O is for Omar on Ice: Library Notes

 "Omar discovers everyone has their own special talents and that people are good at different things." 

This book by Maryann Kovalski was gifted to grade one students by TD Bank one year.  It is an illustrated day in the class where Omar, who dreams of becoming a famous artist and being paid with candy, discovers that he is not very good at drawing at all.  He rips up his drawing because of his disappointment.

Attempt drawing something you love with a pencil like Omar. Look up tutorials on how to draw.

Use the series of books, Draw Write Now, which shows how to draw something step by step and gives a writeup to copy about it for handwriting practice.

Take time to just sketch and draw using a variety of materials.   Try to  paint with coloured ice.  

Put ice, water and toys like fish, polar bears and penguins in a bin to play with.  

Put coloured water in a cup along with fun items and freeze it.  Offer syringes of warm water to melt it.

Discover ice sculptures.  Can you make one too?

What are you good at?  Consider what you are naturally good at, what you are working on now (ie. piano lessons) and what you would like to try to get better at in the days to come (ie. a language).  It would be wise to include qualities as well as skills (ie. good at helping and singing).  Thinking ahead and considering options is a good way to determine next steps and to develop self-identity positively.

How do you handle disappointment?  Remember the I can't ant (A is for Ants) and how to reframe the negative reaction with a more realistic response that encourages the process of trying.

Some people take the route of 'the blame ant' when they cannot do something as well as they expected.  Can you blame other things like the paper or pencil?  Omar did not. He admitted he was just bad at drawing.  When his friend couldn't skate Omar blamed the skates suggesting they were too big but she knew she was just not a good skater.  That showed courage and honesty.

Omar had a great suggestion for his friend to handle her disappointment.  He told her not to worry and that she was just trying too hard.  He said the best approach was to just have fun. Even if we are not good at something, having fun in the process makes the time spent on it worthwhile.  That is what is most important.

I am not going to let you know here how the story ends but I will share one more lesson from the book.  Omar's classmates did not discourage each other.  They tried to help each other, encourage each other for their efforts and cheer for each other's successes.  This is a great example for children, making this book a great selection for the child(ren) in your life.







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