By: Shari Carter
Editor’s Note: This article is based on the book “How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids,” which is available to purchase by clicking here or at the links below.
The best way to promote kindness and caring behaviors in our classrooms is to model them. When we show our students what it LOOKS like and SOUNDS like to be kind, there is a far greater chance they will repeat those modeled behaviors. It is so important to remember that children watch their teachers all the time and listen to everything they say (especially when it’s not in a lecture). Essential caring behaviors and kindness are more often “caught” than they are “taught” in the classroom.
Listen With Your Heart!
We teach our kids that listening is part of being “ready to learn,” but it is important to go one step further with regard to this vital life skill. Don’t be afraid to discuss with your children the importance of listening. In my classroom, I teach my students how to “listen with their hearts” from day one. When you teach children to care enough to listen, truly listen for the meaning of what is being said, you are teaching them how to be kind and empathetic.