“Love and kindness”. This may seem like a simple
or overused expression in today's world, but leading with these two words
through each interaction can have an astounding impact. Whether I’m working
with children or their families, my superintendent, community members, grocery
store checkers, members in the yoga classes I lead, or countless others
crossing my daily path, I strive to offer love and kindness to each of them. I
have found that it makes the world a more empathetic, compassionate and kind
place when I am able to truly see the best in people in every situation. Always
presume positive intent and make the most out of each exchange that you have
with people. One of the most powerful quotes I live my life by is from the late
Mother Theresa, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” I
cannot guarantee that every exchange will be positive, but using Mother
Theresa’s quote as a guiding principle, reminds me to be a helper, be grateful
for this day, and after having an unpleasant interaction with someone, to
reflect and use that experience as a teachable moment.
I am grateful for Dr. Jean. Grateful that she
asked me to share some of my favorite kindness strategies with you and that she
has been such a remarkable educator who has brought joy to so many children,
families, and educators across the world over her amazing career. In 2014, we
partnered together to produce the resource Teacher Survival
Guide - What They Didn’t Teach You in College. It’s been
rewarding to hear from educators, like you, who have found value in this
ebook!
Below are some ways that I incorporate kindness
activities in my school and the strategies that I use in the classroom.
Gratitude
Circle
At the beginning of each staff meeting, we begin
with a gratitude circle. Expressing gratitude for our children, families,
colleagues, etc. is a great way to set the tone for a positive and energizing
meeting. To start, have everyone in the room form a circle so that everyone can
see and hear each other. This helps build relationships and trust among
colleagues. Ask for a volunteer to kick-off the gratitude circle. This is an
open forum where
anyone in the circle can appreciate anyone else in the group (or send other
positive energy into the universe).
We have
seen that offering gratitude is a powerful and transformative tool. Often we
don't realize that we forget to share our gratitude with those we feel it
towards. This method offers an opportunity to do exactly that!
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing
it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
-
William Arthur Ward
How
Does My Teacher Feel About Me?
Looking for an attention grabber that also
promotes social-emotional learning? Try
this one from Teacher Survival
Guide - What They Didn’t Teach You in College. Hint! Check out this free
video of Dr. Jean demonstrating this strategy (Did you know that
there are nearly 100 videos of Dr. Jean sharing strategies, tips, and tricks in
the ebook?).
Teacher says:
“How does my teacher feel about me?”
Children respond:
“I’m as special as special can be
because my
teacher believes in me!”
Kindness
Pledge
As kindness is such a focus in my life, I always
enjoy sharing the following pledge at the beginning of each year with so much
enthusiasm and joy. We teach the children how to sign the pledge’s keywords in
American Sign Language. If you’re unsure how to sign the words, there are several
online dictionaries, like Handspeak.com or Lifeprint.com,
that you can use to learn the words.
The Kindness Pledge
I pledge
to myself,
On this
very day,
To try to
be kind,
In every
way.
To every
person,
Big or
small,
I will
help them,
If they fall.
If they fall.
When I
love myself,
And
others, too,
That is
the best,
That I can
do!
A-W-E-S-O-M-E
Use
this cheer during transition times or when a child or the whole class deserves
a CHEER! Cheers are great because all of
the children can receive them – not just the smartest or the fastest kids.
Cheers are also excellent attention grabbers that can be used in a positive
way. Click here to watch Dr. Jean demonstrate the
cheer!
Clap
and sway as you cheer for your children.
“You’re
A-W-E (slight pause) S-O-M-E”
Pretend
to dust your shoulder with your fingernails like you’re polishing them one hand
at a time a say, “You’re Awesome, Awesome”
Now
open arms outward one at a time and say, “Totally!”
Catch A
Star
This cheer works well as a cheer for the end of
the day before children go home. Click
here for the example.
Tell
children to think of something kind they did, something new they learned, or
something that made them feel proud.
The
teacher says:
“Reach up (stretch hand up in the air),
grab a star (pretend to grab a star),
and put it in your heart (put your hand near your heart).”
Fantastic
Here’s
one of my all-time, favorite cheers! Click
here for the example!
Tell
the children: “Get out your spray
bottle.”
Hold
up one hand and pretend to spray.
Say,
“You’re psh, psh, psh. . . ” (spray
once for every ‘psh’).
Hold
up other hand and pretend to wipe in circles over the liquid you just sprayed
as you say, “Fan-tastic!”
Predictable
Class Books
At this point in the school year, many of the
older children in my school enjoy making their own books at the writing center
as they’ve been making books together as a class or with partners since
August. During the month of February (or
anytime!), encourage your children to make books using blank paper. They can
write a word or sentence on each page that is related to one of the topics
below. Encourage the children to illustrate their book so that it matches the
text that they wrote.
Here are some examples of predictable class books
that our kids love:
●
Love is…
●
I love…
●
Happiness is…
●
A friend is…
●
My favorite things to love…
●
Things I love from A to Z.
Random
Acts of Kindness Week 2020
Also known as RAK Week, it is observed during one
week in February. This year, it begins February 16, which coincides with RAK
Day (February 17th). Visit the Random
Acts of Kindness Foundation’s website for free lesson plans,
resources, and research for educators.
Also, be sure to participate in the Random
Acts of Kindness Teacher Challenge that we created! Print the image, below,
and post it in your classroom, staff lounge or the main office to encourage the
adults at your school to share random acts of kindness in your school community!
Be a
Beauty Hunter
I recently read an article in the June edition of
Yoga Journal called, “5 Ways to
Radically Love Yourself Today.” I was truly inspired by the first strategy that
the author listed, which is Be a Beauty Hunter. Below is an excerpt from the
article that I really enjoyed, and hope you do as well:
Beauty hunting means looking around and counting as many gorgeous,
amazing miracles you can possibly take in in that moment. The sound of rain on
the roof. Clouds parting in the sky. Puppies. Baby feet. The smell of barbecues
and fresh-cut grass and a hoppy IPA. It’s actually kind of impossible to be
miserable and ungrateful when you’re collecting lovely things. The crooked
smile of the concierge even after you’ve missed your flight (I did on the way
to this retreat). The fact that humans even know how to fly at all. Beauty
hunting. You’ll be surprised. The more beauty you seek and appreciate about a
person or place or experience—quieting the inner monologue about what’s
annoying you (a screaming baby, impossibly small airplane seats, no room in the
overhead bin)—the more you’ll actually like yourself, too. Love and compassion
are just muscles. Use them on others when it’s too hard to use them on
yourself, and pretty soon it’ll be difficult to remember why you were so
self-critical in the first place.
Since reading the article, I have been determined
to be a Beauty Hunter and I encourage you to be one, too! Try finding beauty in
everyday moments and interactions, whether they are at school, at the store or
at home. Let’s try to consciously seek out the kind and beautiful gifts that
are in the world. It has the power to change our DNA and make the world a
better place. Who doesn’t want THAT!?
Research has shown that practicing acts of love
and kindness can improve people’s mental and physical health as well as improve
their patterns of sleep and increated self-esteem and empathy. What an
incredible gift to give to your children, families, school community and the
world. I hope that these strategies inspire you to create opportunities to
share gratitude, compassion, and kindness each and every day. It has the power
to change the world!
I’ll leave you with one final quote: “Carry out a
random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge
that one day someone might do the same for you.” Princess Diana
In community,
Drew Giles, MA, RYT