Shearer Bliss

My sixth graders are reading On My Honor, a Newbery Award book written by Marion Dane Bauer. On our chart today we were discussing what HONOR looks like in real life. My students are quite amazing and it was interesting hearing them explain how this word is truly your inner core. One student said that "you either have it or you don't". Hmm. What do you think? Is honor something that one can learn along the road of life?

This book was not written recently. It was written my freshman year of high school. I read this in high school and again in college, and it is the kind of novel that every time I read it I make connections to different things that make this story so intriguing. This book has a very predictable sad climax, yet it grips you and pulls you into the lives of these two vastly different adolescents. Two friends, Joel & Tony, are the main characters. Joel is the rule follower. He is responsible and not a risk taker whatsoever. He plays it "safe". Tony, on the other hand, is careless. Tony loves living life on the edge, taking risks and thrives on taking on challenges. What transpires in this short book is so real-life, so common, and a great story about friendship. I can wait to read this with Jenna & Grant in a few years, because it truly makes for a meaningful conversation about integrity, making wise choices, and a "what would you do?" scenario. This book is so well-written. I highly recommend reading this!

What does staying true to myself mean for me today...as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, & teacher? Am I a woman of honor? Do I possess self-respect?

This is my deep thought of today. What about YOU?