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.  

Coquí­ in the City

 

 Coqui in the City

Written and illustrated by Nomar Perez

Grade Level Prek-2^nd

Element 2: Respect for Others

Purchase Here

Short Summary

The book tells the story of Miguel, a young boy who moves with his family from Puerto Rico to New York City. Miguel loves his life in Puerto Rico playing outside, eating mangos from the tree, dancing, and spending time with his grandparents and his little frog, Coqui. When his parents announce that they are moving to the U.S., Miguel feels sad to leave his grandparents and Coqui behind.

Before Miguel leaves, his grandfather gives him a baseball as a reminder that he’s never alone. In New York City, Miguel is amazed by the bright lights and tall buildings but misses his old home. As he explores the neighborhood with his mom, he discovers familiar sights and sounds that remind him of Puerto Rico. Little by little, Miguel begins to feel at home again.

This story captures the challenges of moving to a new country and shows the importance of family support and love during times of transition.

Element 2: Respect for Others

This story is an Element 2: Respect for Others book because many kids and families live the experience of moving from their country of origin to the USA, and this book gives the class an opportunity to discuss about those experiences and the changes they face. This book promotes respect towards others experiences and creates a secure environment for children to share about their stories and for others to listen and honor them. It encourages the values of empathy, family, community, inclusion, and diversity.  It also helps students reflect on how they can support their classmates and what “home” looks like for everyone I the class.

Classroom Activities

Activity one: I will begin with a whole class read-aloud of the book. Afterwards, students will be invited to share personal connections with the story, such as experiences moving to a new place or knowing someone who has gone through similar changes. They will aso express their feelings about the story and reflect on their own experiences. Next, students will complete a sequencing activity to arrange the main events of the story in the correct order and respond to the question: What would you say to Miguel when he moved to the USA?

Activity two:  After the read aloud, students will share what makes them feel at home at school. Based on this discussion, they will work in small groups to create a three-step plan to help classmates feel at home and develop a sense of belonging in the school.

 

 

More Class Lessons Ideas

 🌍 Respecting Others Through Story Time

The Sandwich Swap 

by Queen Rania Al Abdullah & Kelly DiPucchio

Social Justice Element: Element 2 - Respect for Others

💰WHERE TO BUY💰

Purchase The Sandwich Swap on Bookshop.org

Click Here To Order !

Lily and Salma are best friends who share almost everything - except lunch. Lily eats peanut butter and jelly, while Salma eats hummus and pita. At first they make fun of each other's food, which hurts their feelings and even starts a food fight at school. But when they finally try each other's sandwiches, they realize that difference does not mean "bad." In the end, the whole class celebrates new tastes and friendships, learning that respecting differences can bring everyone closer together. 

📚TEACHER REVIEW📚

🌟CONNECTION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE ELEMENT 2 RESPECTING OTHERS

• Shows how differences in culture and diversity (even something as small as lunch) can cause misunderstandings
• Models empathy and open-mindedness: trying new things instead of judging them
• Emphasizes that respect means accepting others without giving up your own identity

🍎CLASSROOM USE IDEAS - Suggested Grades: K-2

Lesson Plan: "My Plate, Your Plate"

1. Read Aloud & Discuss
1. Why did Lily think Salma's food was weird?
2. How do you think Salma felt when her food was teased?
3. What happened when they swapped sandwiches?
2. Food Swap Activity
1. Students bring (or draw ✎) a food special to their family/culture
2. Share with classmates
3. Venn Diagram Compare and Contrast
1. Chart similarities and differences between food
2. Show how both sides are valuable
4. Writing/Drawing
1. Draw or write about a time you tried something new. How did it make you feel?
5. Respect Anchor Chart
1. Work together to make a class poster with rules for respecting others:
1. Be curious, not critical
2. Celebrate differences
3. Respect everyone's traditions

💡WHY THIS BOOK MATTERS📚

The Sandwich Swap is a simple yet powerful reminder that respect starts with small steps - like listening, learning, and being open to new experiences. In the classroom, it creates a safe space for conversations about empathy, culture, and kindness.

Last Stop on Market Street

 

                                                            Last Stop on Market Street

                                                            Written by Matt de la Peña
                                                            Illustrated by Christian Robinson

                                                            Where to Find Book

        Summary: 
Last Stop on Market Street follows a young boy named CJ who rides the bus across town with his grandmother. Along the way, CJ notices the differences between his life and the lives of the people he sees. He asks questions and sometimes wonders why his life isn’t more like others’. His grandmother helps him see the beauty in his community, the kindness in others, and the ways he can appreciate what he has. By the end of the ride, CJ learns to value his neighborhood and the unique experiences of people around him.

