MeMeTales Readathon Week 2: How to Be a Friend #readforgood

I was amazed at the level of acceptance and compassion my kindergarten students had toward each other. One minute they wanted to hit someone (and some did) and five minutes later all was forgiven - on both sides. This week's Readathon ebooks are about Friendship. The Stickfiggy books have adorable illustrations and sweet messages providing incentives to help your child read, form friendships and even exercise. These action word stories are designed for word recognition and early reading practice.

Lott's Tea Party
Lott is going to host a tea party. But there are so many things to do! Help your child learn many simple action words as Lott twirls through her chores and preparations: Think, invite, sweep, vacuum, decide, choose, leap and many more. Check out the Action Cards for this book at Carrots are Orange. Also, Putti Prapancha, The Educators’ Spin on It &The Usual Mayhem have great visuals to help you extend the tea party theme into action.

Lott's Tea Party

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Stickfiggy Makes a Friend
This delightful book shows Stickfiggy walking, standing upside down, doing a happy dance, pulling, leaping... Your child could make his own Stickfiggy or friendship book. Jane Marshall, the author of the Stickfiggy series, has made a free printable to help you get started. I still love to draw stick figures and your child will too.

StickFiggy Makes a Friend

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Forming Friendships
Children's ability to form positive relationships with peers represents an important component of social and emotional development. You can help your child develop characteristics of a good friend:

• Share
• Be Kind (can disagree without hurting each other)
• Tell the Truth
• Be a Good Listener
• Be Dependable
• Show Respect
• Accept People's Differences such as culture, religion and disabilities

Children with Special Needs were always welcome in my Kinder class (previously taught Sp. Ed and daughter has special needs). I was often impressed with how easily the "regular" ed. students became friends with children who had handicaps.

Ways to Be Friends with a Child with Special Needs:

• A blind child may need help carrying books.
• A child in a wheelchair may need someone to push the chair.
• A child with Down Syndrome might need a friend to play with at recess or sit with at lunch.
• A child with autism might need a good listener.
• An emotionally disturbed child might need a good role model.
• A depressed child might need a hand to hold.

Young children are more accepting of students with disabilities than some adults. We could learn a lesson from them. 

How to Join this Readathon
You can have access to over 20 free ebooks right now by creating an account on MeMeTales.com only once.Then read together on your preferred platform of computer or apps for iphone/ipad, Android  or Kindle Fire. The books should be available on Nook soon.  For more information and to join click: How Do I Participate in Readathon 2012?   

Pinterest Addresses for More Activities

MeMeTales

Friendship Related Book Activities

Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Teachers (Susan Case)

For every child joining the Readathon, MeMeTales is donating a meal to send a hungry child to school via FoodForEducation.org. Want to help? Tweet using hashtags #readforgood, #MeMeTales, and #kidslit. Last week 1,256 kids read 12,658 books due to this Readathon. Current figures here along with a Friendship Cookie Recipe and links to more participating blogs.

To Have a Good Friend - Be a Good Friend.

You might enjoy my recent guest post Promote Early Literacy through ACTION! For a glimpse into Kindergarten, see my book. Coming soon: The Happy Mommy Handbook. 

Disclaimer: I will be receiving the featured books and in exchange I’ll be sharing activities and ideas related to the theme of the week as well as promoting this program.