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| CARING |
| Too often we underestimate the power
of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest
compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have
the potential to turn a life around. Leo Buscaglia |
| RELATED
LINKS: |
| The Do-Gooder's Guide pdf
/ Volunteer Matters |
| Pay
It Forward |
| When I think of
the caring pillar, I can't help but remember the movie starring
Haley Joel Osment entitled Pay It Forward. That precious
child from a single-parent home just wanted to make a small difference
in his world, so he mapped out a way through a social studies
project to do just that. I strongly recommend that everyone see
this movie. Anyway, the premise of the Pay It Forward
movement is that people perform planned acts of kindness without
expecting anything in return but the hope that the recipient
of the act will turn around and do the same for someone else,
and so on and so on. Notice I didn't say random acts of kindness.
There's nothing random about this movement. In fact, you can
visit the website
and see how this concept has exploded since that film hit the
big screen several years ago. |
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| So my Pay It Forward challenge
to you during the month of December and beyond is to sit down
with your family and plan some acts of kindness. Do you have
a neighbor whose leaves need to be raked? Can you bake holiday
goodies and distribute them to retirement-home employees or residents?
Why not take the family up and down the street to spread some
cheer by singing holiday songs or Christmas Carols? Maybe you
can go shopping for an angel-tree child or a neighbor that you
see might have a need? Even sending holiday greetings in the
form of a card or an e-mail to soldiers abroad or community servants
close by is a worthwhile act of kindness. Figure out a way to
Pay It Forward and sit back and watch the gift that keeps
on giving. |
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| Kind
Words |
| I've had the pleasure
of hearing teacher and author Hal Urban speak on several occasions,
most recently at the Character Education Partnership's National
Forum, and I'm inspired every time by the simplicity with which
he shares timeless truths about the power of kind words. |
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In his book Positive Words, Powerful Results,
this well-known leader of the character education movement motivates
with simple wisdom and practical advice about honoring, affirming
and celebrating life.
Did you know that kind words have the power
to lift our spirits, boost our confidence, inspire us to give
our best, cause us to giggle and laugh, brighten our days, and
teach us valuable lessons? And that's only part of the list from
Dr. Urban's masterpiece. His advice to me as he signed my copy
of this book was, "always have something good to say,"
which follows the Mother Teresa maxim which rings true: "Kind
words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly
endless." If you're looking for an uplifting, encouraging
quick-read full of insightfully-easy principles to live by, I
enthusiastically recommend that you check out this book.
For more information about this award-winning
educator and his common-sense approach to everyday life, visit
him online at www.halurban.com.
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| One
Grain of Rice |
| One grain of rice
by itself seems quite insignificant. However, grain by grain,
rice can add up. Just read Demi's book by that same name. Now,
how much rice would it take to stop or even slow down world hunger? |
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| Some is better than
none, that's for sure. Enter the Free Rice website where participants
can answer questions online to earn rice for the United Nations.
Every correct answer is worth 20 grains of rice. If you want to
learn some vocabulary words and donate to a good cause, click
here and give it a try. |
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| Kindness
is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler |
| I sat down to peruse
new children's literature when this brightly-colored book caught
my eye at Barnes and Noble last August. With proper processing,
this book about planned acts of kindness can act as a springboard
to brainstorming even more ways that kids can put caring into
action and spread kindness everywhere. |
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The one flaw I found is that the assignment
to come up with the good deeds came as a result of classroom misbehavior.
Two things about this strike caution in me - without proper processing,
this book risks sending the message that assigning community service
is an effective disciplinary action. I've always thought that
it was much better to teach students to perform good deeds proactively
rather than assign them as a consequence for inappropriate behavior.
Additionally, removal of recess isn't always an appropriate consequence
for students, especially those who need that movement time as
a physical release or outlet.
Still, there is a great deal of merit in the
author's premise that we ought to get kids excited about planning
and carrying out acts of kindness.
The following is a synopsis of this newcomer
to the market:
When Mrs. Ruler sits five of her kindergarten
students out of recess, she's got a special plan up her sleeve.
She's about to teach a new golden rule: KINDNESS IS COOL!
Soon the entire class is doing so many good
deeds that their kindness bulletin board barely fits in their
classroom! From clearing the table after dinner to helping the
elderly, one kindergarten class is proving that kids really can
make a difference.
Acclaimed picture-book author Margery Cuyler
sets out to inspire children to save the world, one good deed
at a time! Count along with Mrs. Ruler's class. Can all of their
ideas really add up to 100 acts of kindness? Why not check out
this book and see.
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| Kind
Acts |
| The Kind Acts Foundation
honors students for their random or planned acts of kindness.
Have you caught someone showing kindness, caring, or compassion
lately? Educators, parents, even students can nominate students
who are going above and beyond to put caring into action at http://www.KindActs.org/. |
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| Every nominee receives a nice
certificate and lapel pin for their efforts. The Kind Acts Foundation's
weekly electronic newsletter shares three examples of kindness
in action from around the nation which all have one common thread
- they're sincerely heartwarming. Why not make it a point to be
on the lookout for Kind Acts this month? |
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| Caring
Coupons |
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Kids don't need money to give birthday, holiday,
or everyday gifts. Challenge your children think of things they
could give that don't cost a dime. Get some construction paper,
some crayons or markers, and some plain white pieces of paper
and help them make a little book with a coupon for each of the
items on their list.
For example: This coupon is good for one half-hour
backrub or This coupon is good for one car wash. Unlimited hugs,
one extra chore, breakfast in bed, a lullaby at tuck-in time,
a tune on the piano, help in the kitchen. Caring is thinking with
our hearts; what other things could your children put on their
caring coupons?
