when their feelings try to hijack them.
Use it as a springboard for exploring all of the emotions. Invite your students to make a book about the things that make them happy, that frustrate them, that bring out the dragon in them, and so on. Do they have a favorite feeling? How about a most unwelcome one? What are their favorite tools for putting out the fire without fanning the flames so that they don't overheat?
Remind students that our feelings don't need judgement, so not to label them as good or bad, but rather to describe them as big or small, comfortable or uncomfortable, easy or hard. Read the book Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein to help them understand that feelings choose us to provide the energy we need to process what we're going through.
Sing this little ditty to the tune of the Addams Family.
When I get mad (snap, snap),
When I get mad (snap, snap),
Here's what I do, to get me through,
when I get mad (snap, snap).
I practice my square breathing,
I slowly count from one to ten.
I talk it out or exercise,
'til I am glad again!
Then talk about fairness and help students discern between equality and equity. It's always a valuable and fun discussion to stretch their character muscles. Were the things that Fergal found unfair really unfair? What seems unfair to them? Is it fair, for example, that I have to wear glasses and they don't?
Check out Fergal's story, then head to Susanna's blog
to take in today's other PPBF selections.
No comments
I really enjoy hearing from my readers; thanks for sharing your reflections with us!