Let Kindness Take Root

Section of a new painting:  Kindness Takes Root
12 x 24, acrylic on canvas, $165

Today, in honor of Dr. King I am inviting you to give kindness roots in your classroom.  This invitation is a tricky one, because by this time in the year you know all of the foibles of your students and your tolerance for shenanigans is very low.

As is the case with most valuable teaching, it all begins with the teacher--that's you!  Tomorrow choose one area to bring kindness into the sacred space of learning that is your classroom.  Greet students at the door with a smile and handshake.  Empower your most challenge student to lead--this might just be passing out papers.  Elevate a shy student by pointing out their work ethic or problem solving.  Find something to compliment in the child who is most difficult to like.

Here is the secret:  At first this may all be suspect.  But you are allowing kindness to take root.  It begins in your heart and over time it spreads and lives are impacted--especially your own!

Teaching Children To Choose Kindness

 When I think of all the things children really need to learn to make it in this world, choosing kindness is at the top of my list.  I believe in it so much that I'm doing a mini series about it over on the website Brave Teachers.

The first step is letting children see us responding rather than reacting to them.  Read more about it here.

The second step is pointing out examples in ordinary daily life where we witness people choosing kindness. You can read more about it here.

I hope you will join us for more of the journey in teaching children to choose kindness!

What are you working on or thinking about today?

I Choose Kindness

My students are on a Kindness Campaign this year.  They are practicing kindness.  {I wish more grown ups would do this!}

A little over a week ago my students made Kindness Wands.  This was a Friday afternoon Investigation where we expand or extend our learning or thinking.  This was a little twist on the great ideas of Patience Salgado's Magic Wand Project over at KindnessGirl.

Students made Kindness Wands with ribbon, popcicle stick, foam stars, and a label that says, "I choose kindness."  They made one for themselves, and then they made more for friends, siblings, and other kids.  Our goal is to eventually have one for every kid and adult in our school.



It's such a great little visual reminder to choose kindness in what we say and how we choose to treat other people.

My students are so empowered by the Kindness Campaign.

What are you doing that empowers your students?

Pass It On

So it's Teacher Appreciation Week, and I suspect there are many teachers who are feeling anything but appreciated.  That is even tougher in a week when there is supposed to be some appreciation.

So what can we do?  Let's start with expressing some gratitude and appreciation to ourselves--our minds, our bodies, our spirits.  Try some self care!  Be gentle with yourself.

So what do we do next?

WE PASS IT ON--pass on the kindness, the gratitude, the positive attitude.  Pass it on to your coworkers.  It doesn't have to be fancy.  It can be a kind smile or a genuine compliment.  Pass it on to other teachers who have had an impact in your life--past teachers, mentor teachers, your child's teachers, and anyone else who comes to mind.

I was on the receiving end of one act of teacher appreciation this week that was so simple but so powerful.  When I think about it, I want to express gratitude with the same level of authenticity.  It was a simple telephone call.  It also made me realize that we don't need to have loads of people expressing appreciation, one is enough.

So with whom can you and I pass on appreciation and kindness?

P. S.  I'm going to pass on appreciation here tomorrow.  Stop back for a little dose of appreciation for teachers!

Stirring A Revolution of Kindness

I fully believe that kindness is a secret weapon--a super power of sorts.

I am stirring a revolution of kindness within my professional universe.

Are you with me?

Unite!

Here's the thing.  At this time in the school year, it is so easy to be everything else besides kind.  It's as if familiarity has bred contempt.  It feels ugly and unsavory to me.

I'm the kind of person who REALLY want to change things for the good, but the job always seems so huge.  Here's the beautiful thing about a kindness revolution--it does not require lesson planning or any real planning.  It does not have to cost even a buck.  It can be totally free.  It does not require special talents.  It does not take extra time.  It really just requires showing up.  Showing up with the intention of being kind.  Of course there could be lots of resources involved, but it's not necessary.

Here is my intention--I want to show up the rest of the days of the school year to stir a revolution of kindness among my coworkers and students.  I intend to assign good intent to what people say and do.  I will not wallow in gossip or negative talk.  I will simply show up with kindness for others and myself.

This is revolutionary!

Will you join me?