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How Dneirf Came To Be:
After my first year as an elementary school counselor, I took time to reflect on how things went and lessons learned. One thing stood out immediately to me, the amount of time spent educating and sorting through incidents reported as “Bullying.” The Buzz of Bullying in the media and community although great for bringing awareness to a problem, caused another problem in itself in creating a word that is almost as much of a problem as the act itself. What I learned was that kids did not know how to handle conflict on their own and not every social issue was an act of bullying. However, parents and even kids used this word almost as an escape solution to fix problems or rather have them fixed by others (adults) at the fear of not handling a “bullying situation.” What this did do was cause an even greater gap of kids being unable to think and act for themselves, which ultimately leads to them turning into adults who can not do the same in their futures. Much of my time was spent being a mediator between kids and helping them with self-awareness of their own actions. You did “A” so “C” happened…what else could you have done so that “B” could have happened? Dneirf grew out of the idea of escaping the labeling of “bullying” and focusing rather on behavior and behavioral change that is normal in social relationships. Dneirf is not meant to be another “label” or “buzzword” but rather a means to bring light to another possible reason for social conflict that is more conducive with cause/effect of friendships problems for young children.
About the Book: After having a difficult morning, a boy named Otto struggles with having positive interactions with his friends at school. He learns that his friendship struggles are due to him doing things “backwards” that a true friend would do or being a “Dneirf.” With the help of his peers and school counselor, Otto is able to turn himself around and move in the right direction towards becoming a true or forward friend to himself and others.
What is a “Dneirf”? A Dneirf is simply “friend” spelled backwards or an example of a Semordnilap (a word that spells a different word either way). In reality we can be a Dneirf from the words we choose to the actions we take towards others. Dneirf’s tend to do things in the wrong direction at times. Dneirfs however are not what we would define as a bully but rather are just kids and even sometimes adults that because of other circumstances going on in their lives, don’t always stop and think, causing them to act the opposite to how a true friend would typically act. The key difference is after a short amount of time and some self-reflecting, they recognize their actions and turn themselves around, showing empathy and remorse towards others. Once children learn how to turn their behaviors around, they quickly begin to see what a forward friend looks like.
Forward:
This story can be a support source for those reading it not only to those who have acted as a “Dneirf” but those who may have experienced the backwards behaviors of others. When someone turns into a “Dneirf” it is like they are wearing their shoes backwards and trying to walk and have a normal day…it just is not going to work.
Doctors prescribe/recommend exercise and healthy eating as preventative measures or precursors to good physical health. School counselors and teachers can recommend this book and its ideas in the same way for good social and mental health development and maintenance. By doing such, the prevention of bullying can occur with a primary focus and goal of creating caring and kind social relationship that are dictated by self-recognition of one’s own behaviors towards others.
Illustrations:
All of the amazing illustrations seen in Dneirf were created and hand drawn by Mr. Steven Kernen. Steve first met Mike when both of his children attended the elementary school in which Mike works as a School Counselor. Since this time, Steve and Mike have become close friends and joined forces to bring all of you this very special book. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and if so, the fun illustrations created by Steve will sure capture your very own story as you read and let your imagination run wild as the emotions come to life within each scene.
School Assemblies and Author/Illustrator School Visits:
Ø Visits/Assemblies tailored to each school and program
Ø Social Skills, PBIS, and Anti-Bullying Presentations
Ø Writing & Drawing Your Ideas Forward: Assembly about creativity that teaches and encourages children about creating their very own stories through brainstorming, writing, drawing, and even a little magic
----Contact Mike if interested in having him visit your school, daycare, or preschool! mresh10@gmail.com
After my first year as an elementary school counselor, I took time to reflect on how things went and lessons learned. One thing stood out immediately to me, the amount of time spent educating and sorting through incidents reported as “Bullying.” The Buzz of Bullying in the media and community although great for bringing awareness to a problem, caused another problem in itself in creating a word that is almost as much of a problem as the act itself. What I learned was that kids did not know how to handle conflict on their own and not every social issue was an act of bullying. However, parents and even kids used this word almost as an escape solution to fix problems or rather have them fixed by others (adults) at the fear of not handling a “bullying situation.” What this did do was cause an even greater gap of kids being unable to think and act for themselves, which ultimately leads to them turning into adults who can not do the same in their futures. Much of my time was spent being a mediator between kids and helping them with self-awareness of their own actions. You did “A” so “C” happened…what else could you have done so that “B” could have happened? Dneirf grew out of the idea of escaping the labeling of “bullying” and focusing rather on behavior and behavioral change that is normal in social relationships. Dneirf is not meant to be another “label” or “buzzword” but rather a means to bring light to another possible reason for social conflict that is more conducive with cause/effect of friendships problems for young children.