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| Rooted
in Forgiveness |
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I came across this story years ago and remembered
it again this week as I pulled a rotten potato from the 5# sack
in my pantry. Why not try this activity with your colleagues,
students, or family members? It's a great metaphor for the forgiveness
"peace" of our caring pillar.
One of my teachers had each one of us bring
a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person
we'd refuse to forgive in our life we were told to choose a potato,
write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag.
Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.
We were then told to carry this bag with
us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night,
on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.
The hassle of lugging this around with
us made it clear what a weight we were carrying when we don't
forgive, and how we had to pay constant attention to it to not
forget it or leave it behind.
Naturally, the condition of the potatoes
deteriorated to a nasty slime. This was a great metaphor for
the price we pay for keeping our pain and
heavy negativity!
Too often we think of forgiveness as a
gift to the other person, and while that's true, it clearly is
also a gift for ourselves!
So the next time you decide you can't forgive
someone, ask yourself, "Isn't MY bag heavy enough?"
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| A
Note of Thanks |
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Writing a thank-you note to express your appreciation
is a caring gesture. You can fill even short thank you notes with
appreciation, sincerity and meaning. A handwritten note of thanks
should be sent via mail (not electronic mail) for gifts received
or in appreciation of a favor. Although thank-you notes should
be sent promptly, "better late than never" does apply
as the recipient will always enjoy your note of thanks.
Here are six simple steps for teaching kids
how to write a thank-you note.
Step One: Begin with a fresh sheet of note paper and a
smooth pen. Thank-you notes are traditionally written in cursive,
and are headed by the date and a salutation followed by a comma:
Dear Grandma,
Step Two: Thank the recipient for the gift, favor or entertainment
given. "Thank you for the cool train puzzle that you gave
me for my birthday."
Step Three: Write about the appropriateness of the gift
or favor: "I love the challenge of 200-piece puzzles."
Step Four: Write about how you plan to use the gift: "My
dad helps me put puzzles together on the kitchen table."
If you received a gift of money, mention how you will spend it.
Step Five: Add a line to update the giver about your life
and/or to give a compliment: "I have been very busy with
soccer lately," or "I'm glad you're my Grandma (or friend,
neighbor, teacher, etc.)."
Step Six: Sign your thank-you note: "Thanks again,
Jacob."
Carrying a blank thank-you card with you will
ascertain that you always have one handy for that quick note of
thanks or to affirm someone who did something to make your day
extra special. Thank-you notes do not have to be reserved for
recent acts of kindness. Imagine if you sent your favorite teacher
a note of thanks along with an update. Modeling the writing of
thank-you notes is a great way to teach your children to follow
suit.
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| Caring
Students .... |
- are kind and compassionate and show they care.
- express gratitude.
- forgive others.
- help people in need
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| An
Attitude of Gratitude |
| Psychologist Robert
A. Emmons says that people who choose an attitude of gratitude
give themselves a life-long gift of health and happiness. His
new book, simply entitled thanks!, offers specific
techniques for implementing a lifestyle of gratitude. |
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Emmons maintains that you cannot be grateful
and ungrateful at the same time, so when you choose gratitude,
you gain control over your emotional destiny by replacing negative
thoughts with positive ones.
What are you grateful for? The gratitude journal
is a great place to start. Emmons' research found that people
who keep a gratitude journal slept 1/2 hour more per evening,
woke up more refreshed, and were actually more likely to exercise
by 33% over those who are not keeping these journals. List the
people, places, and things that make a positive impact in your
daily life. Reflect upon those blessings and then decide how you
can best use them to pave your life's journey with happy thoughts
and a grateful heart. If you want more ideas on fostering an attitude
of gratitude, then check out this book.
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Character Counts at Westwood! One pillar at a time, we are laying the foundation
for a lifetime of good character choices. It is our goal to build
'value-able' citizens who will eventually become tomorrow's leaders.
The Six Pillars of Character are integrated into everything we
do.
We hope that the following list will help
you acquaint yourself with the Pillars and what they encompass
so that you can help us by reinforcing them at home.
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Westwood Pledge
I will make good choices today.
I will respect myself, my teachers, and
others.
And give my best effort in all I do.
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| Trustworthiness February / August |
| Trustworthy students.
. . . . |
- are honest; don't deceive, cheat, or steal.
- are reliable and do what they say they'll
do.
- have the courage to do the right thing.
- have a good reputation.
- are loyal - stand by their family, friends
and country.
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| Respect September / March |
| Respectful students.
. . . . |
- treat others with respect, follow the Golden
Rule.
- are tolerant of differences.
- use good manners, not bad language.
- are considerate of the feelings of others.
- don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone.
- deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements.
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| Responsibility October / April |
| Responsible students.
. . . . |
- do what they're supposed to do.
- persevere and keep on trying!
- always do their best.
- use self-control and are self-disciplined.
- think before they act and consider the consequences.
- are accountable for their choices.
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| Fairness January / July |
| Fair students.
. . . . |
- play by the rules, take turns and share.
- are open minded and listen to others.
- don't take advantage of others.
- don't blame others carelessly.
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| Caring December /J une |
| Caring students.
. . . . |
- are kind and compassionate and show they
care.
- express gratitude.
- forgive others.
- help people in need.
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| Citizenship November / May |
| Good Citizens.
. . . . |
- do their share to make their school and community
better.
- cooperate.
- stay informed and vote.
- are good neighbors.
- obey laws and rules and respect authority.
- protect the environment.
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