A few years ago, I began visiting a couple of 1st grade classrooms in our public elementary school to share “Winners Walk Tall” lessons with the boys and girls. “Winners Walk Tall” is a character education program that was developed by a Cincinnati area grandfather whose desire was to help students succeed and avoid being drawn into gangs.
Since I have a soft spot for kids and their futures, my heart was quickly drawn to WWT. When the timing was right, I worked up the lessons adding my personal touch and began encouraging the 6 and 7 year old students to be honest, respectful, and responsible and to work hard toward worthy goals.
I had no idea that being a “Winners Walk Tall” coach would lead me to writing books! During the 2014-15 school year, I put together a book for the classrooms called “All Done…Unless” that reminds kids to clean up after themselves. The process and product were so rewarding that I followed up in 2015-16 with “Words That Win”. Incorporating many of the goals of WWT, my poetry informs kids that our tongues should be used for good manners, kindness, good sportsmanship, telling the truth and the like.
Here’s the first page:
Here’s the last page, p. 20:
Production of “Words That Win” is very limited, but I have a few hard cover copies and have now done a paperback version that’s a little less costly. It really gives me joy to provide an engaging, positive book that teachers, parents, and grandparents can share with children. And, I am extremely blessed to know that a couple of school counselors have embraced “Words That Win”!
“From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” Proverbs 12:14