Many people have asked me how to use my book as more than just a read-aloud.

This blog offers 5 activities you can use in your class after reading Hold Your Head Up and Walk With Grace.

At the beginning of school, I read my children’s book for many different reasons. It addresses the fear and insecurity that the main character feels about going to school. It prompts conversation about fears and how it is okay to feel the way we do when we encounter fear in a new situation. It also addresses self-discovery and how the main character changes from the beginning of the book (she is fearful) to the end (she realizes that she is unique). Her father helps her see her strengths and what she brings to the world. He encourages her to be herself, spreading kindness and a smile as she enters the school. 

The children take away many different messages after reading the book.

Here are some from my class this year:

Other people can help us through our fears. 

Our emotions are ok. 

We may feel different emotions in different situations. 

Spread kindness. 

We are all special and unique. 

It is ok to be who we are. 

Celebrate your differences. 

It’s ok to be afraid. 

Be who you are. 

Celebrate yourself. 

 

Five activities to do with the book to extend learning

 

Fears

The book begins with the main character’s fears. Students can relate to having fears about new situations and general fears. 

Have students think and share about their fears. Discuss how you can overcome them along the way. Here is a free resource to help facilitate and guide the discussion. 

Facing my Fears

 

Embrace your uniqueness

 Have students think about what makes them special and unique. Allow them to share

Something special or unique about themselves. 

 

I begin with this resource that was inspired by FancyNancyin5th’s growth mindset activity

• On the heart, the students write something unique or special about themselves.

 

• After that, we cut the heart and paste it onto a piece of large paper (11×17) with a lined pattern.  
• We, then have them use zentangle art to fill in the open spaces on the background. 
• We take a picture of each student posing as if looking up at the heart. Once the zentangle patterns are done, we paste the image onto the sheet. 

 

This creates a beautiful bulletin board display for the beginning of the year, emphasizing each student’s uniqueness. It reminds the whole class community of how special and unique we each are. 

Just like the message in the book when Ellie realizes from her dad’s encouragement that she is special!

 

Say Something

Pair the book with Peter H.Reynold’s book, Say Something! Have the students devise a slogan to help them overcome a challenge,  send a message of encouragement, or create a message that will help them when they have complicated emotions. Like in my book, Ellie learns to “Hold her head up and walk with grace.”

 

Spread Kindness

• Discuss with the class what they can say to others who may be going through a tough time. Write their thoughts on a chart paper and leave it in the room so students can refer to it. 
• Have them role-play situations when someone needs some encouragement and let them come up with kind words they can use to help them. 
• Write an encouraging and kind note to a classmate. 

 

Personal Narrative

Write about a time when they were scared and how they overcame their fear. 

 

These are just a few ways to engage your students in the book’s messages. 

 

Feel free to share with me on Instagram how you extended your students’ learning after reading the book.