Wolfpack Reads: NCSU Student Perspectives on Children's Literature: Issues & Identity Post ~ Bullying/Self Acceptance

“I know I can’t change the way I look. But maybe. Just maybe. People can change the way they see” ~ Auggie Pullman

Bullying has been around for ages and has become a serious problem among many children in elementary school. Some recent studies show that 30-40% of U.S. elementary students have reported being bullied, while other reports say that number is much higher. No matter what the statics are, the number is definitely on the rise. If you add to the fact that the person being bullied has a disability, those number are even higher. What has happened to “treat others the way you want to be treated?”

Bullying is a problem that affects all students; the person who is the bully, those who are the victims, and the person who has to witness the bullying. As educators we need to be able to recognize, understand, and take bullying very seriously. If we are prepared, we can nip bullying in the bud and save innocent children from the heartache they will endure by being bullied.

As I think about the perfect classroom and what it would entail, I would imagine an environment that allows for a safe, comfortable, and stable learning environment for all learners. As educators we need to establish a bully free environment and the best way to do that is to teach children about self acceptance and that it is ok to be different, after all, that is what makes us unique.

Teachers can use bibliotherapy, the art of using literature to help children understand about specific difficult experiences. (Thibault 2004) Through the use of story, children can better understand their own experiences. According the Kiefer and Tyson, realistic fiction helps children enlarge their frames of reference while seeing the world from another perspective.

Maybe you have heard of the book, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, which is appropriate for 3rd grade and up. Wonder tells the incredibly heartwarming story of Auggie Pullman, a boy with craniofacial differences, who is entering the fifth grade after only being home schooled. This book is about self acceptance and people seeing Auggie for who he really is. Wonder provides a more enlightened view that suggests that the person is more important than the condition; one can be differently abled without necessarily being “disabled.” (Kiefer & Tyson) I absolutely LOVE the message this book sends and I was beyond excited when I learned of We’re All Wonders, which is a picture book by Palacio for kindergarten through second grade. The theme of choosing kindness continues in this bright and visually stunning book that will certainly hold the attention of young readers. This book will help teach kindness by igniting conversations about when they have felt different, how do you feel is someone stares at you, and what would they do if they saw someone making fun of someone? Not only will you love this book, it also address common core RL2.1,2.3-2.7 and 2.9.