The “Can Dos” came back from Memorial Day weekend with their heads full of what they want to do come summer vacation.
Miss Pat knew they would.
The “Can Dos” are not fond of the times tables.
Since Miss Pat knows they are important, she made up two games using the times tables for the class to play.
Good luck!
Willie glared at Hector and said, “That’s not a nice question to ask, Hector.” Hector got red in the face and answered, “I didn’t mean anything by it, Willie. It’s just that every grandma I know has wrinkles on her face.”
Grandma Hattie smiled and said, “It’s okay Willie. I don’t mind answering Hector’s question. It’s a fair question.”
Orrie asked, “What kind of wisdom makes lines”? Grandma smiled and said, “Well, there is the wisdom that comes from learning about living through hard work, raising children, loving family and friends, and getting through tough times.”
Hector looked thoughtful and asked, “How come I don’t have any wrinkles”? Everyone laughed and grandma answered, “You are still very young. You are just learning about life. Your wrinkles will come when you get older.”
Everyone grew quiet. Then Willie asked,”Grandma, do you mind having wrinkles?’
Coach Campbell, Bobby and his sister, Kathy, and some other “Can Dos” are at the “Can Do” Center, working in the storage room, getting out the volleyballs and net to use in the summer camp.
“OK now guys, let’s pay attention. Be careful, this is not that big a room and we have a lot of stuff to get out.”
Suddenly, Coach Campbell hears a Can Do kid yell, “OUCH – Hey that hurt!” and then “Yeah, well it’s not my fault!!”
Kathy comes up to Coach Campbell and lets him know that Bobby hit her, for no reason, just hit her with his fist.
Coach Campbell takes Bobby aside to talk to him in private about what just happened.
Before he can even ask the first question, Bobby says, “It is not my fault, I got mad and when I get mad, well, I just lose it. That’s just the way it is.”
Really? asks Coach Campbell. Nothing you can do about it, huh?
“Nope -nothing.”
OK, let me ask you some questions then, and maybe we can get you to see this a bit differently. OK? Given that I was standing as close to you as I was, why did you hit her, and not me? I was there, and you just had to hit something, why not me?
“You are big, and would probably crush me if I hit you.”
So then, you chose to hit Kathy and not me. Right?
“Yeah.”
So if you can make a decision, make a choice, then you really have not lost control, have you?
“I guess not.”
That’s right. You hit her because you could, because you though you could get away with it. That was a decision you made and that means you are responsible for hitting her. Now, let me ask you another question. What if, just imagine, what if, I got mad and decided to haul off and hit you. Would that be OK, because, you know, I was mad.
’NO! No way Coach!”
Well, why not?
“Well, you are bigger than me, and stronger, it would hurt a lot.”
That’s why you wouldn’t WANT me to hit you…but I asked you if it would be OK to hit you, because – like you said – I was mad.
“No, it would not be OK for you to hit me.”
Well, if it isn’t OK for me to hit you, then how can it be OK for you to hit Kathy… right?
“Yeah, you’re right. What is wrong is wrong.”
So, now what are you going to do?
“I am going to say I am sorry to Kathy and tell her I will never do it again.
We all get mad at times. But, hitting someone is not the way to deal with it. Most of the time, the anger can pass over quickly, other times you need to talk things out, but getting violent is not going to help. If you do get violent, remember – that was your choice and you have to take responsibility for it.
Story by: Ned Campbell, a coach and teacher in Brooklyn, NY. He is the voice of Coach Campbell in the “Can Do” Street programs.
Since the school was starting a vegetable garden, some of the “Can Dos” wanted to know just how Grandma Hattie takes care of her vegetable garden every year. They went to visit her after school to get some advice on what vegetables to plant and when to plant them. Most of all, they needed to know how to take care of the vegetable garden.
Grandma Hattie was pleased to see the boys and invited them into her kitchen. She had taken chocolate chip cookies out of the oven just before the boys arrived. They smelled so good!
While they all sat around the kitchen table eating cookies and drinking milk, Grandma Hattie shared the secrets of a good vegetable garden.The boys listened carefully. They nodded, took notes, and asked questions.Then Orrie asked, “What should we grow?” Grandma Hattie smiled and opened a folder next to her on the table. She took out a word jumble and said,”Whatever vegetables you can find in the jumble, I have seeds for and you may have them.”
The boys all began working on the jumble. When they finished, Grandma Hattie gave them the packages of seeds for the vegetables they found.
Here is a list of some vegetables you may find in the jumble: corn, carrots, peas, lettuce, onions and tomatoes.
In this story, Coach Campbell helps Bobby overcome his concerns about joining a team for the first time.Hey Coach!
Hey there Bobby. What’s up? How ya’ doing?
Oh, not much…but, well, you know how you were talking to us last week about joining a team?
Sure do!
Well, there is a team I want to join, but I am kinda’ nervous about it.
Well, that is totally understandable.
It is?
I have?
Yes, you have. Maybe you don’t remember your first time here at the Can Do Rec Center, but I sure do. You were a real wall-flower. You came in, quiet as a church mouse, not getting too far from the nearest wall, and just watching everything with real big eyes. I could tell you were a bit nervous, but that didn’t stop you from coming in, and taking a look around.
Oh yeah, I remember. Yeah, I was nervous. Everyone knew everybody, and you were pretty scary. Biggest person I ever saw up close.
Coach Campbell laughs….
Yeah, well…look at you now. You walk around this place like you own it. You know everybody, everybody knows you, and you are so over being nervous around me! If you could do it then, you can do it now. Now, here are some tips to help you out. First, be sure to listen to your coach. Be coachable.
Coachable?
Yeah, that means being able to listen to your coaches, and try your hardest to do what they are trying to teach you, the way they are teaching you to do it. It is probably the most important key to being successful on a team. Believe me, I am a coach a long time now, and there is nothing I like better than a kid who listens and works hard.
What if I am not that good at what they want me to do?
Don’t worry; most kids aren’t very good at first. Yeah, there will be some kids that are better than you right now, but don’t let that discourage you. You just keep doing the work, and you will get there. The coaches will recognize that effort, and appreciate it. I say it all the time as a coach, hard work beats talent that doesn’t work. It will take some time, but it is true. Hard work is what it takes to get better.
OK, but what if I don’t make any friends?
Remember, you are not the only one that is a bit nervous, and wants to make friends. In the time before, and after practice, you will get to know some kids. You will get to talking, and well, before you know it, you have some new friends.
So, you gonna’ go out for that team?
YEAH! I am going to go there today.
Super deal; let me know how it goes, OK?
You bet Coach. Thanks.
Story by: Ned Campbell, coach and teacher in Brooklyn, NY. He is the voice of Coach Campbell in the “Can Do” Street programs.
Parent Note: Coach Campbell has a post for parents on this same subject at http://candostreet.com/blog-parents/
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"Can Do" Street is the intellectual property of Jean Campbell, registered with the US Copyright Office TXU000476431 and the WGA West, Inc, under Campbell Development Group LLC, 1294415. "Can Do Street" and The "Can Do" Company © 2010. All rights reserved.