Mingo Learns About Friendship, Sharing, and Following Class Rules

About Friendship, Sharing,
and Following Class Rules

About Friendship, Sharing,
and Following Class Rules

About Friendship, Sharing
and Following Class Rules
by Marilyn I. James
CAC PUBLISHING
Washington, DC

MINGO LEARNS…
About Friendship, Sharing, and Following Class Rules
Copyright © 2016 by Marilyn I. James
Published by CAC Publishing
Washington, DC 20009
www.childrenandcharity.org
Send inquiries, feedback, and requests to: info@childrenandcharity.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photography, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as
provided by US copyright law.
Printed in the United States of America.
All Rights Reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAC Publishing may publish this book in a variety of electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Not all content
that is available in standard print versions of this book may appear or be packaged in all book formats. For general
information on our other products, services, and technical support please contact us at 202-234-0488 or email
info@childrenandcharity.org.
ISBN 978-0-9890128-1-2
Character Building/Personal Growth
Grade 2-5

Acknowledgements
Many people have generously given timely advice, words of
wisdom, and genuine assistance, that profoundly impacted my
academic performance, decision-making, and life choices. This
book series was inspired by my interaction with children in our
expanded learning programs that need such support and
guidance. Collaboration with the University of the District of
Columbia (UDC), District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS),
Department of Employment Services Youth Services (DOES),
and Learn24, provides platforms for me to impact young lives.
Resonating with each written word is the proverb, “Start
children off on the way they should go, and even when they are
old they will not turn from it.”
Sincere thanks and gratitude to my family, colleagues, and
friends, who encouraged me to write this book to benefit
children. I dedicate the series to parents, caregivers, teachers,
administrators, and everyone who selflessly support and
motivate others to be the best they can be in life.
--Marilyn James

Table of Contents
Facts about Mingo 10
Chapter One:
Mingo Learns about Friendship 11
Chapter Two:
Mingo Learns about Sharing 25
Chapter Three:
Mingo Learns about Following Class Rules 39
About the Author 53

Facts about Mingo
Mingo is an orphan who spent the first 8 years of his
life in the foster care system. He lived in 4 different
homes and is now cared for by family members.
Mingo is having trouble adjusting to rules and
expectations from schools, community, and society.
Knowing what to say, when to do things, where to put
things, and how to act, is confusing and challenging to
Mingo.
Friends have decided to help Mingo Learn. Join them as
Mingo journeys through this learning process.
10

Chapter One:
Mingo Learns about Friendship
11

Mingo lives with Aunt Dora in the city.
He needs to go to school so Aunt Dora
explores the neighborhood schools
and finds a good match for him.
12

Aunt Dora registers Mingo to attend
Newton Elementary School which is a
short walking distance from their
home.
13

It is Monday morning and Mingo’s
first day going to his new school. He
feels scared so his cousin Fred who
attends Newton Elementary School
walks with him to the front door.
14

Fred pushes open the school’s front
door and Mingo freezes in place.
Cousin Fred says, “Come on Mingo,
let’s go in before the bell rings.
“If the bell rings, we will be late.” But
Mingo stands firm. He would not
budge.
15

Other students went past Mingo and
Fred but Mingo stands still at the
entrance and would go no further.
16

Suddenly a very calm voice from
behind says, “Hello there, May I help
you?” What is your name? Stuttering,
Mingo says “M-I-I-I-NGO!”
“My name is Joshua,” says the voice.
“I bet you are new here and scared.”
“It happened to me too.”
17

“My father works for the military and
we move frequently, sometimes to
different states, other times to
different countries.”
“I change schools often because dad
never knows where we will go next.”
“I came to Newton Elementary School
just 6 months ago.”
18

“Let me help you.” “I believe we are in
the same class so take my hand and I
will walk with you to our classroom and
I can sit right next to you so you feel
safe.”
Mingo timidly takes Joshua’s hand and
both walk into the school.
19

Fred who witnessed the exchange let
out a loud sigh of relief and scampers
off to his class.
Joshua keeps his word by staying with
Mingo throughout the day.
20

Mingo thinks Joshua is such a cool
guy, and wishes he lived nearby.
21

Engagement and Activities
Seek and Find
1. Find 4 words in the story that begin with the
letter F. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
2. Find 4 new words you learned from reading
this story. Write them below:
__________________/____________________
_____________________/_________________
22

Writing skills
1. Write 3 sentences that best describe what
friendship means to you.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
______________________________________
2. Do you think making friends with others is a
good habit or a bad habit? Discuss with a
classmate or someone at home.
23

NOTES:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
24

Chapter Two:
Mingo Learns about Sharing
25

It is 3:00 pm on Monday and Mingo is
staying for afterschool enrichment
activities. Afterschool students get
afternoon snacks. Today’s snacks
include: granola bars, potato chips,
pretzels, boxes of milk, and fruit
cups.
26

Mingo enters the snack room with his
classmates. He immediately gets
excited by the array of snacks he
sees on the table, so he runs up to the
serving table and grabs a tray.
27

He puts 2 sets of everything on his
tray; then runs to a chair, sits down,
and starts eating.
28

