Sally Sore Loser
Image from: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Sally-Sore-Loser-Winning-Losing/dp/1433811901
During circle time, Pauline showed us something and she said that it was a medal. It was gold, circle- shaped, and had a ribbon so you can wear it around your neck. Since this week is the last week of summer school and our Olympics celebration, it was time to conclude this wonderful event!
We remembered that Kai talked to us about medals. He told us that there were 3 medals: gold, silver, and bronze. Pauline said that we can start making our medals tomorrow and we can choose if we want to make a gold, silver, and bronze medal. She then explained that medals are awarded as the Olympics come to an end, and there will be only 3 winners chosen. For example, in a swimming race, only the three fastest swimmers will be the winners. In the basketball event, only the three best teams are the winners.
“So…let’s pretend we’re all at a race,” Pauline began. “Then, only K, N, and E won the race. You didn’t win, so you lost. How would you feel?” she asked.
“I will be sad,” E said.
“Me, too,” H said. “I’m sad,” she said.
“I will be happy,” A said.
“Even if you’re not the winner?” Pauline asked.
“Yes! I know I’m the fastest,” A said.
Pauline said that she will read a book to us called, “Sally Sore Loser” by Frank J. Sileo. The story starts with a girl named Sally who loved playing games and sports. She always wants to come first in anything- she always wants to win. She hates losing. One day, she was playing soccer with her friends and her team was losing. She got angry at her team and she yelled at them. Her friends didn’t want to play with her anymore because she wasn’t being nice, and one of them called her Sally Sore Loser. This made Sally cry but her teacher and her mommy told her that being a sore loser means being angry when you lose. It’s okay to feel sad or disappointed when we lose, but if we get angry and start doing not- so- nice things, then it’s not okay and it makes you a sore loser. It’s okay to lose-- what’s important is you try your best AND HAVE FUN! Sally thought about this, and the next time they played, she took deep breaths to calm herself down when she’s starting to feel upset or frustrated, and she cheered her friends on. They were happy about this, and Sally told them that “When you’re having fun, you’re winning!” The End.
We played a game after- a game where we have been known to become super competitive with each other. It has been a source of tears and frustration, of many outbursts and meltdowns. It will be the ultimate test of the lesson we picked up from Sally. It’s---- musical chairs! The teachers arranged the chairs and started to play the music. When the music stopped, it’s a mad dash for the nearest chair available!
One by one, we were out of the game and we had to sit down. When the teachers said, “You’re out! Good job!”, we cheered and clapped for our friend. It seemed like it helped a lot in accepting that we lost, and it made playing the game more fun. Nobody cried- nobody was a sore loser during the game! Hooray!
The three winners of our musical chairs were A (gold medal), C (silver medal), and R (bronze medal). We congratulated them and gave them hugs. The teachers took their picture as if they were standing on the podium during the awards ceremony. It was amazing!
That’s all for today- how about you? How was your day?
Love,
All the happy athletes in Petals Class