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Tag: International Day of Friendship

Andy and Ghost Boy by Karen Tyrrell – a review – #readilearn
Today it is my pleasure to share my review of Karen Tyrrell’s fabulous new junior fiction novel Andy and Ghost Boy. With its theme of friendship, it’s a perfect read for the International Day of Friendship on 30 July.

About author Karen Tyrrell

Karen Tyrrell is a Brisbane author, speaker, educator, performer, Children’s Rights Ambassador, Australia Reads Ambassador and child empowerment author. Karen presents costumed writing workshops, pantomimes, readers theatre and author talks with co-writer Steve Tyrrell. Karen’s acclaimed books include Song Bird Rainforest Rescue which was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year 2019, STOP the Bully, Bailey Beats the Blah, Harry Helps Grandpa Remember and other titles in the Song Bird series. Karen has won a major mental health award, 7 grants and a mentorship with the Society of Editors. You can find out more about Karen on her website: www.karentyrrell.com.

About Andy and Ghost Boy

The blurb

‘Disaster magnet, Anxious Andy dreams of finding one true friend and his forever school, but how can he when Ghost Boy, his rambunctious friend, sabotages everything?

Andy and Ghost Boy trigger a catastrophe at school.

At Camp Discovery, a bully showdown results in disaster.

How can Andy become the hero and save the day?’

Themes

Bravery, Anxiety, self-care, coping skills, resilience, mindfulness, bullying, feelings, identity, self-esteem, PTSD, trauma , friendship, inclusion.

Trailer

What I like about Andy and Ghost Boy

Andy and Ghost Boy is a fast-paced, action-packed Junior Fiction novel that will keep young readers engaged from beginning to end. We meet Andy as he begins his first day at yet another new school. As for many children starting a new school, Andy is not only anxious, he is super anxious, when he’d really rather be a super hero.

One disaster follows another as Andy tries to overcome his anxieties and find his inner strength, especially when confronted by the relentless bully. With the help of a mystery girl and a ghost boy, Andy discovers where his real strength lies.

One of my favourite themes is the power of friendship and I like the way Karen Tyrrell has woven this into her story. A friend helps Andy deal with his anxieties and in turn,

Continue reading: Andy and Ghost Boy by Karen Tyrrell – a review – readilearn
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July 27, 2023
Cultivating friendships on the International Day of Friendship – #readilearn
Next Friday 30 July is the International Day of Friendship. One of the aims of the International Day of Friendship is to foster a culture of peace through education. It is “based on the recognition of the relevance and importance of friendship as a noble and valuable sentiment in the lives of human beings around the world”.

Some children find it easy to make friends. Others may find it a little more difficult. While some of us enjoy time on our own, there’s no denying that days are often brighter with friends. This is especially true of children at school. Without a friend to play with, children can feel left out and alone. They may feel they don’t belong and begin to think ‘What’s wrong with me?’ Having a friend or two can influence how they feel about attending school and impact the whole school experience.

The establishment of a welcoming and supportive classroom in which all children have a sense of belonging is essential and underpins a great year of learning and teaching for all involved. Part of that classroom is the social dynamics and friendship groups. They don’t always form naturally and, especially when some friendship groups are already established, newcomers may have difficulty being accepted when they try to fit in.

Here at readilearn, we have a variety of lessons, activities and teaching resources to assist the teaching of friendship skills in your classroom. They can all be found in the Friendship Skills collection in the section Character Development.

Getting to know each other

Getting to know you surveys are a great way for teachers and children to get to know each other at the beginning of the year, and support the establishment of a welcoming, supportive environment in which individuals are respected and appreciated. Topics to survey are limited only by your imagination. With the incidental development of literacy and mathematical skills, they make an all-round great introduction to school.

Me and my friends Children interview their friends to find out ways in which they are similar and how they differ from each other

As children get to know each other, they come to realise that they have some characteristics in common and some that differ. Those characteristics do not make them better or worse. They make them who they are.

Me and My Buddy is a great activity for your children’s first session with their buddy class.

Children interview their buddies to find out more about them and discuss ways in which they and their buddies are similar and different.

A community of friends

Continue reading: Cultivating friendships on the International Day of Friendship – Readilearn
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July 23, 2021
Educate for peace through teaching friendship skills – #readilearn
The UN International Day of Friendship on 30 July promotes friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals in order to inspire peace and build bridges between communities.

Education has an important role in fostering friendships at a grassroots level that can transform communities both small and large. We begin by developing respect, understanding and empathy among students in our classrooms and schools and reaching out to others in our local, national and international communities.

The basis for developing friendships in the classroom is the establishment of a supportive classroom environment in which everyone is welcomed and respected. It means that we, as a class, teachers and children, get to know each other and learn to appreciate our similarities and value our differences.

Establish a supportive classroom environment

I have suggested strategies for establishing a supportive classroom environment in previous posts, including:

Establishing a supportive classroom environment from day one

Starting out right — classroom organisation

Preparing the classroom for a successful school year

The posts link to resources to support your work in setting up a welcoming classroom.

Continue reading: Educate for peace through teaching friendship skills – readilearn
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July 24, 2020
For one day: International Day of Friendship
This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that includes the phrase “for one day.” The words single out a special occurrence. What is the emotion and vibe, where does it take place and why? Go where the prompt leads!

For more than one day, I have thought about what to write. I was drawn by the theme of empathy, of walking in someone else’s shoes, of being able to see oneself through the eyes of another, or of having the opportunity to heal past wounds, for one day. But I couldn’t quite get it. It was elusive, until I came across this video of Chris Rosati.

Chris Rosati decided that what he wanted to do most with his life was spread kindness. It led me to consider what the world might be like if, for one day, everyone of us, wherever we are, put aside our differences and spread kindness. Perhaps then, we wouldn’t need to walk in the shoes of another, see ourselves as others see us, or heal old wounds. Kindness would prevail.

Pandemic

It started slowly. First an outbreak in a school in central Australia, barely newsworthy. Then another in South America. A post on social media drew a few views but was largely ignored. When a third occurred in Western Europe, reports flooded news services. Soon, small isolated pockets erupted on every continent, and they multiplied and spread. The touch of a hand, a pat on a shoulder, the nod of a head, a brush of lips, the trace of a smile; all were infectious. The contagion was rampant. Random acts of kindness proliferated, and unbridled bursts of joy exploded everywhere.

A bit too Pollyanna? Maybe. But wouldn’t it be wonderful? And since today, 30 July, is International Day of Friendship, it’s totally appropriate.

https://openclipart.org/detail/117199/Friendship

Teaching friendship skills was always a big part of my classroom practice and many of the lessons I develop for the readilearn collection of teaching resources for the first three years of school also focus on the development of friendship skills; including:

Busy Bees ABC of Friendship

Friendship Superpower posters

Getting to know you surveys

Extend the hand of friendship

How to make a friendship tree

Happy International Day of Friendship to all my friends. Thank you for bringing joy to my life.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
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July 30, 2019