        Element 2: Respect for Others:

This book connects to Element 2 because it shows students the importance of noticing and valuing differences in people’s lives. CJ learns to see beauty and worth in every person, no matter their background, and to respect the diversity of experiences in his community. It encourages empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the ways in which everyone’s story is meaningful.

         Classroom Use (Pre-k to Grade 2):

• Read the book aloud to the class and compare the diversity found in the book to the students' own community.

• Comparing what CJ notices about differences versus what he learns to appreciate.

• Ask students to reflect on a time they noticed something different in their community and how it made them feel.

• Have students draw a picture of a moment when they appreciated someone different than them. 

Discuss ways students can respect and celebrate differences in their own school or neighborhood.

Additional Resources 

• Other lessons related to the book

Strictly No Elephants

 

Title- Strictly No Elephants 

Author- Lisa Mantchev

Illustrator- Taeeun Yoo

Grade Level- PK-3

Genre- Fiction

Link to Purchase- https://bookshop.org/p/books/strictly-no-elephants-lisa-mantchev/d27a38a3f9e0eede?ean=9781481416474&next=t

Link to teacher resource- https://www.themountainteacher.com/2024/01/the-best-strictly-no-elephants-activities/

https://www.prindleinstitute.org/books/strictly-no-elephants/

Social Justice Element-

Summary-

Strictly No elephants is a book about a young boy that has a pet elephant. He loves his pet just like any other child with a pet does. He brings his pet elephant to pet club day but there was a sign on the door saying "strictly no elephants". This made the boy very sad until he bumped into a girl with a pet skunk. Pet club day didn't let her in either because she also had a different pet. Throughout the book the boy mentions friendship many times, and how he helps out his pet elephant because "that is what friends do". The boy sparked an idea to start his own pet club. He found many friends with different pets and put a sign on the door saying "all are welcome". They now have their own pet club and any child can join with any kind of pet. 

Connection Element- 

This week's element is respect for others. This boy did not care what kind of pets all of his friends had , he welcomed any pet, of any size , or any kind. The boy and all his others friends respect each other and their pets. This book also connects to social justice because the boy stepped up and took charge to start something of his own because he believed should be welcome no matter what. 

Classroom- 

This book will be used in my future classroom. It can teach children about friendship, and also teach children that everyone should always be welcomed no matter what. Many different activities can be used with this book. Fun worksheets like key words, or book connections. A child can share with their teacher if they have ever felt like they could relate to this book, and can also share what they would do if they were in this young position. A fun interactive activity connected to this book could be to draw what pet they would have if they could have any pet in the world. 

Separate Is Never Equal

 

Title: Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation

Author: Duncan Tonatiuh 

Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh 

Grade Level: 3rd-5th 

Genre: Nonfiction 

Link to purchase: https://a.co/d/enjkMw2 

Link to teacher resource: https://www.learningtogive.org/resources/separate-never-equal-literature-guide 

https://teacherresourceroom.com/shop/shop-separate-never-equal-unit/

Social Justice Element 

Summary: 

This book talks about the story of Sylvia Mendez and her family fighting against separating people by race, religion, etc in the state of California. In 1940s schools were separated because of race and religion. As seen in the book white children would attended rich school while on the other hand Mexican children were pushed away to poor schools. Sylvia and her brothers try to enroll in a “whites only” school and they were turned always and told to sign up in a Mexican school where all of the other children go. This is when the Mendez family with other families decided to take some legal actions. They filed a lawsuit arguing that separation people just because of their skin color or race is going against something that was stated in the Constitution and harmful to the education of many Mexican American children's. During the time of the trial the teachers and experts gave proof about the harmful effects of separating kids on students self confidence and learning challenging due to the lack of education. The judge ended up in favor with the Mendez family declaring that separating these kids based on their family and cultural characteristics is illegal in California. This is a big important case for many schools because they can’t separate these kids anymore. This book showcases the courage and strong desire decision about something of the Mendez family and their community in fighting for equal rights and justice. 

Connects to Element: 

This books talks about a story how a community of kids don’t have the same opportunity as a white child does. Latin families have to fight for justice for their kids to have a better education. The struggle for equality in education during the desegregation is seen in this book and how the unequal treatment is showed. It shows the battle and victory within this family of social justice, they fought for what they believe and for justice for all the opportunities of the kids regardless of the background. 

Classroom use:

This books could have any activities, many do something with some vocabulary words. It could also be used for a research paper, to look into more about social justice in different states or schools. It could also be used for a reflection paper, answer to the question of what equal education means. Many questions could be asked within this book such as, what does it mean to fight for justice, what is segregation, what are petitions, why did the school reject these students, what risks were taken, have you ever felt excluded?