SIMON'S HOOK A Story About Teases And Put Downs receives a major award! Learning® Magazine 2003  Teachers’ Choice AwardSM   Derrick Shows Up For Show Stoppers  One day a mother came in the school lunch room and announced that all the girls who were in the "Show Stoppers" dance group were to come with her. They had to get ready to perform another show. Many 4th and 5th grade girls in their dancer outfits got up to take their trays back and leave. At the same time a 4th grade boy by the name of Derrick just happened to pick up his tray to leave. All of a sudden another boy yelled, "Look, Derrick's in Show Stoppers." Many boys would have gotten upset by that comment. They would have argued, given the boy a mean look, or at recess done something "on accident" to get back at the boy; but not Derrick. Derrick turned, put his tray down and did a little twirl dance. Everybody laughed. Derrick picked up his tray and left.

Sarah Learns To Swim Free Sarah, a third grader, often complained that David teased her. She complained that he made fun of her, that he called her names, that he copied her walk. One day Sarah came crying to her teacher. "David made fun of my drawing," she whined. Her teacher looked at her and calmly replied, "Oh, and you bit." At that Sarah immediately stopped crying and said, "Well I'm not going to bite." Then she walked off to continue with her work. Today, Sarah is a typical fourth grader. "I don't get teased much any more," she says. "I don't bite." When asked what was different, what changed, Sarah replied, "I did."  Stella Starfish Shines Stella Starfish was the star of the show. Singing such inter-oceanly popular songs such as: "Somewhere Under the Seaweed", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Far Away From Here", and "Splish Splash, I Was Taking a Bath", Stella shines in her lead role of the musical, "Ocean Fever". Don't miss this aqua theater entertainment special.

Questions to Grandma Rose

Q: Grandma Rose, do you ever bite at teasing or mean hooks?

 

Grandma Rose: Yes I do, sometimes. I used to get upset easier and stay upset longer, but now I've learned. But every day I get better and better at swimming away from hooks. And when I do get upset I get over it sooner. I let it go sooner.

 

 

Grandma Rose: Sometimes you think you are ignoring a hook or walking away, but your body language shows that you are upset. You may give a mean look or stomp off. Your body language says that you are biting. If you are going to ignore a tease, make sure your body language says, "This is no big deal. I'm not biting." Smile and walk away. Don't stomp off.

 

 
 
 

Q: I'd love to make a joke or say something funny, but when someone teases me I can't think of what to say. I always think of it later, much later. What can I do?

 

Grandma Rose: Practice! Practice three or four different things you could say for almost any tease. The more you practice, the more natural your response will be. I knew a girl who said the same basic things any time someone teased her. She said, "Cool!" or "OK!" or "Great!"

 

 
 
 
 
 

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