Abstract
In the last 2 years, I have discussed development of theory of mind (ToM) and reviewed a number of articles on ToM in Word of Mouth (WOM) 24:2. Much of the work on ToM has focused on developing aspects of interpersonal ToM, that is, recognizing and understanding the thoughts and emotions of others, but increasing attention is being given to awareness of one’s own thoughts and emotions. In a WOM Resource Review, I described how books by Jan Thomas can be used with preschool and early elementary schoolchildren to develop understanding of characters’ thoughts and feelings. In this Idea Swap, we describe three books that can be used to develop intrapersonal ToM in elementary school year. These books provide a forum for discussing the concepts of one’s thoughts, ideas, and emotions (intrapersonal cognitive and affective ToM), and how one’s thoughts, ideas, and emotions affect our behavior and what we are able to achieve: Ackley, V. (2009). What are you thinking? Mesa, AZ: Thoughts Alive Books. McCutcheon, M. (2008). The kid who named Pluto: And the stories of other extraordinary young people in science. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books Yamada, K. (2013). What do you do with an idea? Seattle, WA: Compendium.
What Are You Thinking? Is a picture book designed as a discussion board for parents and educators? You can watch a promotion for the book on YouTube (What Are You Thinking? Book Promo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PynGDCRiu3A&;x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534#t=31). The book illustrates that thoughts are things and influence every aspect of our lives. Thoughts are powerful because they become actions and influence our subconscious awareness and behavior. The book begins with the question, “Did you ever really want something?” and then precedes with explaining how our thoughts can help us achieve what we want when we follow our thoughts with actions. The author provides examples from history—the invention of the wheel, the toilet, the telephone, the airplane. But our thoughts have to be focused if they are to have power. The author provides examples of how the thought about wanting a bicycle can be focused to engage in a variety of actions that will result in achieving that goal. The author cautions that it is not just happy thoughts that have power; we can have “yucky” thoughts that create problems. We can, however, change our thoughts and choose how we wish to feel. We can choose to imagine multiple possibilities. In this Idea Swap, Ann Dorais provides us with a lesson plan to use when discussing the book to move the ideas from those in the book to the lives of the students (see “Lesson Plan”).
After discussing What Are You Thinking? you might also want to read What Do You Do With an Idea? This is a story of a brilliant idea and the child who helps bring it into the world. You can see the story on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSfNv0-SgJM. In the story, one day, the child has an idea, represented as a golden egg with crown. Initially, it is quite small. The child wonders where it came from and what he might do with it; but when he did not know what to do with it, he walked away from it. However, the idea followed him. He was worried about what others my think, so he tried to hide his idea. However, he realized that he felt happier when the idea was around and he began to play with it. He began to show the idea to others. Some thought it was good whereas others thought it was weird or silly and a waste of time. At first, he believed the people who discouraged him, but then it realized it was his idea. So he gave it his full attention and it grew and grew. Eventually, it went from being a part of him to being everywhere, and he realized that what you do with an idea is to change the world.
The book never says what the boy’s idea is. Whatever it was, was important; it made a difference in the world. Have children hypothesize about what the idea might be. Read stories about exceptional young inventors and scientific pioneers in the book, The Kid Who Named Pluto (McCutcheon, 2008), that profiles nine people who made significant contributions to science while still quite young. Or google, “Children Who Changed the World” and discover a variety of ways that the ideas of young persons have made a positive difference in the world. Discuss ideas students have had that have in some way helped others—their family members, peers, or pets.
Lesson plan by Ann Dorais, MA, CCC-SLP
Based from the book, “What are you Thinking” by Valerie Ackley, Publisher Thoughts Alive Book.
Did your friend or sibling really want something? What?
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Did your mom really want something? What?
Did your dad really want something? What?
Did your sibling really want something? What?
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A) ___ You wished for it, so you got it?
B) ___ You thought it and shared your thought with someone? Your thoughts had power to influence the other person to help you get it.
C) ___ You didn’t do anything.
Note: Sometimes when we really want something, we have a PLAN on how to get it.
We might brainstorm ideas ourselves or with others; we might give hints to our parents or friends. We might even think of ways, steps to get it ourselves like how we can work and then save up for it.
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Can you read your own mind? What are you thinking right now? List a few items.
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You can “read” other peoples’ minds too. Did you know you can read . . . Or change their minds? What are they good at? How do you know? What are they feeling? List a few items. Have you ever made suggestions?
Thoughts are powerful: Our thoughts followed by action have made our world a better place. Why?
* Think about inventions that you enjoy now . . . list a few. Name a few inventions others enjoy now . . . list a few.
Bugs are drawn to light; what are you drawn toward? What would you like to achieve someday?
Others will try to draw you to their things too like Movies? Foods? Jobs? Objects? Contests? Money?
But WATCH OUT!
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Do you ever have negative yucky thoughts? If you wake up grumpy and stay grumpy, you could end up with all sorts of yucky problems.
What are a few problems you could have with yourself? What are a few problems you could possibly have with others?
You can change your thoughts; you decide what you are going to focus on.
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Go for what you want to achieve!
VOCABULARY; teach and review the meaning of the words as needed
FOCUS, CONCENTRATE, MAGNIFY, POWER, ACTIONS, MIND, INVENTIONS, ENERGY, POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, INFLUENCE, POWER, EMOTIONS, GRATITUDE, CHOOSE, SELECTIVE, THOUGHTS. PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS, MIND READ, DRAWN TOWARD, ACHEIVE, ABILITIES, CAPABILITIES, HAPPINESS.