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Songs:

  1. Underdog by Alicia Keys 

  2. Original by Sia

  3. Wildflowers by Tom Petty

  4. Let It Be by The Beatles (got me through middle school)

  5. Wish You Pain by Andy Grammar (just listen!!!)

  6. Peaceful, Easy Feeling by Eagles

  7. You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

  8. Carried Me With You by Brandi Carlile

  9. Sunshine on My Shoulders by John Denver

  10.  Don’t Give Up On Me by Andy Grammar

  11. Spring Wind by Greg Brown (my favorite of all time. I still cry every time I listen)

  12. Good as Hell by Lizzo (clean version)

  13. Oh My My My (What A Life) by MILCK

  14. Suit and Jacket by Judah & The Lion

  15. My Shot from the musical Hamilton

  16. Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys

  17. Boy by John Mark Nelson (“Don’t fear your life, boy. Grow and change.”)

  18. Some Magic by LONIS

  19. This Is Love by Walk Off the Earth

  20. Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

  21. Smoke and Mirrors by Imagine Dragons

  22. Brave by Sara Bareilles

  23. Buddy by Willie Nelson

  24. Happy by Pharell

  25. Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars (feat. Mark Ronson)

  26. Can’t Stop This Feeling by Justin Timberlake

  27. Wildflowers by Dolly Parton, Linda Rondstat, Emmy Lou Harris

  28. All Kinds of Kinds by Miranda Lambert

  29. Bless the Telephone by Labi Siffre

  30. Top of the World by The Carpenters

  31. Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

  32. Don’t Stop Believing by Journey

  33. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

  34. Save the World by Swedish House Mafia

  35. Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow

  36. Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac

  37. Time of Your Life by Greenday

  38. Where Is the Love? by The Black Eyed Peas

  39. This Is Me by Keala Settle, Kesha, & Missy Elliot

  40. Good Day by Nappy Roots

  41. Starlight by Jon Pardi

  42. 85 by Andy Grammar

  43. Born This Way by Lady Gaga

  44. Good Example by R3HAB & Andy Grammar

  45. I Would Die 4 U by Prince

  46. Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

  47. I’m Coming by Will Smith

  48. Marshmallow (- surprisingly appropriate AND has a very strong message of loving one’s unique self. particularly in his music videos)

  49. Reliant K – 90s alternative Christian rock… not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s appropriate and was what I was listening too when I was this age.

  50. Superchick – not overtly religious (but still Christian based). Generally awesome but very empowering to particularly teen girls (hence the name)

 

Movies:

  1. Inside Out - a Pixar movie that also teaches emotional intelligence. Yes please!

  2. Onward

  3. Coco

  4. Wreck-It-Ralph

  5. Little Rascals

  6. Hamilton the Musical 

  7. Magic Camp

  8. Field of Dreams, 

  9. School of Rock

  10. Matilda

  11. The Addams Family

  12. Abominable

  13. Remember the Titans

  14. Hidden Figures

  15. Princess Bride

  16. Rocket Man

  17. Frozen 2

  18. Because of Winn Dixie

  19. Moana

  20. Disney Nature documentaries

  21. The Princess Diaries

  22. Brave

  23. The LEGO movie – the second one and the batman one are good too but the original just gets you super pumped up! Also the title song is called “everything is awesome.” It will inject your day with positivity and it will get stuck in your head.

  24. How to train your dragon – even as an adult makes me cry every time.

  25. Treasure Planet – a throwback for sure, but an epic and family friendly story that doesn’t nearly get enough praise.]

  26. Inside out – a Pixar movie that also teaches emotional intelligence. Yes please!

 

 

Positive Christmas Movies:

  1. Home Alone

  2. The Polar Express

  3. Klaus

  4. Elf

  5. The Grinch

  6. Noelle (Disney Plus)

 

TV Shows:

  1. Avatar the Last Airbender - cartoon with mind-blowingly well-crafted lessons about the impacts of prejudice, grudges, and violence.

  2. The Good Place

  3. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

  4. Parks and Recreation

  5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

  6. The Great British Bake-Off (on Netflix)

  7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

  8. Gravity Falls – a good fun animated show with very fun characters and wholesome lessons for every age.

 

Podcasts:

  1. The Happiness Lab with Laurie Santos

  2. This American Life - Middle School

 

Youtube videos:


 

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sUKoKQlEC4


 

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuPLxQD4akQ


 

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLsevsePhdA


 

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBRqu0YOH14

 

Books:

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Anne of Green Gables

Wish

Wishtree

Crenshaw

Chi’s Sweet Adventure

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

Because the Taliban rulers of Kabul, Afghanistan, impose strict limitations on women’s freedom and behavior, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy so that her family can survive her father’s arrest. 

 

Quote: “This is the first book in a series that tells the story of a young Afghan girl, Parvana, and the tragedies she and her family endure in a time of war. Absolutely Amazing!” 


