When things don't work out for our struggling learners, we often want to jump in and rescue them. It's easy to become focused on their struggles instead of their strengths. When there is a disappointment educationally, we often sweep it under the rug and don't discuss it. I'm always looking out for ways to open discussion with my kids (my own and my students) about their struggles in a way that encourages them. I found two children's books recently which helped me with those discussions. I want to share one of those with you today. These books also work with my older students. We might not read the whole book, but I do show a few pictures and tell them something I found interesting.
In the book Anna, Kid Engineer it is once again time for the annual Science Fair at East Creek Elementary School. Anna isn't excited about the event because of the embarrassing projects she came up with during her 3rd and 4th grade years. Anna loves to tinker and make new things out of old toys she finds at yard sales, but what does her tinkering have to do with a science fair project? In the process of trying to figure out a project, Anna discovers that she is a kid engineer!
Anna, Kid Engineer launched today but I received a copy early to review. It's fantastic! While this book doesn't mention anything about learning disabilities or struggles, it does talk about a disappointment Anna endured a few years before. After the disappointment in her science fair project, Anna discovered her love for building things. So many of our struggling learners work with their hands to learn, create, and express themselves and this book will encourage them! You'll have to get your own copy to see how Anna did this year at the Science Fair and how her tinkering paid off! The author, Shenek Alston, has a website Make Math More Fun and right now you can get a free download of fun engineering facts in the download section of that website!
When you buy the book as an ebook, you get a free audio version!