THE CLASSROOM NOOK

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CCP Episode : 14 // Kindness in the Classroom (9 Tips for Teaching Students to be Kind)

Rachael Parlett
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Simply stated:  Kindness needs to be a priority in your classroom.

You can't do math or literacy centers if your students don't know how to work nicely in groups.  You can't go on field trips if your students are constantly arguing on the bus on the way there.  You can't have fun parties and events in your classroom if your students don't appreciate ANYTHING you do.  It's super hard.

Here's the reality-It's very hard to teach a room of students ANYTHING until you teach them to be kind. 

If you spend your entire day playing "referee," constantly putting out fires between your students, there's no time for teaching.

Here's what you can do about it - Teach kindness first.

This is not a one-and-done lesson.  This is an every day, all day kind of lesson.  We have to incorporate kindness practice into absolutely EVERYTHING we do.  We have to put kindness reminders EVERYWHERE.  And - we have to reinforce it ALL THE TIME.

In this week's episode, I'm sharing 9 tips and ideas for teaching your students to be kind.

Highlights from the Episode:

  • The one thing that I can’t STAND (1:43)

  • Kindness should be the FIRST thing we should teach to our students (2:37)

  • 9 Tips for teaching students to be kind (5:10)

    • Kindness starts with YOU

    • Plaster kindness all over your classroom

    • Have a kindness motto

    • Watch Kid President Videos

    • Create a “Shout-Out” box

    • Teach kindness through literature

    • Explicitly teach and practice kindness

    • Create a kindness visual (like a kindness jar)

Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Kid President Videos

Picture books that promote kindness (affiliate links):

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