My Big Shouting Day

Author/Illustrator: Rebecca Patterson

Topic: motional Regulation

Intended Audience: PreK - 1st Grade

Published: 2012

Pages: 32 pages

About the book: Bella starts her day frustrated and unhappy, and things go badly from there. Her brother annoys her, her shoe hurts her foot, her breakfast is unacceptable, her ballet clothes are too itchy, and her bath is cold. We’ve all been there. When she calms down at the end of the day, she is able to apologize to her mother and look forward to a better tomorrow.

Reader’s guide:

1. Bella was having a very bad day. Have you ever had a day like that? What was it like?
2. How do you think Bella’s family and friends felt when she was shouting?
3. Instead of shouting, are there other things you can do to help your family and friends understand that you are upset?
4. What can you do to help a friend who is having a bad day?
5. When Bob is crawling on Bella’s floor and licking her jewelry, she shouts for him to GET OUT!  What could she said to Bob instead of shouting?
6. When Bella’s mom reads a story to her, she calms down. What activities make you feel better when you are frustrated?

Activity for readers:  

1. Take students outside to act out scenes from the book in pairs, first shouting their frustrations as Bella did, then finding calm words to express whet they need or want.
2. Make a poster to put up in the class with the topic: If I’m Upset I Can…

• Think about something that makes me happy
• Ask for a drink or a snack
• Put my head down to rest
• Read a book
• Do jumping jacks or stretches
• Count to 10
• Use my words
• Draw a picture
• Play with a toy
• Talk to the teacher

Then discuss the poster with students several times, considering each option as appropriate.