Try a Little Tenderness: The role of Kindness

"Who were you kind to today?" "Who or what are you grateful for today?"  I always ask my son the same two questions everyday as we debrief about our day in school and work. I know there are other questions that a parents should ask (How was school? What did you learn today? Do you have homework?)  Don't worry, I don't forget those questions either but I feel the other two set the tone for the kind of young man I want him to be in this world and for this world.

What's your definition of kindness? I think immediately compassion, empathy, love, friendliness and joy. Kindness is an essential element of a joyful learning environment. I can't imagine an equitable joyful learning environment without tenderness, empathy and kindness for others feelings. How can you teach and model kindness in your classrooms and schools? 

Kindness matters. Our children were the recipients this season of seeing an election rife with negativity, hostility and unkind words. As a parent and educator, you wish that you could shield your child from it but it permeated the schools, classrooms and our children's hearts and minds. The day after the election, it was very important for me to make sure that my son was planting seeds of kindness. How do you intentionally plant seeds of kindness throughout your day?

So, how did he answer the question? Anyone who's had the pleasure of meeting my son knows this was definitely a real answer. "Who were you kind to today?"  Answer: "You." My mouth was agape. He continued, "You were up late watching the election, so I made a point of getting on "green" today at school to make you smile." Like I said,if you know my son, getting on "green" for behavior was very special.Not only did it make my day, his answer inspired me to write this post. What role does kindness play in your home? 

Our children are returning to school this week after a weekend of hearing more opinions and facts about a world they didn't create but live in. Be intentional with the role of kindness in our learning environments and schools. Unpack kindness with them. Let them see adults being kind to each other and give them the space and place to show and be given kindness. Try a little tenderness this week and watch what blossoms.  Please tweet out how you are planting seeds of kindness this week with #kindnessmatters. Let's spread and share the good news!


Resources to Help with Kindness Lessons:

https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756105

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/teaching-kindness-the-kind-campaign-lisa-dabbs

http://www.scholastic.com/smp/pdfs/livestrong/livestrong5_wksht4.pdf

In the Name of JOY...Thank You!

     Hi PLN family, colleagues, friends and new readers. Thank You. I am so grateful you're taking time out of your busy schedule to read my heart...put on paper. Wasn't that easy? It takes so little time to give thanks and express gratitude. In fact, I believe that gratitude is a word that should a part of every one's vocabulary. In honor of #JoyAmbassadors and #VBHasJoy, I wanted to unpack #gratitude through the lens of my life. My singular goal in this post is to make sure gratitude is a word that is stuck in your mind and heart like your favorite song. 

I have a confession. I didn't know that my dreams were blanketed by daily gratitude. I always thought dreams were connected to people, experiences, even failure. I sat down the other day and realized that my dream to have equitable, joyful learning environments for every child (not some children) was weaved into be thankful for people I didn't even know yet. Who would of thought #JoyAmbassadors would be the farmers planting intentional seeds of joy for all children. Who would of thought I would not only see the phenomenal growth, but that it was spread to me. I've got love all over me. I'm filled with so much gratitude for my growing PLN that supports me, the JoyAmbassadors that inspire and anyone I haven't named but you are a part of of this joy journey.  Thank you. I'm grateful for you and you fill my with joy. Question: How can you tap into gratitude to achieve your dreams? How can unpack dreams & gratitude in your learning environment? 

Gratitude wakes me and lulls me to sleep; I don't count sheep to fall asleep, I count my blessings and I'm very intentional about giving thanks for all I have each day. Gratitude is so colorful too. It's like taking a box of colored pencils or crayons across the dullest, darkest day. Imagine #gratitude as part of your armor you have to put on daily to combat any stress that comes your way. My journey to eradicate gaps and fill them with equity, empathy, inclusion  and diversity is paved with gratitude for the ones who are with me and paved the way before me.  The instant you tap into gratitude, you're day in being colored with memories, people, places and moments that can bring you #joy. Question: What color is your #gratitude? 

#ThisisWhyIWrite. It's yet another way to express gratitude for all the things and people that grace my joy journey. I am thankful for you and hope my words, thoughts and actions inspire you to be more, love more and be more thankful for all your beautiful gifts that can be a game changer for someone today.  You are such a special gift to me and know that students are #grateful for you. Oops...I forget to tell you once more-thank you:)