About the Book: After having a difficult morning, a boy named Otto struggles with having positive interactions with his friends at school. He learns that his friendship struggles are due to him doing things “backwards” that a true friend would do or being a “Dneirf.” With the help of his peers and school counselor, Otto is able to turn himself around and move in the right direction towards becoming a true or forward friend to himself and others.
What is a “Dneirf”? A Dneirf is simply “friend” spelled backwards or an example of a Semordnilap (a word that spells a different word either way). In reality we can be a Dneirf from the words we choose to the actions we take towards others. Dneirf’s tend to do things in the wrong direction at times. Dneirfs however are not what we would define as a bully but rather are just kids and even sometimes adults that because of other circumstances going on in their lives, don’t always stop and think, causing them to act the opposite to how a true friend would typically act. The key difference is after a short amount of time and some self-reflecting, they recognize their actions and turn themselves around, showing empathy and remorse towards others. Once children learn how to turn their behaviors around, they quickly begin to see what a forward friend looks like.
Forward:
This story can be a support source for those reading it not only to those who have acted as a “Dneirf” but those who may have experienced the backwards behaviors of others. When someone turns into a “Dneirf” it is like they are wearing their shoes backwards and trying to walk and have a normal day…it just is not going to work.
Doctors prescribe/recommend exercise and healthy eating as preventative measures or precursors to good physical health. School counselors and teachers can recommend this book and its ideas in the same way for good social and mental health development and maintenance. By doing such, the prevention of bullying can occur with a primary focus and goal of creating caring and kind social relationship that are dictated by self-recognition of one’s own behaviors towards others.
Illustrations:
All of the amazing illustrations seen in Dneirf were created and hand drawn by Mr. Steven Kernen. Steve first met Mike when both of his children attended the elementary school in which Mike works as a School Counselor. Since this time, Steve and Mike have become close friends and joined forces to bring all of you this very special book. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and if so, the fun illustrations created by Steve will sure capture your very own story as you read and let your imagination run wild as the emotions come to life within each scene.
School Assemblies and Author/Illustrator School Visits:
Ø Visits/Assemblies tailored to each school and program
Ø Social Skills, PBIS, and Anti-Bullying Presentations
Ø Writing & Drawing Your Ideas Forward: Assembly about creativity that teaches and encourages children about creating their very own stories through brainstorming, writing, drawing, and even a little magic
----Contact Mike if interested in having him visit your school, daycare, or preschool! mresh10@gmail.com
FREE Printable Resources
Friend Acrostic Poem Dneirf to Friend
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What is a Palindrome?
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What is a Semordnilap?
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Compare & Contrast
Bookmarks
Parent Letter following Lesson
Created by: Cara Haines (School Counselor)
Lesson Plan:
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| pass_kindness_forward.pdf |
Dneirf Valentine's Day Cards
| dneirf_valentines_.pdf |
Story Elements
| Story Elements |
Lesson Plan: Conflict Resolution
| conflict_called_dneirf.doc |
Assistance with creation by: Cara Haines (School Counselor)
Lesson Plan: Friendship Functions
| friendship_functions.pdf |
Pass Kindness Forward Card
| pass_kindness_forward_card.pdf |
Palindrome Pals
| palindrome_pals.pdf |
Community Share
Have a fun idea, activity, or lesson using the story Dneirf? Please share your idea with Mike at mresh10@gmail.com so he can pass it Forward on this website for others to use!
*Receive a special gift for all ideas shared*
*Receive a special gift for all ideas shared*
Reading Levels:
Dneirf is on a 4th-5th grade reading level.
Lexile Levels: 740-1010
Fountas and Pinnell levels: M-V which covers DRA levels from 24-50
Dneirf is a great Read-Aloud for all ages and grades K-6 and beyond!
Dneirf is on a 4th-5th grade reading level.
Lexile Levels: 740-1010
Fountas and Pinnell levels: M-V which covers DRA levels from 24-50
Dneirf is a great Read-Aloud for all ages and grades K-6 and beyond!
A Glance Inside Dneirf
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