1. Project Cornerstone ABC Reader Program
ABC CHAMPION YEAR
This presentation is intended for use by ABC Leads who have attended the monthly ABC Lead training hosted by Project Cornerstone. Notes for facilitating a discussion with this presentation accompany each slide.
As the ABC Lead, please provide positive role modeling of how to create an inviting, welcoming space. Use name tags, give your volunteers a chance to connect and get to know each other. Allow your volunteers to share their experiences and wisdom- make contributions. This will make their volunteer experience as ABC Readers much more fulfilling!
Leads: Robyn Mah, Irene Cheng, Pratima Satish

2. Agenda
Icebreaker
What does it to mean to volunteer for the ABC Reader Program?
Book Training
Closing
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3. READ A BOOK - CHANGE A LIFE
By volunteering just 2 to 3 hours per month, our Asset Building Champions build relationships with young people by reading selected books and leading classroom activities and discussions with a focus on respect, tolerance, peaceful conflict resolution, caring and friendship.
Children learn what to do if they encounter bully behaviors and how to become an UPstander
Thank you - Spread the word
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4. Volunteer Requirements
Step 1: Complete and sign the Project Cornerstone volunteer application. ( Step 2: Complete an Assets 101 training or a 6 week Project Cornerstone Parent Study Group. (Sep 8th or Sep 26th – new readers only) Step 3: Complete all school site volunteer requirements (Cherrychase Volunteer form, TB test)
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

5. Creating Volunteer Profile
Go to
Click on Volunteer tab at top of page
Choose Volunteer Application
Use the search tool to locate your school.
Click Volunteer Application.
All Project Cornerstone volunteer opportunities are listed on this page, some of these opportunities are available at your school.
Click Sign-up! • Create username under I am new to myVolunteerPage.com (This will allow you to log your volunteer hours)
Write down your username here _________________________________
Enter Address
Verify Address
Click The Organization Policies
Review Organization Policies
Click Close
Check the box next to I agree with the organization’s policies
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6. Volunteer Profile Click Save and Continue
Create Volunteer Profile by completing fields with an * • Password must be at least 6 characters, • Write down a hint for your password or your password: ________________________
Click Save and continue
Complete Volunteer Application
Under General Interests • Select all volunteer opportunities you are interested it
Under General Availability • Click boxes of times you are available
Under Additional Info • Complete all questions
Under Qualifications for Assets 101 choose one of the following: • Have not Completed (If you need to take Assets 101) • Grandfathered (If you have completed this in previous years) • Completed (If you completed Assets 101 this year) • Take It Personally (If you have completed Take It Personally (TIP) previously)
Click Log out
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7. How to Log Your Volunteer Hours
This is your chance to show us what you do as a volunteer! Silicon Valley youth are being impacted by what you do. Help us to share your story by reporting your hours! We encourage you to do this each time you volunteer. If you want to use your mobile phone you can log in through your phone and it will direct you to the mobile site. Hours cannot be logged until you have been approved by your site lead/coordinator. 1. Go to myvolunteerpage.com (Bookmark this page!) 2. Log in using your volunteer username and password 3. The first time you log in, click the Confirm Now button on the right side of page. 4. Click Hours Log tab 5. Choose your activity (Reading or Training) from the pull down menu • I read in a classroom – choose Reading- ABC or Los Dichos Reader • I attended a training – choose Training- School Site Training • I am a Lead/Site Coordinator and I met with principal, prepped for my site meeting, etc – choose Reading – ABC Lead/Los Dichos Site Coordinator • I am a Lead/Site Coordinator and I attended the Project Cornerstone monthly meeting – choose Training-Lead/Site Coordinator Monthly Meeting 6. Complete questions (questions differ based on the activity chosen) 7. Log out (red button on top right side)
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8. Volunteer Responsibilities
Role model positive, basic social interactions with students and adults.
Attend monthly Book Cherrychase to review book for the upcoming month.
Read the selected ABC book in your classroom, lead students in a discussion and complete one or more activities based on the provided lesson plan
Everything that you see and do concerning children is private and confidential: Grades, Behaviors, Test scores, other items that are the exclusive domain of the school’s professional staff.
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9. Volunteer Responsibilities (contd)
Use the “no name policy.” Ask students to not identify or name the person(s) in the story. This will avoid blaming or hurt feelings.
If you know or reasonably suspect that a child has been abused, you must:
Report what you have observed to the classroom teacher (and/or principal) + ask him or her to file a report with Child Protective Services.
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10. Preparation
Introduce yourself to teacher and parent volunteer. Exchange phone numbers and s. Determine the best form of communication.
Ask Teacher how much classroom time you will have (Recommend 40 mins for 2nd grades and up)
Schedule dates and times in advance. Be flexible to accommodate the teacher’s schedule.
With multiple readers in one classroom, choose one reader to be the main contact with the teacher and readers
Briefly discuss the lesson plan with the teacher and it to the teacher prior to the reading.
Ask your teacher if she is comfortable letting you parent letter. If not include a paper copy of the parent letter to go home with the students.
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11. Preparation (contd)
Take time to read the book and lesson plan well in advance of your reading date. Personalize Lesson outline and activities to your/classroom’s needs.
Lesson plans in your Inbox. They are Volunteer Center, select your year (Champion), user name: abc and password: lessons (case sensitive)
Attend the book training meeting as they help prepare you for the classroom.
New volunteers can benefit from watching experienced readers model lesson.
Recommended reading for New Volunteers: (1) Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud (2) How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath et al
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

