Winners Don’t Whine by Julia Cook- SEL Book Companion

Description

Winners Don’t Whine by Julia Cook- SEL Book Companion resource helps 1st-4th grade students explore the difference between whining and respectful communication while building skills such as responsibility, positive attitude, problem-solving, self-control, teamwork, and making positive choices.

Students are encouraged to think about how their words and attitudes affect others and what they can do when things don’t go their way.

The included learning objectives specifically address defining whining, distinguishing it from respectful communication, explaining how whining affects others, practicing a calm voice, reflecting on personal growth, and setting goals for positive behavior.

Along with the SEL focus, students practice important reading comprehension and literacy skills, including predicting, identifying theme/message, summarizing, analyzing characters, identifying character traits, determining story elements, and responding to comprehension questions.

This resource works beautifully for whole-group read-alouds, small groups, literacy centers, morning meetings, counseling lessons, SEL lessons, and independent practice.

Perfect For Grades 2–4

Whole-group read-alouds • SEL lessons • Morning meetings • School counseling • Character education • Literacy centers • Small groups • Sub plans • Early finishers• Book studies

 

What’s Included?

Learning objectives

Teacher-led discussion questions

Prediction activities

Theme/message response

Vocabulary activities

Vocabulary Spin-a-Word

Student/teacher vocabulary reference sheet

Student vocabulary journal cards

Respectful Speaking vs. Whining Sort

15 respectful speaking and whining scenario cards

Color-and-sort version

Answer keys

Winning Words Trophy craftivity

Summarizing: Beginning, Middle & End

Story concepts graphic organizer

Character analysis

Character traits activity

“There Is No ‘I’ in Team” teamwork activity

Reading comprehension questions

Comprehension answer key

Quote/title analysis writing activity

Growth mindset/positive behavior coloring pages

Vocabulary word find

 

The resource includes multiple opportunities for students to distinguish respectful language from whining. For example, students sort real-life statements such as asking politely for another chance or help versus complaining when losing or having to wait.

 

Students also move beyond basic recall and examine character growth and deeper comprehension. They analyze how Wendell changes from the beginning to the end of the story, identify his character traits, and answer questions about his problem, how his behavior affects others, the lesson he learns, and alternatives to whining.

The Winning Words Trophy provides a fun SEL craftivity in which students brainstorm and record respectful phrases such as “May I please…,” “Thank you,” “I’ll try again,” and “Can you help me?”

 

SEL Skills Addressed

Students practice:

Respectful communication

Self-awareness

Self-management

Responsible decision-making

Positive attitude

Handling frustration

Problem-solving

Making appropriate choices

Perseverance

Teamwork

Considering how behavior affects others

 

Literacy Skills Addressed

Making predictions

Identifying theme/message

Story elements

Character traits, analysis, and change

Problem and solution

Beginning, middle, and end

Summarizing

Vocabulary development

Reading comprehension

Written response

Using evidence and details from a story

Interpreting the meaning of a title/message