By Juliana Salazar, PATH Intern – School-Based Youth Services Program
Carteret Elementary School Celebrates Respect Week
Respect Week at Carteret Elementary School was held from October 6 to October 10, aiming to promote kindness, support, and anti-bullying behavior within the Carteret School District. The goal of Respect Week is to remind students, families, and staff of the importance of treating one another with dignity, understanding, compassion, and how these values can help build a safe and supportive environment.
Promoting Responsibility With ‘What If Everybody Did That?’
As part of Respect Week, The PATH read the book What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick to 1st- and 4th-grade students whose teachers expressed interest. The book focuses on the consequences of our actions, responsibility, and community thinking. The book follows a young boy who learns important lessons about personal responsibility and the impact of his actions. Throughout the book, the boy engages in multiple negative actions, like throwing garbage out a window, which leads the boy and the readers to think about how those actions could affect the people around them. The humorous and colorful artwork kept the students engaged and attentive.
1st Grade Activity: Identifying Respect and Value
After the reading, for the 1st-grade students, we did an activity that focused on describing respect and identifying the people, places, and things they value and why showing respect towards them is important! This exercise helped students connect the story’s message that being respectful is always the best choice in their everyday lives. This reinforced that small acts of kindness and compassion can make a big difference in their lives!
4th Grade Activity: Peer Worksheets and Self-Reflection
For the 4th graders, we read the same book and completed a worksheet with a peer! The worksheet promoted students’ critical thinking. Allowing them to work with peers highlighted the importance of social understanding and communication between the students. With the fourth-grade class, our objective was to highlight the importance of self-reflection and respect. As the children progressed through the book, the students began to understand the importance of respecting others.
Through this engaging story and discussion, students connected the message that small acts of kindness and responsibility make a big difference every day. We encourage families to keep the conversation going at home!
Keep the Respect Message Going: A Tip for Families
Tip: Ask your child, “What if everybody did that?” when discussing choices at home. It’s a simple way to help them think about how their actions affect others and to keep the Respect Week message alive all year long.