The Name Jar, by Yangsook Choi, is a delightful story about a girl from Korea and her experience as a new student in an American classroom. After being made fun of on the school bus, Unhei grew anxious that many of her new American classmates would also think her name was strange, so she didn't share her name with the other students at first. The classmates gave Unhei a "Name Jar" and eventually she realized the other kids were interested in knowing more about her real name and Korean culture. She learned to appreciate the meaning of her name as well as the friends who are interested in learning about it, and her culture. She found that the kindness and understanding of the other students welcomed her and made her feel more at home in America.
This was a great story that would help to make any child feel more comfortable about coming to a new school especially if there are cultural and racial differences. This book would be perfect to use in the beginning of the school year, particularly with younger students, as a tool to teach children about tolerance, being themselves, and taking pride in where they might come from. Teachers can use this book to engage students on creating ideas to make new students feel welcomed in their class. Remember The Name Jar as a great book to use when teaching students about the acceptance and understanding of other cultures.
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