 

The Best Man by Richard Peck

Archer has four important role models in his life: his dad, his grandfather, his uncle Paul, and his favorite teacher, Mer. McLeod. When Uncle Paul and Mr. McLeod get married, Archer’s sixth-grade year becomes one he’ll never forget. 

 

Quote: “Three best things: tons of Chicago references since it’s set in a suburb; numerous strong male characters; Archer is a hilarious narrator. You’ll love it!”


 

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

After being forced to give up his pet fox, Pax, a young boy named Peter decides to leave home and get his best friend back. 

 

Quote: “A story of friendship told from the alternating viewpoints of a boy and his pet fox. Oh my. This story broke my heart and then healed it too. A beautiful, beautiful story.” 


 

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart

11-year-old Reuben discovers an ornate box containing a beautiful antique watch. As he seeks to learn the origin and importance of the watch, Reuben discovers its power and the evil it can perpetuate. 

 

Quote: “Wonderful! The more I read the more I could not put this book down. As a librarian, I am always looking for books just like this one.” 

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Twelve-year-old Annabelle must learn to stand up for what’s right in the face of a manipulative and violent new bully who targets people Annabelle cares about, including a homeless World War I veteran. 

 

Quote: “A poignant story of conflict, compassion, and personal accountability set in the post-world wars era. Wolf Hollow is the kind of book where, with about 20 pages left to read, you start hoping there’s a sequel because you don’t want it to end.” 


 

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo

Hoping that if she wins a local beauty pageant her father will come home, Raymie practices twirling a baton and performing good deeds while outmaneuvering a drama queen and a saboteur who become her unlikely friends and allies during a painful challenge. 

 

Quote: “Three vastly different girls find friendship and support as they maneuver through the difficulties of adolescence. DiCamillo’s characters are, as always, unforgettable.” 


 

Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper

A fantastical tale about a girl who has a strange malady – a rare disorder that makes the words other people say about her appear on her body.

 

Quote: “This story is poignant and fun and funny, and best of all, it’s about kindness.” 


 

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle-school track team, but his past is slowing him down. Castle Crenshaw (Ghost) is a wicked fast runner. But he’s not only running for sport, he’s running away from his past and the anger he’s got buried inside. 

Quote: “It makes you care about a kid who keeps messing up over and over and over again.” 


 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there. Her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island’s hostile inhabitants. 

Quote: “It’s a powerful, but gently told, message about adoptive friends and family.” 


 

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

Twelve-year-old Lily befriends Salma, a Hispanic girl whose family is in Maine for blueberry picking season, but as a local pageant approaches, the girls are confronted with the hard truth of prejudice and migrant life.  

 

Quote: “A Handful of Stars is a heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship and a summer to remember.” 


 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

A witch, a swamp monster, and a perfectly tiny dragon raise a young girl named Luna, who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her to save the people of the Protectorate. 

 

Quote: “Wow! What a beautiful book and beautiful story. I read this out loud to my kids and they became engrossed in it as I did.” 


 

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Ally’s greatest fear is that everyone will find out she is dyslexic and doesn’t know how to read. Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the troublemaker, and with his help, Ally learns she has nothing to be ashamed of. 

 

Quote: “Everyone is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid. Ally and her experiences will resonate with many children & teachers. A beautiful and hopeful story.”


 

Wish by Barbara O’Connor

Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same silent wish since fourth grade. With the help of a true-blue friend, a big-hearted aunt and uncle, and the dog of her dreams, it just might come true. 

 

Quote: “How many times can you wish for something before it comes true? A great story of the true meaning of family, friendship, and love. I adore living and learning alongside Charlie as she battled through a difficult time in her life.” 


 

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

Ellie has just started middle school and is feeling overwhelmed and lost. Then along comes her 70 year-old grandpa, who had developed a serum to reverse the aging process, and used it on himself, appearing in a thirteen-year-old body. 

 

Quote: “I drank this book up, goldfish and all. I loved it! Funny, quirky and beautiful.” 

Half a World Away by Cynthia Kadohata

Twelve-year-old Jaden, an emotionally damaged adopted boy fascinated by electricity, feels a connection to a small, weak toddler with special needs in Kazakhstan, where Jaden’s family is trying to adopt a “normal” baby. 

 

Quote: “Teaches that family is not always about what you’re born into. Takes a difficult look at adopting older children from overseas…the obstacles and the relentless love these moms have for their children. Makes even the toughest kid tear up. Great lessons that are oh-so-subtle.” 

Harris & Me (Gary Paulson)

Tuck Everlasting (Natalie Babbit)

A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle)

Calvin and Hobbs

Harry Potter – KID WIZARDS!... enough said.

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Awesome Mindfulness Resources from Mrs. Hall!

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https://padlet.com/hallam2/yp5zmj0j5i166j42

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