These golden lines from One for the Murphys by Linda Mullaly Hunt fit in well with today's prompt to reflect on the events of 9/11. Listen to this brief interchange between Carley and her foster brother, Daniel.
"'Do you know what courage is?' ...
'Not being afraid of something.'
'No! It's being afraid and doing it anyway.'"
I can never think about 9/11 without reflecting on the courage exhibited by so many people on this day.
My first read aloud of the year, The Liberation of Gabriel King, is a great segue into discussing the theme of courage with my sixth grade students. I love the main character Gabriel who spends much of the book trying to overcome his fears only to discover that courage is as Carley succintly stated "being afraid and doing it anyway."
I also like to use Bernard Waber's picture book, Courage, as a companion book for exploring the theme of courage.
Today I'll read 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy with my sixth grade students to share the compassion and connectedness exhibited by the Maasai tribesmen in Kenya to America's suffering.
It's interesting that to most people courage equals with the first definition of not being afraid. I wonder if it will ever fully shift to the second explanation.
ReplyDeleteI recently posted a quote on my White Board, "Courage doesn't always roar." I forget where I found that bit of wisdom, but I like it so much because I see quietly courageous acts every day.
ReplyDeleteYour reading sounds perfect. I will add them all to my list.
I like that quote. Here's another favorite quote about courage from my laundry room bulletin board. "The courage that counts is the courage of the every day. Most of life is putting one foot in front of the other. Big leaps have received too much press." II kept it from a quote-a day calendar. Unfortunately, no source was given.
DeleteLucky kids to have you guide them. Those are great books.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote!
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