I have a book recommendation for you! “Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper. Each year, I read this to my 4th graders, and they love it. I’m also excited to share that the movie is streaming on Disney+ on November 22nd. Definitely read the book first, so you can compare and contrast them. I guarantee you’ll love it!
Here’s a quick synopsis:
Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

Random Acts of Kindness

• Leave Positive Notes: Write uplifting messages or compliments and leave them on strangers’ desks, in books at the library, or on car windshields.
• Pay It Forward: Pay for someone’s coffee or meal anonymously or buy a gift card and leave it for someone who might need it.
• Compliment Strangers: Give genuine, heartfelt compliments to people you encounter throughout the day.
• Leave a Tip for Service Workers: Surprise a delivery person, barista, or cashier with a generous tip as a thank you for their hard work.

Community Service

• Volunteer: Spend the day volunteering at a local shelter, food bank, or community center. Helping those in need is a great way to demonstrate kindness.
• Clean-Up Project: Organize a small community clean-up day at a local park, beach, or public space.
• Donate Clothing/Food: Gather gently used clothes or non-perishable food items and donate them to a local charity.

Kindness Cards or Postcards

• Create Kindness Cards: Make small cards with kind messages or quotes, and hand them out to people you encounter throughout the day.
• Send Kindness Postcards: Mail handwritten notes or postcards to friends, family, or even strangers to brighten their day.

Social Media Kindness Campaign

• Post about Kindness: Share an inspirational quote or a personal story of kindness on your social media. Encourage your followers to do the same.
• Kindness Challenge: Start a “kindness challenge” where you ask others to share their random acts of kindness or tag people who have been kind to them.
• Spread Positive News: Share uplifting or feel-good news stories on your social media to counterbalance the negative ones.