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We pledge tochooseWhen giventhe choicebetweenbeing rightor erofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.comIllustrations 2012 by Tad Carpenter
chooseABOUT THE BOOKAfter being home-schooled for fouryears, Auggie, who suffers from aseverely deformed face, enters the fifthgrade at Beecher Prep School and doeshis best to be just an ordinary kid withan extraordinary face.The first few days of school aremore than difficult. Try as he might toignore them, Auggie must endure thelooks and whispers—even the cruelgame, “The Plague,” where everyone isafraid to touch him. Julian especiallycauses Auggie’s days to be miserable,making references about Auggie’sface and veiled threats to harm him.The flip side is that Auggie has thesteadfast support of his first friend,Summer, and his best friend, Jack,and his teachers and the principallike him. But for every positive, thereis a negative: Jack betrays him, agang of kids try to hurt him, and someparticularly insensitive parents eventry to have him removed from theschool. Yet, Auggie shows amazingunderstanding and compassion. Asthe school year progresses, Auggielearns that, though there will alwaysbe people who want to taunt him andmake his life miserable, he can havetrue friends despite his looks. Thewonder of Auggie’s extraordinarilyunique presence is that the peoplearound him learn what it is to be kindand to be courageous.Grades 3–7HC: 978-0-375-86902-0GLB: 978-0-375-96902-7EL: 978-0-375-89988-1Inspired by Wonder, this anti-bullying initiative encourages young readers toshare their story and introduce the theme of Choose Kind to your classroomor reading group all year long. No matter the season, students can makethe words of wisdom from Auggie, Summer, Olivia, and the whole cast ofcharacters in Wonder their own. Here are some ideas to get you started:JANUARYH New Year, New You! The start of the year is always perfect for resolutions andgoal settings. Share the precepts from Wonder and have students come up withprecepts for the class, themselves, and/or the grade as a whole. Feature the finalchoices in a public place so you and the students can reference them throughoutthe rest of the school year.H Tie Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the message of Choose Kind. Auggie’sstory highlights the power of one—one individual, one act of kindness, and thepower of paying forward. How did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspire kindness in hismessage of civil rights? Who else emulated these values? How will the studentsand the class as a whole Choose Kind this year?APRILApril is Poetry Month! Encourage students to use Wonder as inspiration for theirown poems while educating them on the various forms. Here are some suggestions:H Compose an acrostic poem using a character from Wonder or the title itself.H Using the precepts from Wonder as a guide, write your own in the form of a haikuor cinquain. Haiku is Japanese poetry that reflects on nature and feelings. Use yourobservation skills to write what you learned from Auggie, Summer, and thecharacters in Wonder. There are three lines with five syllables in the first line,seven syllables in the second, and five syllables in the third. Cinquains have five linesLine 1: Title (noun) – 1 wordLine 2: Description – 2 wordsLine 3: Action – 3 wordsLine 4: Feeling (phrase) – 4 wordsLine 5: Title (synonym for the title) – 1 wordJUNE“Your deeds are your monuments.” —R.J. Palacio, WonderH Tie the theme of Choose Kind with your year-end reflection and ask students toshare deeds, moments, and acts from the year that stood out.H What was their “monument” this year?H Add Wonder to your school’s recommended summer reading list both for yourdistrict and at your local library.#thewonderofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.com
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER“I wish every day could be Halloween. We could all wear masksall the time. Then we could walk around and get to knoweach other before we got to see what we looked like under themasks.” —R.J. Palacio, WonderOctober is National Bullying Prevention Month. UseWonder as the anchor for the bullying conversation in yourclassroom.H Full of mixed impressions, changing views, and lessons onchange, Wonder is the perfect book to share with studentsat the beginning of the school year to encourage respectand kindness in your classroom. Each character experiencesthis shift in thinking and feeling differently. Use the quoteabove to start conversations about first impressions,starting something new, getting to know someone, andadapting to a new school, new home, or new sibling. Posethe following questions as either class