12. Before going into the classroom..
Sign In and Out Twice! (For school AND for Project Cornerstone)
School sign in : front office (get volunteer label and put in on your person). For safety, schools need to know exactly who is going in and out of their doors during the day
Project Cornerstone sign-in: reading log in the Cornerstone Corner (nook in the tunnel). Project Cornerstone needs the data for their grant reports.
ABC Books cannot leave school premises.
Show up on time
If an emergency prevents you from showing up or being late, call ahead or ask someone to call for you (48 hours notice)
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13. After reading…
parent letter the same day (It’s in your inbox/project cornerstone website)
Log into to log your reading along with comments (more on this in the next book training)
Share your experience with the group via or in person
Ask teacher’s feedback (ongoing – every month) : what went well, what could be done differently, how to deal with challenging student behaviors
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

14. ABC CHAMPION YEAR LESSON 1 PROJECT CORNERSTONE
FRIENDS TO THE END
ABC CHAMPION YEAR LESSON 1 PROJECT CORNERSTONE

15. Getting Started
Introduce yourself, why you’re volunteering, hobbies etc
From the very first moment you step into the classroom invite children to build a relationship with you. “I’ll be coming to your classroom once a month to read a book with you. We’ll have a chance to talk about the book and have a conversation with what it means to you”
Express interest in getting to know the students better. “I am happy to be here and I look forward to getting to know you as we read together and do activities”
Identify yourself as a caring adult at school. “I want you to look to me as one of the caring adults on this campus”
Whether you are a new reader or an experienced reader, take your time and introduce yourself. You want to build a relationship with the kids. I say “I’m Pratima Satish, you can call me Mrs Satish. I’m Pranav’s mom or Ninad’s mom’. I will be coming into your class to read books as part of the ABC Reader Program of Project Cornerstone. I love to volunteer in class as that gives me a chance to hang out with all you smart and bright people, you have so many fresh ideas. When we read the ABC books, we’ll have a chance to discuss and do a few fun activities together. That way we’ll all get to know one another better. I want you to look to me as one of the caring adults on this campus.
Treat them all like your own.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

