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Book Review: Spoonful of Sweetness

1/19/2014

9 Comments

 
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Elementary School Counseling.org is another stop on the Spoonful of Sweetness book tour! I was lucky enough to get an early viewing of this adorable book and speak with the author, Maria Dismondy, about it.

Spoonful of Sweetness is a book designed for children ages Birth-3 years. As Maria explains, "It is my effort to incorporate early intervention, encouraging parents to teach simple character traits in the book from the very start of their child's life. It is my hope that if we can start young, children will be equip with important social and friendship skills to use when they enter school."

I believe this book does just that.
As school counselors, we work with families of our school-age students, but often, there are younger siblings who tag along at problem-solving meetings, conferences, and school events. Parents see us a resource, so it makes sense to have other, non elementary-specific ideas in our back pockets.

This book is a wonderful reading suggestion for a family struggling with challenging behaviors. If they recognize the issues their older child is having in school, they may be panicking, hoping to prevent similar problems for their younger children.

Other Ideas for Elementary School Counselors:

*Read the book with kindergarten-1st Grade students in a small group or classroom setting. Explain that babies learn important manners when they are younger, just like we are learning now. Then, brainstorm what "big kids" need to practice, writing their ideas on the board. Finally, students get to pick their favorite from the list and make their own book page. This way, the class has their own, age-appropriate version of Spoonful of Sweetness for their class library.

*In an individual, small group, or classroom setting, reflect with older students (5th-6th) about how they've changed since kindergarten. What is their classroom environment like now compared to then? Do they act differently? Reflect on the manners they see from various age groups at school and the role that the oldest students play. Use Spoonful of Sweetness as an extra resource to remember and discuss early childhood. Finally, have students create posters in small groups (or individually) that highlight the manners they feel are important for their age group and/or school as a whole.
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How Would You Use Spoonful of Sweetness?

Write your idea(s) in the comment section of this post! You will be entered to win a free, autographed copy of Spoonful of Sweetness. Deadline: January 31, 2014.
9 Comments
Sue Cerrone
1/19/2014 02:15:34 am

i am an elementary school counselor and would use it in my k/1 social shill groups.

Reply
Marissa Rex link
1/25/2014 12:24:44 am

Thank you for your idea and entry! :)

Reply
Jen Miller
1/19/2014 03:42:09 am

I can think of many uses for this book! It could be placed in our waiting area where child study meetings take place and younger siblings often wait. I could use it as a way to reach out to incoming K families in the fall before K registration. I would be interested in holding a reading night with incoming families so they learn reading strategies and we intro school behavior. This looks like an awesome book to add to my library! Thanks for considering me in your drawing.

Reply
Marissa Rex link
1/25/2014 12:25:30 am

Thank you for your ideas! You are now entered in the contest. :)

Reply
Erin Rebling link
1/20/2014 08:12:36 am

I am a K-5 Elementary School Counselor and have many students who are exhibiting behaviors that parents are concerned might be picked up by younger siblings. I would share/process this book with the student and share with parents, as well! :)

Reply
Marissa Rex link
1/25/2014 12:37:53 am

Thank you! :)
You are now in the contest!

Reply
Charlene Soukup
1/21/2014 12:33:17 am

Hi!! Students always get very excited (and show off their amazing acting skills) when I let them create a short skit that goes along with our lessons. If I had this book, for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades I would let the students read the book and then have them create a short skit that we could record on my iPad and then show to younger grade levels to teach social skills. In my Kindergarten and 1st grade classes I would read the book to them and then let them create skits that went along with the character traits and we could remember back to the book throughout the year as different topics come up in class. I love saving the videos we make throughout their years in elementary and showing them to them towards the end of their 4th grade year before they advance on to middle school. :)

Reply
Marissa Rex link
1/25/2014 12:38:18 am

Love it! :)
You are now in the contest!

Reply
Marissa Rex link
2/1/2014 12:44:28 am

And the winner of the giveaway is...
Charlene Soukup!

Charlene, please email me at marissa@elementaryschoolcounseling.org so I can get your mailing address.

Thank you to everyone who participated! :)

Reply

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    My name is Marissa Rex and I am a 1st Grade teacher and an elementary school counselor from Ohio. I hope you enjoy my site!

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