Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Assignment: Compliment Three
National Compliment Day
Reading Comprehension for January 24
"Why doesn't anybody like me?" Kendra asked.
"Sometimes I hear you talking with others," Mrs. Taylor said softy. "I hear you talking about your clothes, your hair, your dance class, or your belongings. It seems like your favorite topic of conversation is you. You let everyone know how much you like yourself, but they can't tell whether you like them at all."
Kendra wished the floor would open up and swallow her. Mrs. Taylor's words stung. Kendra wondered if she really was guilty of being self-centered. When she had confided in her teacher that her classmates didn't like her, she was looking for sympathy, not criticism. Why was Mrs. Taylor being so mean?
"When you get home, here's what I want you to do," Mrs. Taylor said gently. "Finish your homework first." She winked, and Kendra responded with a small smile. "Then think about the way you behave around others. Try to remember the things you said today. If someone else said those things to you, how would you react? Probably the same way your classmates react to you."
"To change their reactions, you need to change your behavior," Mrs. Taylor went on. "Doesn't that make sense?"
Kendra agreed that it did, but she still didn't know what to do. At least Mrs. Taylor was smiling at her now. She watched as her teacher picked up her pink, fluffy-topped pen and wrote something on a notepad.
"This will be your assignment for tomorrow," Mrs. Taylor said as she finished writing. "You are to think of three different compliments for three different classmates. They must be meaningful compliments and not simple flattery. This will help you to focus your attention on others, and it will help them to see that you like them."
"And then they will be my friends?" Kendra asked, slipping the note into her backpack.
"Friendship is based on more than a compliment," Mrs. Taylor replied. "It may take longer than a day or two, but if you show your classmates that you like and care about them, I'm sure they will decide that they like you, too."
On the piece of paper, these words were written in blue:
