Shrek

Here's a classic movie I thought fit the theme quite well.  Most if not all of you may be pretty familiar, but I'm sure it would leave your students thinking about what they value about themselves a little more deeply.

Adamson, Andrew & Jensen, Vicky, dir. Shrek. Dreamworks Pictures, 2001. Film.

Once upon a time in a far away swamp, there lived an ornery ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy-tale characters. There are blind mice in his food, a big, bad wolf in his bed, three little homeless pigs and more, all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad.

Determined to save their home and his Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona to be Farquaad's bride. Accompanying him on his mission is a wisecracking Donkey (who will do anything for Shrek- except shut up. Rescuing the Princess from a fire-breathing dragon may prove the least of their problems when the deep, dark secret she has been keeping is revealed.

*Fiona was ashamed of her "true" self, but found out how beautiful she truly was.

The Survival Guide for Teenagers with LD

Cummings, Rhoda and Fischer, Gary. The Survival Guide for Teenagers with LD: Learning Differences (Dream It! Do It!). Copyright 1993, Free Spirit Inc.

A "sequel" to The Survival Guide for Kids with LD is guided to help young people with learning differences, cope with the educational and social experiences they will face as they grow up. 

As such, it is also a useful book for any teen searching for answers about how to find a job, set goals, and make friends. It is a chapter book, but easy to read for the student.  Chapters include clear headings and cartoons for engagement. Definitions of LD and information about the law are also included. Be aware that grade level may need to be considered since there is a chapter on sexuality.

Intended Readers: Ages 12-17

Google books provides other resources that could be used in the classroom for all students to learn more about other prevalent disabilities whether they be cognitive or learning.

The World At Her Fingertips

Dash, Joan. The World at Her Fingertips. Copyright 2001, Scholastic Press.

This book is the biography of Helen Keller told by Joan Dash. 

Helen Keller was born in Alabama, on June of 1880 and at just ninteen months old, she was diagnosed with a serious illness which caused her to go deaf and blind.  She learned to speak quite early but using words that no one could recognize.
It wasn't long that Helen's family had been introduced to a young teacher, Annie Sullivan.  Annie helped Helen everyday until the day she passed.  Because of her, Hellen graduated with honors from Radcliffe collage.  As an adult, Helen gave interviews, lectures, and wrote articles.  She maintained the spirited personality communicated with signs. 
Helen's life of courage, intelligence, and fortitude inspires those whom have the potential to succeed the same.

Intended Reader: Ages 9-12

This book could be used as a source for lesson plans based on influencial people as well inspirational possibilities for those students who may be born with disabilities.  No one person should hold back from achievement, especially if the resources are available for them.

This scholastic link is a great resource for classroom incorporation:

Scholastic Resource for The World at Her Fingertips

For younger readers, here's an animated movie about Helen Keller. Note: there are 5 chapters to the movie.  Full versions can be purchased on DVD.

The Don't-Give-Up-Kid

Gehret, Jeanne. The Don't-give-up kid and Learning Differences. Copyright 1996, Verbal Images Press.

Alex is a creative first-grade boy that finds it difficult to read, mostly in the classroom. The letters he try to read sometimes  After he is diagnosed as dyslexic, he is placed in a smaller class, specifically geared toward children with learning disabilities.  He begins working with a specialist and eventually, he learns that Thomas Edison had similar problems with words/reading but that never led to the impossibility of intelligence.  Though the inventor failed many times, he never stopped trying and neither does Alex.

Intended Reader: Ages 8-12

The book not only includes actual facts, but also drawings to assure readers that Alex is not stupid, but he simply learns things differently and that he can succeed, once his special needs are accommodated.  

Discussion questions/starters are also available in the back of the book which provide dyslexic children with an explanation for their difficulties, and teaches children to be sensitive to the needs of their classmates that may have learning disabilities.  The questions prompt children to think about how Alex felt, and why Alex did the things that he did as they related to his disability.

Smile

Telgemeier, Raina. Smile. Copyright 2010, Scholastic Graphix.

This graphic novel is about a girl named Raina, who transitions from middle school to high school while enduring some of the drama that comes with it.  She has an accident one day that causes her to lose her two front teeth, as braces, dental surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached!  Throughout the story, her town suffers an earthquake, she experiences the joys of boy drama/crushes, and the friends she thought she had turned out to be not so friendly afterall. 

Intended Readers: Ages 8-12
After researching more about the book, I've learned that although there are fictional events, it is based on the life of the author itself, Raina Telgemeier, who  also has adapted The Babysitter's Club series to a graphic novel collection -- look into it!  Especially for the classroom.  It's good to have stories that children may often relate to for reading material.  There's always a moral for them to think about.


Go Raina is the author's personal website with books to purchase, summaries, as well as a personal blog about her travels.

Did you know?! Smile was at first a webcomic before Scholastic printed it through Graphix. This site provides the non-color version online as well as a short trailer based on the book's events.

Cassandra's Angel

Otto, Gina. Cassandra's Angel. Copyright 2001, Sterling Children's Books.

This story is about a girl named Cassandra that can't seem to do anything right or make anyone happy.  Her mom thinks she's a complete mess, her classmates refuse to play with her because her hair is too brown, eyes are too blue, and she's too different, & her art teacher thinks she's incorrigiable (too bad to be reformed).
It wasn't until Cassandra wished upon someone to talk to or call that her Guardian Angel was introduced.  Her angel gave her much confidence that others did not.  "Cassandra, you are as bright as the sky's brightest star" the angel would say.  She finally felt like an actual person as herself, and not as what other people wanted her to be.
"I am Cassandra, a bright light" was her next thought.  And no one could change that story. No, they could not!

Intended Readers: Ages 5-9

There may be a few cases in your classroom, where the student's home is the last place they want to be.  In this case, Cassandra's mother complained about everything, rather than any form of praise.  Children need some kind of praise, especially to continue classroom effort, it's just our job not to overdue it.  They should also be reinforced that being unique, creative, or different is perfectly fine & that their gifts or talents should be used in any way necessary.

I'm Here

Reynolds, Peter H. I'm Here. Copyright 2001, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

For the world you may be one person, but for one person - you may be the world.

This book, by the same author of The Dot tells the heartwarming story of a young boy that is isolated from his classmates because of being different, a child diagnosed with Autism.  The story takes place on the playground where the young boy makes a paper airplane that leads him to a new friendship.

This story is meant to help reach out, embrace, and appreciate children in the autism spectrum, or anyone that's been considered "different" with a strong anti-bullying message encouraging children to stand up for others who may not seem to belong

Intended Readers: Ages 4-8

It's important for all learners to understand that not one person is the same.  I would use this book to help the reader broaden their horizons of relationships and to know that the people you may consider friends do not have to be solely about the similarities you may share.

Here's a short film version of the story: