Guest Post: Corner on Character

Today, I have yet ANOTHER special guest post for you! :)  I am a big believer of character education in the classroom, and today I have a post for you by the the expert on character education herself, Babara from The Corner on Character!

 

Howdy from The Corner on Character.  It's such a thrill to be a guest today at this amazing blog. Thanks, Lisa, for the invitation.

Do you know about The Giant King by Kathleen T. Pelley? Although it's almost ten years old, it was love at first sight when I saw it for the first time this summer. In this tale about a Scottish carpenter's son named Rabbie, a Giant is terrorizing a town until the young lad suggests that the Giant's acting like a crazed beast because they're treating him like one. Though the people scoff and sneer at his intriguing idea that just might change things for the better, the King orders his people to do what the wise boy says. 

And guess what? 

"That which is loved will reveal its loveliness . . . "

So what connection do I want to make and reflect upon with this title? 

The Law of Attraction. According to Wikipedia: The law of attraction is essentially a belief or theory that "like attracts like" and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results.

Consider the Giant and apply the law of attraction. He was banished by the townspeople because he was scary to them. But which came first, the chicken or the egg? Rabbie simply surmised that if they were treat him differently, like royalty instead of like something repulsive, then the Giant would act more Kingly. It's exactly why author Carol McCloud suggests that Bucket Fillers surround themselves with other Bucket Fillers. 

What you focus on, you get more of! 

So what will YOU encourage your students to focus on this year? You probably get about 187 days with this new crop of learners for the 

2012-2013 school year. How will they spend the days represented by that dash? Find out what changes your students could positively influence. Discuss the Law of Attraction with them so that they can intentionally seek out positivity. On purpose. 

Maybe there's someone that they could be a little kinder to. 

Maybe they want to complain less. 

Maybe they want to volunteer more. 

Challenge them to write a New Year's Resolution with an action plan. Then revisit the resolutions at the end of each quarter for self-reflection.

 Happy New Year! 

 
Thank you, Barbara for sharing the The Giant King with us! I already requested it from our local library and can't wait to share it with my fourth graders! :)