Problem Solving

    Books

    Sometimes, reading a book can help you figure how how to handle a problem.  Try some of these:

    Friendship

    • How to Lose All Your Friends by Nancy Carlson
    • How to Be a Friend by Laurie and Marc Brown
    • Making Friends by Kate Petty and Charlotte Firmin
    • Friendship: From Your Old Friends to Your New Friends by Nuria Roca and Rosa Curto
    • Three Friends by Jim and Joan Boulden
    • What’s the Recipe for Friends? By Greg Williamson
    • Big Al by Andrew Clements
    • Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

    Solving Problems

    • Hands Are Not For Hitting by Martine Agassi
    • We Can Work It Out by Barbara Polland
    • We Can Get Along by Lauren M. Payne
    • The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight by Stan and Jan Berenstain
    • The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie DePaola
    • The Zax by Dr. Suess
    • Six Crows by Leo Lionni
    • The Butter Battle by Dr. Suess

    Respect

    • I Don’t Care: Showing Respect by Brian Moses
    • Stellaluna by Jannell Cannon
    • Verdi by Jannell Cannon
    • The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
    • A Pig is Moving In! by Claudia Fries
    • Crysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
    • Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rothman
    • The Berenstain Bears’ New Neighbors by Stan and Jan Berenstain
    • Arnie and the New Kid by Nancy Carlson
    • Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen
    • The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy
    • Teammates by Peter Golenbock
    • Treat Me Right: Kids Talk About Respect by Nancy Loewen

    Point of View

    • The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John Scieszka
    • Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg
    • The Chinese Mirror by Mirra Ginsburg
    • The Hating Book by Charlotte Zolotow
    • Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose

    Anger Management

    • When I Feel Angry by Cornelia Spelman
    • When Sophie Gets Angry by Molly Bang
    • The Very Angry Day That Amy Didn’t Have by Lawrence Shapiro
    • Don’t Rant and Rave on Wednesdays by Adoph Moser
    • Andrew’s Angry Words by Dorothea Lachner
    • Spinky Sulks by William Steig
    • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

    Teasing and Bullying

    • Teasing by Joy Berry
    • The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Teasing by Stan and Jan Berenstain
    • Stop Picking On Me by Pat Thomas
    • The Hundred Dresses by Estes/Slobodkin
    • Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie DePaola
    • Being Bullied by Joy Berry
    • Being Bullied by Kate Petty and Charlotte Firmin
    • Loudmouth George and the Sixth Grade Bully by Nancy Carlson
    • Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain
    • Simon’s Hook by Karen G. Burnett

    Appreciating and Respecting Differences

    • The Sneetches by Dr. Suess
    • Just A Little Different by Mercer Mayer
    • Two Eyes, A Nose, and a Mouth by Roberta G. Intrater
    • Why Am I Different? By Norma Simon
    • Families by Meredith Tax
    • This is Our House by Michael Rosen
    • A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
    • People by Peter Spier
    • Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
    • Teammates by Peter Golenbock
    • Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
    • Eggbert the Slightly Cracked Egg by Tom Ross
    • Loudmouth George and the New Neighbors by Nancy Carlson

    Empathy/Caring

    • Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane DeGroat
    • The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
    • A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
    • Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter by John Steptoe
    • Two Good Friends by Judy Delton
    • The Hurt by Teddi Doleski

    *Book list compiled by Elizabeth Duke, Counselor, Darnestown ES, 2003

    Things That Friends Do and Do Not Do

    Things That Friends Do: 

    1. Help
    2. Show they care about other’s feelings
    3. Share
    4. Compliment others
    5. Be nice
    6. Say sorry and work it out with kind words
    7. Smile at others
    8. Stand up for each other
    9. Say nice things to each other
    10. Use good manners and be polite
    11. Show respect
    12. Include others

    Things That Friends Do NOT Do:  

    1. Say mean things like “shut-up” or “I hate you”
    2. Brag
    3. Boss others around
    4. Laugh at others
    5. Interrupt or talk when others are talking
    6. Tattle (tell on someone just to get them in trouble)
    7. Leave people out
    8. Push, kick, hit, punch, etc.
    9. Hurt each other’s feelings
    10. Make fun of others or tease
    11. Call someone a name they do not like
    12. Threaten (“If you don’t _____, then I will ____!)

    We want to work hard to be good friends to each other. 

    ABCD Problem Solving

    A 

    Ask, "What's the problem?"

    B 

    Brainstorm some solutions. 

    C 

    Choose the best solution.

    D 

    Do it!

    You can use the ABCD Problem Solving model to solve any problem! Try it!  

    Use "I–Message

    "I feel    __________________   
    when    ______________.
    Please    ______________

    *I-messages help us to express our feelings and solve problems in a peaceful way.

    Remember…

    • Tell how you feel.
    • Tell what happened to make you feel that way.
    • Tell what would make things better for you.
    • Don’t blame, insult, name call, or threaten.