All fifth-grade students at Sylvan Avenue Elementary in the Bayport-Blue Point School District met in the school’s cafeteria to read the book “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio.
“Wonder” is a children’s novel that focuses on Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. He shows others that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. At Sylvan Avenue, students focus on kindness and empathy every day and joining together to read this book was a continuation of those efforts.
After reading the first several chapters, students worked on the “You are a Wonder” worksheet, asking them to complement one another on a quality that they think is special about another person. Additionally, they wrote something they like about themselves that makes them special.
The students continued to read the book in their homeroom classes afterwards, discussing the importance of empathy and kindness.