16. Getting Started
Learn Names. Use nametags! Youth feel valued, respected and known when you use their name.
Make eye contact, smile, be genuine.
Spend a little time setting the mood and clearly stating your expectations for your time with the students as an ABC Reader Reader.
This year I plan to do a challenge game with the names. Since I read last year in the 2 classes that my sons were in, I know the names of all the kids in those two classes. This year I’ll start by naming them and getting have kids that I have not met before introduce themselves. If I have been in your class to read and I don’t know your name, then I lose a point and I owe you a little something, may be a pencil. Of course, you don’t have to do that. It makes them feel like you really care to at least know their names.
Treat like the kids like your own (no yelling).
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

17. Give your Total Support for sharing ideas & feelings.
ABC Rules
Be Respectful
Raise your hand.
Take turns.
Be an active listener.
Give your Total Support for sharing ideas & feelings.
Treat others with care.
Use a “no name” policy.
Be Responsible Be Safe
Use positive language. Keep your hands and
Be helpful. feet to yourself.
Be forgiving. Follow directions.
Be kind.
Encourage volunteers to discuss classroom rules and class management tips with the teacher in advance of the lesson. These ABC Rules should support and reinforce existing class and school rules. For some classrooms, a review of class rules will replace the ABC Rules.
Use this first time for sure, and if necessary in subsequent readings as well.
“No Name” policy: Stories are wonderful ways to learn about tricky social interactions. Using the “No Name” rule allows us to learn, and keep others safe.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

18. Everyone Wants To Be Invited…
The focus of this book is friendship. It is an easy book to read, no difficult issues to deal with here.
The goal of this book is to help all students learn to respect each other, learn how to make and keep friends and develop good interpersonal skills to get along with one another. Why are interpersonal skills important? It’ has been found out that students with good interpersonal skills do better at school, have higher self esteem and fewer behavior problems.
Empathy Skill that this book seeks to teach: Everyone wants to be invited and included.
Our school is a place where everyone belongs. At school, we treat people with respect by inviting and including everyone. During the discussion and activity following the reading of this book, Students will explore ways to be kind to each other, make and keep friends, and be UPstanders* both online and in our face-to-face world. While a bystander is passive and will see, and perhaps feel empathy and concern during a bullying incident, an UPstander will actively choose to react by supporting the target and/or influencing the bully so that everyone feels safe, supported and respected.
This book reminds that we’ll have plenty of friends if we treat each other in bucket filling ways rather than bucket dipping ways.
Pictures are in black and white but they are very cute, they have a certain fuzzy warmth. Linger on each picture, walk around the class room if you like but be sure to let the children see the pictures up close. Read the book slowly. It gets over in about 5 mins.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

19. Conversation starters
Ask students to share ways they make friends, and get along with others…
Online Resource:
10 Ways To Build Relationships
See Reading Guide, page 2: Read the book
See Outline, page 1
Help youth identify many ways to begin and strengthen relationships! See Slide 6 for ideas from the document: 10 Ways To Build Relationships
Asking questions and using the knowledge and expertise of youth builds the Empowerment Assets- Asset #8- Youth As Resources
Ideas: Create a poster, use the white board, have kids write their ideas on sticky notes…
If you have read, Have You Filled A Bucket Today, extend the language and ask youth to identify ways they can build relationships by filling buckets!
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

20. 10 Ways to Build Relationships: Invite and Include Others
1. Be an UPstander. Be there for people when they need your help, your comfort and your friendship. 2. Be honest. 3. Keep your promises. 4. Apologize. Be genuine. Use the steps for a real apology.*
*The Steps for Real Apology is a resource available as part of 2 upcoming lessons: When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry and How Do I Stand In Your Shoes
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

21. 10 Ways to Build Relationships: Invite and Include Others
5. Be a forgiving friend. Everyone makes mistakes. Give second chances. Accept an apology with forgiveness. 6. Be helpful. Everybody needs help from time to time. 7. Respect classmates’ feelings and their possessions. 8. Gossip and rumors STOP with me!
*The Steps for Real Apology is a resource available as part of 2 upcoming lessons: When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry and How Do I Stand In Your Shoes
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

