In honor of Dr.
King, just take a minute to thank him and the other civil rights pioneers for
bringing down the racial barriers and reminding us that the world needs to hold
hands, stick together, and be friends just like in kindergarten!
Thinking about
peace and love reminded me of a morning mantra a teacher in Ohio shared with me
years ago. What a great way to
start each day this coming week!
Morning Mantra
Teacher: Boys
and girls, what is my job today?
Children: Your
job is to teach us and to love us.
Teacher: Boys
and girls, what is your job today.
Children: Our
job is to learn and to love each other.
*If a child is
behaving inappropriately you can ask them, “What is your job today? Show me the right thing to do!”
Here’s another tip
that might encourage a little peace in your classroom.
Friendship
Tools (Liz Watras)
Teach
children sign language for these words so they can use them to work through
conflicts.
Ask
(Palms together bring to your chest as if praying.)
Help
(Make a fist with one hand and place it on the open palm of the other
hand. Bring both up in the air at
the same time.)
Stop
(One palm open. Pretend to
chop it with the other palm.)
Trade (Hold one hand in front of the other. Switch places and then
switch places again.)
Wait (Hold hands up and off to the side and wiggle the fingers.)
Yes (Make an “s” with your fist and raise and lower it like your
head.)
No
(Middle and index finger straight and close toward the thumb.)
Share
(Open palm and tap thumb on open palm of the other hand.)
Include
(Pretend to grab something in the air and put it in the other hand.)
Please
(One palm open on chest and make a circular motion.)
Thank
you (Touch fingertips on
chin and extend out.)
Excuse
me (One palm up and brush fingtips of other
hand across.)
Hint! I’d suggest introducing one word each
day and reinforcing it many times at “teachable moments” during the day.
*
aslpro.com, handspeak.com, and lifeprint.com are useful sites for learning
these signs.