Caring for Others
The rain boots were messy. They lay on a sandy mat in the corner of the classroom. Three students decided that this was not appropriate. They took ‘action’.
Agency: When students have an active voice and stake in the classroom/community.
They first moved the boots, dusted and swept the area and then mopped the floor.
They created name tags and placed them on the floor.
They arranged the rain boots neatly on top of the taped tags.
They decided that mopping was fun. Over the course of the day they mopped the whole classroom. They explained that they wanted to mop the floor because they wanted to be helpful. The mopping gradually moved into the hallway and ended in a second grade classroom.
More students joined in.
Their actions led to a discussion during circle time.
Carolyn “We are walking in the hallway and cleaning the classes.”
Teacher “Why?”
Gabby “Because we want to be caring to our other classmates at NIS.”
Vera “Because the Ayi’s don’t have to clean all the classrooms.”
Gabby “The classrooms are dirty.”
Carolyn “Their shoes are muddy.”
Teacher “So what else can we do to show others that we care about them?”
All the students started to make a list of things that they could do to show how they care.
- Laugh with people
- Build with stones together
- Say good stuff and NO sad words. NO angry words
- Say “STOP” if people do it the second time
- Play games together
- Pat them and say “Excuse me” when people are talking to someone else
- Don’t roll your eyes
- Be caring
- Hugging, cuddling
- Say “Sorry”
- Share
- Be kind
- Help others do things
- Help the teachers do jobs
- Listen
- Wait for your turn
SLO’s
- build independence and personal responsibility and a sense of self-worth
- Identify positive thoughts and attitudes in themselves
- communicate with others in order to experience relationships and make friends
- reach out for help when it is needed for themselves or others
- identify when their actions have impacted on others
- interact, play and engage with others
- take turns
- listen respectfully to others
- share their own ideas and feelings in an appropriate manner
- celebrate the accomplishments of others