22. 10 Ways to Build Relationships: Invite and Include Others
9. Tell friends and classmates how you feel.
Share your feelings.
Use an I statement: I feel ___ when ___ because____.  
10. Be a bucket filler. Give lots of warm fuzzies!
Be a kind, caring and generous person.
Be a good listener.
Involve people in your life and in your activities.
Invite them to play and to join in!
*The Steps for Real Apology is a resource available as part of 2 upcoming lessons: When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry and How Do I Stand In Your Shoes
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

23. Introducing and Reading the Book
Show the class the cover of the book.
Read the title and author.
The photos are small and dark. Be creative in finding ways to ensure that everyone sees the images.
The book is short. Take your time.
Read slowly. Let the students absorb what they see and hear.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

24. Discussing the Book (K-2)
Take this time to discuss: inviting friendships
and being UPstanders at school.
1. What makes someone a good classmate?
2. What makes someone a good friend?
3. What can you do to get to know your classmates or friends better?
4. What can UPstanders say and do to help everyone know that they belong at our school?
5. What can happen when you give a person a chance or the benefit of the doubt?
6. How do you make a new friend?
7. How do you know someone is your friend?
8. Have you fought or had a disagreement with a friend? What happened?"
Let the discussion of the book be a relationship booster! Look to the discussion questions as ways to begin relationships and learn about each other.
The conversations, connections and insights gained through conversation about the book are crucial to internalizing the skills of the lesson. Don’t rush.
ABC Readers can reinforce these key concepts:
All kids belong at our school.
Everyone at our school deserves to be treated with respect and care, both friends and classmates!
Everyone wants to be invited and included, both friends and classmates!
What can happen when you give a person a chance or the benefit of the doubt?
You fill your bucket and the person’s bucket
You can avoid making a real enemy
You don’t waste your energy on a problem that’s not real
You use your energy in a positive manner
You get along better with more people
You make a new friend
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

25. Discussing the Book (3rd-Middle)
1. How do you keep a friendship, even though you had a disagreement? What tools have worked for you? 2. Why is talking about friendship "like chewing ten pieces of bubble gum at the same time"? 3. Circles of Connection – 3 circles – who are in it 4. Online-only friend
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

26. Discussing the Book (3rd-Middle)
Make a chart divided into 4 sections (see “Friends, Classmates, Enemy
Upstander Chart”) .
In the enemy section: write that we do not allow people at our school to use enemy behaviors. When you dip into someone’s bucket, you are dipping into your bucket too. The more you do this, the more your own bucket will feel empty.
Use the student responses to the questions below to fill in the remaining 3 sections.
What tool do we have in our tool box to deal with bucket dipping
behaviors?
Use our Lid when we need it.
Stop, think and understand what is happening.
Be thoughtful and use clear thinking to protect your bucket.
Some people may have empty buckets or not know how to fill them. Their words can hurt. Talk to a caring adult about how to fill their bucket
Stop, think and visualize why they are not bucket fillers.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

27. Discussing the Book: Digital Citizenship Being A Good Friend Online…
Friends and Family
Online Community
ME!
See Reading Guide, pages 2-3
Ask students to look at the “Friends and Family” circle and the “Online Community” circle.
Who might be in these circles? Try drawing 3 circles on the white board-and write their responses in the circles.
Do some people overlap and belong in both circles?
Who do you connect with online with the help of a parent or other adult? Explain that these people are or will be part of their online community of friends.
What are some differences between online “talking” with friends they know from school, and online “talking” with people they have never met face to face.
Can you know an online only friend as well as a face-to-face friend?
Nobody can know for sure that an online-only friend is really a “friend’, a girl or a boy, how old, or someone they shouldn’t trust. Unfortunately, because it’s easy to hide your real identity when you’re online, some people will lie, cheat and try to trick you.
What kinds of information are “private”? List student responses: Your name, address, phone number, passwords, school name, etc.
Never talk about “private” information with online only friends. If an online-friend asks for private information, be an UPstander- Stop. Refuse to share private information. Tell a caring adult.
Digital Life –“My Online Community” grades 2-3
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

