Define the term RESPECT and discuss with your class how it is important to be respectful to yourself, meaning that one should be proud of one’s actions and behaviors; be respectful to others, meaning that one should be thoughtful and caring to others; and be respectful to resources, meaning that one should take care of belongings that one or others own.

Print out the Respect Activity Sheet and have students write down actions that demonstrate the three areas of respect.

In Junie B., First Grader: Boo . . . and I Mean It!, Junie B. is not appreciative of the Halloween treats her neighbors hand out to her. Discuss why her mom was not pleased with her behavior. Ask students to define respect and talk about how it is related to how people treat one another. Is it important to be respectful to others, to others’ property, and even to oneself? Discuss if Junie B.’s reaction to the neighbors was respectful. What would have been the more respectful way to handle that situation?

On page 63 of Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band, Junie states in reference to her friend, Sheldon, “I like that odd boy. I really, really do.” Ask students how this demonstrates respect. Discuss how Sheldon sometimes sees things differently than most. Ask students to share with the class a time when they have been respectful of others’ ideas or behaviors, even if they thought they were different or odd. Is it good to be a little different?

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In Junie B., First Grader: One-Man Band, Junie B. learns the importance of PERSEVERANCE. Define the term with the class and ask them to think how Junie B.’s dad’s statement of, “when life hands you lemons, you have to learn to make lemonade,” relates to the definition of perseverance. Ask student to explain how Junie B. perseveres in this story. Have students share a time when they demonstrated perseverance in their lives.

Print out the Perseverance Activity Sheet and have students tell how they demonstrated perseverance in their lives.

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In Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants, Mr. Scary is disappointed in Junie B. when she makes the decision to copy May’s homework paper. Junie B. then cheats on her spelling test and decides to come clean with Mr. Scary. Define the term Dignity and how it relates to the decision that Junie B. made to tell Mr. Scary the truth. Ask students why it is important that Mr. Scary writes Junie B. a cinquain to let her know that he can trust her again. How do they think this made Junie B. feel?

Print out the Dignity Activity Sheet and have students write a cinquain in response to Mr. Scary’s to let him know that Junie B. understands the importance of dignity.

In Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder, Junie B. is excited about being the first person in her class to have a loose tooth, but her excitement dwindles when classmates mention that she might look strange like Uncle Lou. Discuss with the class how dignity starts with liking yourself and how you look and not caring what others think. How did Junie B.’s grandpa help her cope with liking how she looked with her missing tooth?

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In Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants, Junie learns that doing your own work is not “a suggestion.” Define the term cheating and discuss how it relates to Honesty and one’s dignity. Also define the term cause and effect. Ask students to think about the consequences that occur because of Junie’s poor choices.

Print out the Honesty Activity Sheet and have students complete the
cause and effect of honesty.

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Discuss how KINDNESS can sometimes defuse a problem. In Junie B. Jones and That Meany Jim’s Birthday, Jim’s mean comment and the comments Junie makes in retaliation lead Jim to not invite Junie B. to his birthday party. Have students reread pages 10–15 and ask them to pinpoint behaviors that were not kind. Ask students to think of ways Junie B. could have reacted that might have made the situation better, and have students role-play these as a class.

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Throughout the Junie B. series, Junie B. is upset about the attention her little brother, Ollie, receives. Ollie cries a lot, he needs to be fed, and it sometimes seems to Junie B. that his needs are more important than Junie B.’s. Discuss with the class how, even though we may not be comfortable with someone or a situation, there are times when we need to be TOLERANT and understanding. Another example is how Junie B. lets May bother her so much. Many times Junie B.’s reaction to May’s behavior makes the situation even worse. Ask students how Junie can behave differently to show she is more tolerant of others and understands others’ points of view.

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Define the term RESPONSIBILITY and discuss with your class how it is important to be respectful to yourself, meaning that one should be proud of one’s actions and behaviors; be respectful to others, meaning that one should be thoughtful and caring to others; and be respectful to resources, meaning that one should take care of belongings that one or others own.

Print out the Respect Activity Sheet and have students write down actions that demonstrate the three areas of respect.

In Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch, Junie B. take on a job in the school cafeteria. As her dad points out, “a helper makes things easier.” Discuss with the class Junie B.’s responsibilities with helping Mrs. Gutzman. Ask students to share roles they take on that show they are responsible.

In Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl, Junie B. does not listen to her teacher or her mother’s directions and ends up doing something irresponsible. Ask students to think of ways Junie could have been more responsible with her graduation gown.

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In Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket, Junie is afraid of going to the farm. How do Mrs. and Farmer Flores show they CARE about Junie B. and understand her fears? What do they do to help Junie B. conquer her fears of roosters and the farm? Ask students to share some things they do to let friends or family know they care.

In Junie B. Jones and That Meany Jim’s Birthday, Junie’s feelings are hurt when Jim doesn’t invite her to his birthday party. How does her family show that they care about her hurt feelings? Ask students to identify things her friends and family do to show that they care.

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As a class, read Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook and discuss the importance of SELF-DISCIPLINE. Someone took Junie’s gloves and when she goes to the lost and found, she finds a backpack she really wants, but controls herself and doesn’t take it. She also finds a pen under the water fountain and thinks “finders keepers.” Discuss with the class if this thinking is correct. Ask students how Junie B. exhibits self-discipline when she turns the pen into the lost and found box, as she should have done in the first place.

In Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, Junie B. gets in trouble for shooting off her mouth. Mrs. asks Junie to control herself better in class. Ask students to give Junie some advice on how she can practice self-discipline, which will help keep her out of trouble.

Print out the Self-Discipline Activity Sheets (Part 1 | Part 2) and have students write down their tips on how to help Junie B. control herself and themselves.

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In Junie B., First Grader: Toothless Wonder, Miss Chris came in to talk about recycling and how it is important to not litter. Define CITIZENSHIP and the kinds of behavior that demonstrate being a good citizen. Ask the class to explain how recycling and not littering translate into being a good citizen. As a class make a list of behaviors that exhibit good citizenship and post it in the classroom.

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In Junie B. Jones and That Meany Jim’s Birthday, Junie B. decides that it was okay to be the only one to not go to Jim’s birthday. Discuss the term COURAGE and how Junie B. exhibited courage when she made this decision. Ask students to share a time when they did something courageous. Ask students how Junie B.’s decision to not go to the party of a boy she didn’t really care for also displays dignity. How are courage and dignity related? Ask students to think of another example where courage and dignity play into a decision they have made in their own lives.

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In Junie B., First Grader: Shipwrecked, Mr. Scary wants to put on a play and lets Junie B. and Jose pick their roles first because they had gathered the most facts about Christopher Columbus. Ask students why they think Mr. Scary did this. Discuss if the students think this is FAIR. What do they think would happen if he just let everyone pick at once. Ask students to take on the role of Mr. Scary and ask them how they would have handled the same situation to make sure everyone had a fair chance to pick their characters for the play.

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