discussions, writingprompts, etc: What characteristics form a first impression? Has your first impression ever been wrong? How did you come to realize it and did you do anything tochange your view?H What masks do the various characters in Wonder wear? Via,Auggie’s sister, feels compelled to be kind and patient at alltimes, but often she is quite frustrated. Ask the students to draw a mask that reflects theirhobbies, interests, favorite foods, music, or books. Theyshould focus on bringing out the characteristics thatdefine them which may not be obvious at first glance.H Have students take the pledge to Choose Kind atchoosekind.tumblr.com.H Compare and contrast incidences of bullying andincidences of kindness in Wonder.H Have students work together to create a public serviceannouncement for your school.H Using available technology, make your own video booktrailer to promote Wonder. Check out the Random Housebook trailer at SchoolTube.com.H Publish, film, or blog a collection of your students’ precepts.NOVEMBER & DECEMBER’Tis the Season to Choose Kind!H Spread cheer and celebrate the act of kindness by: Hosting a food drive, bake sale, or collecting gifts forchildren in need Volunteering as a class at a local nursing home and/orafter-school programsH Wonder is the perfect book for a school-wide or communitywide read. Start the planning conversation with yourcolleagues and PTO members at the beginning of the schoolyear to ensure that your program is as meaningful aspossible for your community.#thewonderofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.com
MR. BROWNE’S PRECEPTSIn Wonder, Auggie’s teacher Mr. Browne presents a monthly precept, which is “anything that helps guide us when makingdecisions about really important things.” Choose one of the precepts below and write an essay about what it means to you.Then write your own personal precept in the blank square below.When given the choice between being right orbeing kind, choose kind. —Dr. Wayne W. DyerYour deeds are your monuments.—inscription on an Egyptian tombHave no friends not equal to yourself.—ConfuciusAudentes fortuna invat. (Fortune favorsthe bold.)—VirgilNo man is an island, entire of itself.—John DonneIt is better to know some of the questions thanall of the answers.—James ThurberKind words do not cost much. Yet theyaccomplish much.—Blaise PascalWhat is beautiful is good, and who is good willsoon be beautiful.—SapphoDo all the good you can,By all the means you can,In all the ways you can,In all the places you can,At all the times you can,To all the people you can,As long as you ever can.Just follow the day and reach for the sun!—The Polyphonic Spree, “Light and Day”—John Wesley’s Rule#thewonderofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.com
chooseBINGO!How many acts of kindness can you do this school year? Keep track by drawing a circle around each act you perform.HH kHH HGive someone astanding ovation.HiHHHListen withoutdistraction to yourfriends and familymembers.HnHHHH dHStick up for afriend who isbeing mistreated.Say hello tosomeone at schoolwho isn’t yourfriend.Write a thank-younote to someonewho has donesomething nicefor you.Give someone acompliment.Hold the door for astranger.Call a familymember who youhaven’t talked toin a while.Help a friendwho is havingtrouble with hisschoolwork.Send a card to afriend telling herwhy she is specialto you.Volunteer at alocal organization.Donate an itemyou no longer useto charity.Share a favoritesong with afriend.Treat yourteachers withrespect.Look for the bestqualities in thepeople you know.#thewonderofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.comHRead Wonder byR. J. Palacio andthen share it witha friend.
chooseCertificate of ParticipationJust one act of kindness can make a difference.Student Namepledged to choose kind in the spirit of Auggie Pullmanand the students at Beecher Prep.TeacherDateWhen given the choicebetween being right orbeing kind, choose kind.#thewonderofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.com
FoldThanks for being mine.Happy Friendship Day!H— R.J. Palacio, Wonder“It’s not enough tobe friendly. You haveto be a friend.”Cut out the card and send it to a friend.Don’t forget to write a special note!!The #1 New York Times Bestsellerby R. J. PalacioIllustrations 2012 by Tad Carpenter#thewonderofwonderchoosekind.tumblr.com
H Wonder is the perfect book for a school-wide or community-wide read. Start the planning conversation with your colleagues and PTO members at the beginning of the school year to ensure that your program is as meaningful as possible for your community. OCTOBER October is NatioNaL BuLLYiNg preveNtioN MoNth. Use Wonder as the anchor for the bullying conversation in your classroom. H Have .