28. Activity Idea: Hula Hoop Game
Materials: 2 hula hoops, and the assistance of the classroom teacher, or another adult
Directions: Have the students stand in 2 circles. Each circle receives the same instructions:
Slip the hoop onto one student’s arm and have the students all join hands.
The students have to find a way to move the hula hoop all the way around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands. Allow the game to continue if hands are temporarily unclasped. Fill buckets as each person takes their turn!
Challenge: To add difficulty, the hula hoop cannot touch the ground and the chain of hands cannot be broken.
If the hula hoop touches the ground, or if the chain of hands anyplace in the circle is broken- the game starts over, in the same place it began. This can be frustrating for the people at the far end of the circle.
How can the group help each other handle the frustration? Warm fuzzies!
Debrief:
How does game help us learn about each other?
What are our strengths as classmates?
What bucket filling happened?
How did you work together as classmates to solve a problem?
Reading Guide, page 6
Tip: If you choose to play the Hula Hoop Game, use student names as they hula hoop passes around the circle. This will give youth (and you!) the chance to learn names and cheer for all students.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

29. Activity Idea: Friend, Classmate, Enemy, and Upstanders (Grades 1-3)
*Materials: Load a bucket with action cards created from Friend, Classmate, Enemy and UPstander Behaviors, 4 posters or stations–with one word Friend, Classmate, Enemy Behavior, Upstander on each of the 4 papers. Divide the students into teams and have them pull out an action card. As a team, they need to decide which category of behavior it belongs in. Have them post it on the poster of their choice. To de-brief the activity, ask them to explain why they chose to put it on that poster. There may be lots of different, correct answers to explain how they classify the action.
Reading Guide, page 6
Tip: If you choose to play the Hula Hoop Game, use student names as they hula hoop passes around the circle. This will give youth (and you!) the chance to learn names and cheer for all students.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

30. Activity Idea: New Kid in school: (3rd-6th)
Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5. Each group’s task is to choose one group member to play the role of a new kid in class. The new kid’s challenge is to try to gain acceptance into the group. The other kids must behave in the way that they normally would in that situation. After the role-plays, discuss with the class how it felt to be the new kid and how it felt to be part of the “in-group.” Discuss some of the different ways of using what they learned from the book to make new friends and be Upstanders towards new and returning students.
Reading Guide, page 6
Tip: If you choose to play the Hula Hoop Game, use student names as they hula hoop passes around the circle. This will give youth (and you!) the chance to learn names and cheer for all students.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

31. Activity Idea: Sticky Friends
Materials: Duct tape plain or designer type Talk about sticky friends. These are friends that help and are “there” for them and stick with them in tough times like duct tape. Demonstrate how just like duct tape, Upstanders can stick together with a classmate or friend who needs support. You can stick together with a friend or friends. Let the students find their sticky friends. 1.Tear a piece about 1 foot long off of the roll. 2.Fold the foot long piece upon itself reserving about an inch of the sticky part. 3.Starting at the non-sticky end, tear the bracelet into 2 pieces down the center. 4.Viola! 2 sticky bracelets per foot of duct tape!
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