The room gets very quiet. Everyone is
stunned and looks at Mingo!
His neighborhood friend, Buddy who is
serving as a class monitor goes to
Mingo and asks,
“What are you doing?”
Mingo responds,
“Eating my snacks!” “Mmm, so good!”
29

Buddy says to Mingo, “That is not how
we do things around here.”
Buddy then explains how snacks are
served to Mingo. ”First, we make sure
everyone gets 1 of each snack item
for the day.”
30

“Then, if there are leftovers we put
them in a basket and store them away
for another day.”
“Come, let me show you.”
31

Buddy walks with Mingo to the front
of the classroom. He asks everyone to
form a line and come get their snacks.
Each student walks beside the serving
table, first taking a tray, then putting
1 of each snack item on it. After
selecting their items each child finds
a seat, and begins eating the snacks.
32

Mingo feels sad.
33

Pal, another friend, walks up to Mingo
and says, “Don’t be sad, you did not
know.” “But now that you have learned
how we share around here, I expect
you to do better.”
34

Mingo says, “I sure will.”
He then joins his classmates and they
all enjoy eating their afternoon
snacks.
35

Engagement and Activities
Seek and Find
1. Find 4 words in the story that begin with the
letter S. Write them below:
_________________/____________________
_________________/____________________
2. Find 4 new words you learned from reading
this story. Write them below:
_________________/_____________________
__________________/____________________
36

Writing skills
1. Write 3 sentences that best describe what
sharing means to you.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Do you think sharing is a good habit or a bad
habit? Discuss with a classmate or someone at
home.
37

NOTES:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
38

Chapter Three:
Mingo Learns about Following Class Rules
39

Mingo’s afterschool class teacher, Mr.
Smith, is doing a lesson on Reptiles.
He writes 5 questions on the board
and tells students to listen carefully
because at the end of the lesson
there would be a question and answer
period.
40

Mr. Smith informs the class that
reptiles are cold-blooded creatures
that are covered in scales; and that
turtles, snakes, lizards, and
crocodiles, are reptiles.
41

Reptiles scales, Mr. Smith further
explains can be hard, soft, large, or
small. The scales protect reptiles’
bodies. Having cold-blood means
reptiles bodies react to the
temperature of their surroundings.
When reptiles get too warm, they go
into water, or shade to cool off.
It is now question and answer time.
42

Mr. Smith is reading question four
from off the board when he hears a
commotion and shouts of, Fight! Fight!
He turns around and sees Mingo and
Harry out of their seats, throwing
punches at each other.
43

Mr. Smith briskly walks to the back of
the classroom, breaks up the fight,
and escorts both students to the
front of the class. He then asks, what
the reason for the fight is and who
started it.
44

Harry says Mingo started it and Mingo
says Harry started it. Then Mr. Smith
patiently asks again, what the reason
for the fight is and who started it.
Feeling guilty, Mingo owns up and says
that he knew the answer to question
three but Harry answered before him
so he got mad and punched Harry.
45

Mr. Smith asks Mingo to recite the
class rules which he does:
1. Listen and Follow Directions.
2. Raise Your Hand before Speaking or Leaving
Your Seat.
3. Respect Your Classmates and Your Teacher.
4. Keep Hands, Feet, and Objects to Yourself.
Then Mr. Smith asks Mingo, “Did you
raise your hand when you wanted to
answer the question?”
Mingo responds, “No.”
46

“There we have it,” says Mr. Smith.
“You did not follow class rules.”
He turns to the class and asks, what
should Mingo do next time we have
question and answer time?
Everyone says, “Raise his hand when
he knows the answer.”
Both students apologized to Mr.
Smith and the class for causing the
disruption.
47

On the walk home that afternoon,
Mingo could not stop talking about his
first day at Newton Elementary
School.
He tells Cousin Fred how his new
friend Joshua helped him with school
work, introduced him to other
classmates, and ate lunch with him.
48

Mingo talked about learning how to
share snacks; and how important it is
to follow Class Rules so you don’t get
in trouble.
He was so caught up in talking that
Fred had to tell him they had reached
home.
49

Engagement and Activities
Seek and Find
1. Find 4 words in the story that begin with the
letter C. Write them below:
_________________/____________________
_________________/____________________
2. Find 4 new words you learned from reading
this story. Write them below:
_________________/_____________________
__________________/____________________
50

Writing skills
1. Write 3 sentences that explain why it is
important to follow class rules.
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Do you think following class rules is a good
habit or a bad habit? Discuss with a classmate
or someone at home.
51

NOTES:
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
52

About the Author
Marilyn I. James is an educator who
serves as Executive Director of
Children & Charity International. Her
focus is community outreach, and
education of children, youth, and
families in Washington DC
Metropolitan Area. She served as
NASA SEMAA Family Café
Coordinator at the Science and
Engineering Center, University of the
District of Columbia where she
coordinated activities for program
participants, and provided program
planning and development services. She
has written a Parent’s Guide called
“The Early Years: Helping Our Children Succeed - Tips and Resources to
improving Language and Reading. An advocate for academic enrichment,
Marilyn liaisons with government and funding agencies for pre-college
programs and community partnerships.

Mingo Learns… is a series of personal growth books with
activities to help children overcome challenges, build selfconfidence,
and improve academically so they can have a
better chance for success in life.
CAC Publishing
Washington DC
www.childrenandcharity.org