I once heard that teachers make roughly 1,500 decisions each school day, and you bet I believe that! Think about the opportunities we have to create a kind environment. Do I reprimand this student for not having a pencil, or should I just let him borrow one for the day? Should I make a big deal about that situation or handle it calmly and discretely? It is never easy letting something go or owning up to making a mistake, but by doing these small things with grace and kindness, we're showing our students how differences can be made. Some of my favorite moments with my kids are when something bonkers happens and I giggle instead of getting upset. My kids then start to laugh and it seems like we have this bonding moment where they learn that not everything has to be so serious and stressful. There are times we have to be kind to parents, coworkers, administrators, student teachers, etc. even when it is hard. We make a conscious choice with our actions, and most of the time, our students are watching us. They are learning from our attitudes, our demeanor, and our lessons. In everything we do, we must remind them that kindness comes first, and then use that advice ourselves.
One of the reasons I love this idea of kindness in the classroom so much is because of the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I'd heard about this book from a friend in my cohort, but I had no idea the impact it would have on my classroom and my teaching style. This is the story of a boy with a rare craniofacial deformity who decides to go to public school for the first time as a fifth-grader. Throughout his first year, he encounters bullies, frustrations, and tough situations. But he also finds out that there are people looking out for him, that not everyone is judgmental and rude, and that new friends can become best friends. I won't give away the ending, but among many things, this book helps students see why they should be the classmate that helps pick up the fallen papers instead of the one pointing and laughing. I know I saw a difference in my class as we grew in this book together. For teachers beginning their Wonder journey, I'd advise you to have students keep a "Wonder Journal" at their desks. Have them pull it out after you read a few chapters and reflect. You will be astonished at the wisdom of your little geniuses.
When we finished reading Wonder, I had my students create their own "Auggie face" and write a few sentences on what they'd learned about kindness. They were allowed to use the iPads to look up quotes on kindness, find inspiration from pictures, and spell-check their paragraphs. When I put all of the faces up on my door, I had the happiest heart after realizing that my kids understand that we are able to have an impact on others based on our actions. I also noticed how truly different and unique each individual in my class is. I'm so proud of them.
As I was reading my students' reflections, I kept thinking about the book of Colossians. One of the purposes of this book is to show believers how lucky we are to have everything we need in Christ. We are so blessed by His love but we must work daily to remain focused, Christ-centered, and thankful. We also have to work to embody Christ and the kind of human being He was. This is when kindness comes becomes so important. I know it's cheesy, but I frequently catch myself thinking, "Okay Meg, breathe and think about what He would do." He has given us so much that we should share His love and shout it from the rooftops, or from every corner of the classroom. Colossians 3:12 says, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." We are the CHOSEN people. Not just randomly, but hand-picked, made for purpose, and made by Him. He loves us entirely, just the way we should love others. Our actions play such a crucial role in sharing Christ's love. As a teacher, I know patience can be a tough one to clothe yourself in, but think of how patient He is with us. Think of how kind He's been. Isn't it just WONDERful?
Now story time! About a month ago, I decided to post a project on donorschoose.org, which is a website for teachers to create and fund projects through the help of companies like Amazon and AKJ Books. I wanted to have a copy of 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts to give to each of my students at the end of the year. Sure enough, through a combination of prayer, word of mouth, and social media, my project was fully funded in less than 8 hours. How incredible is that? I'm continuously astounded by the kindness that I experience each day. Someone was really using the strategies in Colossians 3:12!
Through Faith in Him and the Fifth,
Meg