Tag: Self-Acceptance

Joel Osteen’s Think Better Live Better: Hope in 207 Pages

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Joel Osteen is a well-known name in religious Christian circles. This man has an extensive media persona and for all the right reasons. With the pseudo-miracle workers that prey on people’s vulnerabilities, it is easy enough to lump Joel Osteen into the same category, but this man actually spreads valuable messages. I have watched him on T.V. and read his books and my deduction is simply this, he actually cares about making a positive difference in the lives of the people he hopes to touch.

I recently read his latest book, Think Better Live Better that came out this Fall (2016), and if anyone should need testament of how a book can change your life, I would call into admittance this one. The thing that strikes me most about this book is the humility inherent in Osteen’s writing. He is obviously a man of much influence, but he still writes to his readers as one of God’s humble servants, with respect, kindness and gentleness. It is this tone that will render the readers most set in their ways more than willing to let him in to change them for the better. This book brims with positivism, and it is not just the kind that throws a bunch of feel-good sayings in your face and then scampers off the page. No, Osteen goes beyond that to offer real-life examples and opportunities for you to apply his teachings. He doesn’t heap it all into a few hundred pages. He breaks it down into little lessons that will get you thinking about how you can apply them to your life with the turn of each page. He repeats his positive messages over and over again and finds clever ways to connect his teachings, weaving in powerful and often poignant real-life stories.

Bursting with words of hope, faith, charity, kindness, and truly uplifting stories, Osteen’s genuine desire to help, to reach out and enable people shines through and makes you want to take stock of your own life and rise up to meet your divine destiny. This book is not exclusive to the religious or followers of only Christianity or even fans of Osteen. No, this book is for anyone who has lost themselves, lost hope or faith or lost the will to try harder. This is for those people who need someone to believe in them so they can straighten up and forge ahead to fulfill all they were meant to. In an age where we have become more aware about how to live healthy lifestyles, tapping into meatless diets and better fitness levels, there is something to be said for nourishing your emotional and spiritual selves. There is something to be said about the necessity for hope, and this book is literally hope in 207 pages. This book helped me navigate a dark time in my own life, and with each page I read I felt my own hope beginning to grow into its former self. If you are looking to love yourself again and to live a more fulfilled life where you can then leave a positive legacy, this would be my recommended go-to. If you do get around to reading it, I would love to hear what you thought!

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The Polacco Series: Gratitude

Some of you, and maybe a lot of teachers, might be familiar with the name Patricia Polacco. As educators, I think her books are essential components of our libraries. Polacco is a truly gifted author, who uses her life experiences and cultural heritage to write immensely touching books that, if you were being honest with yourself, border on a “tear-jerker”. Not only is this very talented author a moving writer, she illustrates her books with emotional sketches and tugging colours. I have done countless read-alouds with my students where we discuss her choice of colour for specific artwork, coming to the conclusion that like her words, her drawings are also bursting with meaning.

One of my favourite books from Polacco is the ADORED Thank you, Mr. Falker

This book weaves a heart-rending story of a young girl, Trisha, who faces challenges in her learning. She has dyslexia, and none of the teaching staff at her school are able to pick this up. This challenge makes our young protagonist a target for name-calling and bullying. And, unlike other children, when Trisha welcomes the chance to move to another city and start over at a new school, her hopes are met with despair, as she painfully navigates yet another school system stuffed with bullies and teaching staff who do not seem to care. Until of course she meets Mr. Falker. Mr. Falker, like a lot of teachers these days who get into teaching despite its hardships, is the teacher who makes a difference in this girl’s life. He takes a gamble on her and his gamble pays off, leading to a moment, brilliantly narrated with emotion, that changes Trisha’s life forever. Based on a true story, this narrative is packed with feel-goods.

Perfect for  grades 3-6, and abounding in themes of gratitude, compassion, bullying awareness, self-confidence issues in children, learning challenges and their effects, this book should really be read to every child out there. If nothing else, it lets children know that they are not alone in their struggles, and that they can rely on that one teacher to make a difference in their lives.

 

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Enabling Children: Self-Acceptance, Finding Yourself and Courage

Much of what children have to grapple with in the real world today are issues around self-acceptance, finding themselves and courage during trying times. And if you are a teacher, you are in a unique position to help enable your students to develop some of these very valuable life traits.

A very simple way to introduce these topics before making practical activities that students can then use to apply in their lives, is through read-alouds. Read-alouds are a fantastic way to get the conversation started. Students truly love them!

Below, are 4 different read-alouds that teach one of the beautiful lessons of self-acceptance, finding yourself and courage.

20160428_145152 In ish by Peter H. Reynolds, young Ramon loves to draw, but one day his older brother’s harsh criticism dampens his will to develop his talent. That is, until his little sister reveals the value of her perspective. This book deals with the delicate theme of finding your true talent and learning to shut the haters out while keeping your mind open to different perspectives and possibilities.

 

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The Paper Bag Princess is easily my favourite by Robert Munsch. Young Princess Elizabeth shows her courage in rescuing her betrothed prince from a dragon, only to find that he cares more about her appearance than her courage. This classic shows children that courage is ultimately more important than how well you dress, because courage shows character and cannot be bought. It also puts your female students in a unique position to imagine themselves as individuals capable of saving others and making a difference, and not the damsels in distress that alot of our society champions.

 

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Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is about a little mouse who grows up to love her name, until the harsh bullying of her peers changes her mind. Can she learn to love her name, and herself again? Henkes adeptly touches on the subject of bullying, but chooses to focus on the person being bullied as the victor, not the victim. Self-acceptance is at the heart of this book, and so is the courage to be different.

 

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A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon paints an intricate picture of a young girl, Camilla Cream, who suppresses her love of Lima beans because she does not want to stand out. Can she learn to feel good about being herself? With generous illustrations that tease the imagination and have students gasping when they see the different forms our protagonist takes, this book is sure to leave your students standing up for what they truly believe in.

Collectively, these books offer students the opportunity to understand that like Ramon, Princess Elizabeth, Chrysanthemum and Camilla, situations that call them to accept themselves and show courage can occur to just about anyone.

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