Element 2 : Respect for Others Post

Element 2 : Respect for Others 

You Can Be A Good Friend (No Matter What!) A Lil TJ Book

Author : Taraji P. Henson

Illustrator : Paul Kellam

Link to Purchase :Knowledge Bookstore

Link to Teacher Resource : Teachers Pay Teachers Book Companion

Summary of Book

      The story starts with a young girl, TJ, getting ready for her first day of school, excited to make “millions of friends,” even though her grandmother and brother remind her it takes time. At recess, an older kid named Beau knocks her down, calls her tiny, and makes fun of her art and her tomato with peanut butter sandwich, leaving her sad and insecure. TJ begins bringing a normal PB&J, doing her hair like the other girls, and wearing plain clothes to not stand out. She grows more nervous until Beau yells at her again. She calls her grandma, who tells her “you get more flies with honey.” TJ decides to be herself again, wearing her favorite clothes and bringing her favorite sandwich. At school she finds the music room and starts playing the drums, and other kids join her. Beau tries to pretend he can play the violin but gets embarrassed, so TJ helps him. Beau apologizes, explains he was nervous, and all the kids, including TJ and Beau, become friends.

How it represents Element 2

     This story represents element 2, respecting others, because it teaches children to be kind, inclusive, and fair.  The story shows how listening, helping, and celebrating differences are key to building friendships and treating everyone with respect.  It gives insight into how people feel when you are being mean to them and not respecting them, like how TJ feels when Beau is bullying her.  While also showing that while Beau was mean to her, TJ did not need to be mean back and instead chose kindness, which also helped Beau open up.  

How I would use it in my future classroom 

     This is definitely a story I want to share to my future students, to spread its message.  I think I would want to read this story as a class during the first week of school, as just like TJ many of them will be feeling big nervous butterflies in their stomachs.  Not only does it touch on the nerves they feel before starting school, but also touches on respecting others, making friends, and bullying.  I find all of these to be important topics to share and touch on with your students, especially ages 5-10.  I think it could help students realize that being nervous is normal, how being mean/disrespectful can make other students feel, and how to treat friends.