This week, my mentor text is The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig. I don’t know about you, but it sure seems that each year I teach, the kids are becoming more and more ruthless with one another. Why do they treat one another so poorly? I know my generation with its ratted hair-sprayed hair, and stone washed, rolled up jeans weren’t exactly saints, but I’m pretty sure the bullying has gotten worse! I guess that is why I am always looking for books that are combating that. Anything that will provide an opportunity to explore empathy and teach kindness.
This story begins by introducing us to Brian, a boy who feels like he’s invisible — and justifiably so. His teacher often doesn’t notice him because of all the students who have behavioral issues, he is picked last or not at all during recess games and overhears all the fun others had a party he wasn’t invited to.
Then one day a new student, Justin, arrives. He is instantly being evaluated by the class to determine if he is “cool” or not. During lunch one day, Justin ate with chopsticks and was laughed at. Brian wondered which was worse, being laughed at or being invisible.
Brian decides to reach out to Justin and they become friends. When a teacher assigns a special project, Brian tries to work with Justin, but another student snatches him up. Justin suggests they work together as a group of three. Through this process that another student realizes Brian is actually pretty “cool” and “maybe, just maybe [he’s] not so invisible after all.”
3 Responses
Oh, wow! This book looks amazing! Thank you for introducing it to me!
Absolutely! Thanks for reading my blog!
In the beginning of the book, there is a comment that says “nathan and sophie take up too much space”. My second graders took that part to heart. If anyone was acting up or not following directions all I had to ask was “how much space are you taking up?” whoosh! Quick behavior changes!