32. Activity Idea: What Classmates Play
1.Tell the students you want them to think of their favorite outside game. It can be a school yard activity, inside fun or a neighborhood game. Have them shout out their responses as a brainstorming activity before the game. 2.Have children stand up and form a circle. (You may want to go outside and stand around a painted circle on the black top. Define the activity space before starting the game.) 3.Walk around the circle and touch one child on the shoulder. That child stands in the center of the circle while the others put on their listening ears. 4.Ask the child in the center to say their favorite activity, such as playing tag. Then have the child call out, “I have lots of classmates who like to play tag at recess.” 5.All the students who like to play tag at recess should jump in and join the child in the middle of the circle. Look around the inside circle and comment, “Wow look at all the classmates you can play tag with!” 6.Next, use your signal. Ask kids to move back to the edge of the circle. Repeat until most of the students have had a turn to be in the middle. If it is a big class you could divide the group into smaller circles. If someone choses an idea not as popular, it might help if you jump in to generate more enthusiasm.
You may need to help the child in the center come up with some ideas (building with blocks, playing on the swings, card games, etc.). As
they play the game, help them notice all the students who enjoy the same activities and how they can play with lots of different playmates
at school and home.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

33. Role-Play Idea: Best Friend forever (3rd-6th)
Divide the class into groups of 4 or 5. Give each the following scenario. Ask them to use all of their ABC tools from past year to give advice to solve this dilemma in a bucket filling way. Jason has been “best friends” with Mike and Ben since kindergarten. During the school year they spend every recess and lunchtime together. They are now in 5th grade. During the summer Jason went to a camp where the only person he knew slightly was a boy called Ryan. Ryan was new to his school last year, but Jason never took the time to talk to him as he felt as if he already had enough friends. At the camp he and Ryan discovered that they lived close to each other and had a lot of common interests. They spent the rest of the summer hanging out together. When they meet up at recess on the first day of school, Jason tells Mike and Ben that he wants Ryan to be part of their group. Mike and Ben do not agree. They want things to continue as before. What can Jason do to influence his friends to be bucket fillers?
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

34. Closing 3 min huddle in class
Let the students know that you will be their ABC Reader for the rest of the year and that you want to be a caring adult in their life.
Because you have just met each other, it may take a while to get to know each other better.
Looking at 10 ways chart, ask students to think of ways that they will be a good classmate or friend and help everyone feel that they belong at our school.
Reach out by smiling or saying, “Hi!” Be the first to introduce yourself.
Tell a little about yourself. Ask others to share a little about themselves with you.
Show people you are interested in them. Be a good listener.
Tell the truth about yourself and what you stand for.
Spend time with each other and look for others that have similar interests to yours.
Play with different people at recess. Sit with new people at lunch.
Make your games open to everyone. Invite new students to play with you and your friends.
Ask each other what you like to do for fun.
Accept others and be open to new ideas.
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

35. End of Book Reading

36. Closing Comments Reading Schedule (Robyn’s email)
Sign-in every time you read
Reporting Procedure (website)
Planning Support
Next Meeting Date (Oct 8)
School-wide Calendar and Asset Building opportunities
Questions??
Remind your ABC Readers of:
Reading Schedule (ABC Reader to schedule with teacher)
Sign-in (Every time you read!)
Reporting Procedure (This is essential monthly information. You need to know that reading is completed in every classroom. Your monthly report is vital to Project Cornerstone.)
Planning Support
Attend all trainings
ABC Lead 1:1 Coaching availability?
Provide opportunities for ABC Readers to observe a lesson. Be a role model and mentor.
Next Meeting Date
School-wide Calendar and Asset Building opportunities
PTA meetings, school functions, assemblies, principal coffees, etc. are all opportunities to spark asset building ideas, school-wide.
To the ABC Lead(s):
Your monthly reporting of reading numbers is essential to the financial stability of Project Cornerstone. We depend on your consistent reports of monthly reading numbers for our grant writing and funding requirements. If you need support reporting, consider delegating this part of the ABC Lead role to another volunteer, or please Project Cornerstone for assistance!
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

