Teaching kids about accountability can be tricky—but it’s so important.
I just finished sharing “I’m Sorry You Got Mad” by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Julie Kwon, with my Grade 3 class, and their responses were so thoughtful and insightful. We had meaningful conversations about what it really means to say, “I’m sorry.”
Research shows that forcing kids to apologise before they understand why they should can actually backfire.
Kids, even at a young age, can tell when an apology is insincere, and it might even harm their relationships with others. Instead, helping children understand the impact of their actions and encouraging them to make amends in meaningful ways fosters genuine empathy and accountability.
This book brought those lessons to life in such an engaging way. The story follows Jack, a frustrated and angry kid, and his patient teacher, Ms. Rice. Jack’s journey from scribbling the word “SORRY” in all caps to crafting a real, heartfelt apology really resonated with my students. We talked about how important it is to understand our emotions—anger, hurt, and embarrassment—before we can truly make things right.
One thing I loved (and so did my students!) is how Ms. Rice guided Jack to unpack his feelings and recognize how his actions affected others. It was a great reminder that behind every “mean” moment, there’s often a deeper story waiting to be understood.
The illustrations added humour and heart, making it an enjoyable and impactful read. This book sparked so many teachable moments in my classroom, and I know it will for others too.
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