Teaching Respect

Maria Dismondy is once again having a  Make a Difference Mondays linky party. This month's character trait is respect.  I think that respect, probably even more than other values, can only truly be taught by example.  Adults must treat children, and other adults, with respect if they expect children to be respectful. 

The book Pickle Chiffon Pie by Jolly Rodger Bradfield is one of my favorite books and is a wonderful book to use as a springboard for a discussion of respect. The book, that was out of print for years, is so much fun with it's quirky illustrations and absence of villians.
 A wise and happy king has a problem because the suitors who want to marry his beautiful daughter all stay for dinner (because the princess is so polite) and eat all of the King's favorite pickle chiffon pie. Finally the king says its time to chose a husband for his daughter and sends the three nicest princes out into the forest for three days with the direction that the one who finds "the most wonderful thing" may marry the princess. Each prince finds something amazing, including a juggling lion, a giant with a green beard who plays chopsticks on two pianos and a 3-nose Snoozle who makes pickle-chiffon pie.  One Prince comes back empty-handed because he decides he can't take his find away from it's family. The first two princes share their exciting finds and then the 3rd prince, Prince Bernard, explains why he brought nothing back.  The king announces that Prince Bernard won the right to marry the Princess because he brought back "a story of kindness and love and consideration for others... truly THE MOST WONDERFUL THING OF ALL". 

I have used this book to talk about why Prince Bernard made the choice he made even though he really wanted to marry the princess.  We discussed how he knew what the Snoozle was feeling.  I think that a person shows respect when his or her words and actions show concern for another's feelings. My class loves this book and its message that kindness counts.

On another note - the winner of the $50 Starbucks Gift Card is DRUM ROLL ...Sandi from Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes.  Congratulations!