37. Smile Introduce yourself! Ask them their name Invite and Include them!
Empathy Skill Building: For youth Taking the lesson from the classroom to the playground
School-wide Friendship Plan:
How to invite and include others
Say, “Hi!”
Introduce yourself!
Ask them their name
Smile
The next 3 slides are intended for use by repeating Champion Year schools.
Refer to resource: Empathy Skill
Friendship Plan Activity: In a large area divide the class in half. Have students stand facing each other with about 8 feet between lines.
Tell students we are going to practice ways to invite and include others at school. Our school will feel safer and more caring for everyone, when everyone feels like they belong. Ask students : What is the first thing you can do to help someone feel invited and included? Smile!
Ask everyone to practice smiling at the people in the other line. (They don’t need to move, yet!)
What is the next step, to make other people feel invited, include, welcome? Say,” Hi”
Ask everyone to practice smiling, saying “Hi” at the people in the other line. (They still don’t have to move!)
The next step is harder. Now, you will practice introducing yourself. (It is OK to be silly here- let the kids “shake their bodies, stand tall or take exaggerated deep breaths to prepare for this next, big step.)
You put together these steps- Smile. Say, “Hi. My name is:____. What’s your name?” And… just to make it really hard- Line A is going to walk across and greet Line B. Line B- be open, be helpful! When you are finished with Smile; Say, Hi; My name is: What’s your name?- then, you can return to your line. If you need coaching, let me know. Everyone is going to do this!
What made that activity easy? What made it hard?
Line B, now it is your turn to take a risk! Walk across the room; Smile; Say, Hi; My name is; What’s your name; and invite them to DO something with you (play basketball, eat snack together, walk around, sit under a tree and talk…). Line A: Be kind! Give the invitation a chance. Thanks the person for including you!
What would make it easier for you?
Invite and Include them!
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

38. Invite and Include them!
Empathy Skill Building: For youth Taking the lesson from the classroom to the playground
Will YOU try it today?
Say, “Hi!”
Introduce yourself!
Ask them their name
Smile
Taking this skill from the classroom to the playground is a big step for some kids.
The risks include feeling awkward, stuck on how to get started, and the real possibility of being rejected.
Ask students to consider pairing up and inviting and including others as a team.
Remind students that they may need to use their lid, if someone says, “No”.
Respond with, “Maybe tomorrow.”; “Nice to meet you.” “OK. Maybe another day.”; “See you around.”
Understand and show you care by allowing others to choose to say, “No, or not now”.
Our goal is to be sure everyone is invited and has a chance to join in. It feels great to be invited, even if you choose not to play.
Invite and Include them!
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA

39. Empathy Skill Building: For adults
Will YOU try it today?
Provide Coaching at Recess/Lunch
Build Support Assets, Empowerment Assets, Social Competencies
Extend the lesson to your own interactions with adults at school:
Build Assets to create a more caring school climate as a role model; provide examples of caring.
PTA meetings; Principal’s Chat; Back to School Night; ABC meetings; at drop-off and pick-up time; in the hallways…
ABC Leads: Invite your readers to volunteer to provide coaching on lessons from the books for youth at recess or lunch.
Just being “there” to talk, walk and discuss the day’s events makes our school feel safer and more caring for kids.
The ABC Readers are coaches, guides, mentors and a safe person to hang-out with!
Fun Visors:
Caring adults who volunteer to bring fun to the playground, connect with youth and serve as coaches, guides and mentors on a regular basis. Fun Visors intentionally use the skills of the ABC lessons to “catch kids doing good” and remind students of positive responses to tough social interactions.
Yard Duty:
Are responsible for addressing discipline issues.
Refer to Staff Letter and Yard Duty Tips.
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40. See Reading Guide, pages 4-8 See Outline, pages 2-3
Activity Ideas:
See Reading Guide, pages 4-8 See Outline, pages 2-3
See Reading Guide, pages 4-8
See Outline, pages 2-3
As the ABC Lead, will you provide activity ideas for each grade level? Will your volunteers select activities, individually?
Gather volunteer feedback on how your community will use the lesson activity to build relationships and more caring school climate (Asset #5).
Friends to the End | ©2014 YMCA of the USA