how to teach

empathy in
the classroom
Tallwood Kindness Week 2017
April 24th to 28th

 WHY EMPATHY?

empathy
(mp-th)
n.
1. The ability to identify with or understand the perspective, experiences, or motivations of
another individual and to comprehend and share another individual's emotional state.

People exposed to empathy earlier in life have greater and longer-lasting emotional

benefits than those exposed to it later, or not at all.

Shuka Kalantari

Global empathy and stewardship need to be part of the education of children.

Jackie Gerstein

Its been established most of our values and views of the world are shaped in the

first five years of our lives, making the teaching of kindness primarily for parents,

but educators and other role models can help build these kinds of skills as well.

Jason Brooks

The same is true with kindness. It cannot be legislated, but it can be demonstrated.

And when demonstrated authentically and sincerely, kindness becomes contagious.

Michael Brown
 STEP ONE

Create a Culture of Kindness

Greet students individually

A little goes a long way. Simply making the effort to smile and ask students

how their day is makes all the difference. Before class starts, taking a few seconds to

speak with students on an individual basis can help students feel comfortable and

valued. Though this may be common sense, the busyness of life often gets in the

way, and this simple, essential action is often forgotten.

Get to know your students

Though the ice breakers and small games played during the first week of

school are important, growing your relationship with your class must stretch deeper

than the first week if you are to create a true culture of kindness. Implementing

Weekend Updates is an easy, effective way to build a relationship with students

over time. These updates can occur at the beginning of the week, where the teacher

takes five to ten minutes to ask what students did over the weekend. If no one

participates, talking about your own weekend or asking a few students if they would

want to share can break the ice. The core of activities like this is to build and grow

relationships with students outside of academic lessons. According to the American

Psychological Association, Improving students relationships with teachers has

important, positive, and long-lasting implications for both students academic and

social development.

Speak your mind

The concept of expressing your opinions to your students is typically seen as

being inappropriate or an opportunity to lose respect. Though there is validity to

this point, speaking your mind on prevalent issues of today is exactly what students

need. Students know you, as a teacher, are aware of what is going on in the world,

whether it is political or social. For example, after the election, mixed reactions of

anger, sadness, or joy were experienced by the vast majority of Tallwood students.

Regardless of your own opinions, take a moment to talk to students about the

importance of being kind and open minded towards one another despite differing

opinions. Do not be afraid to stand on your soapbox and talk about the issues

every teenager faces. Alfie Kohn emphasizes, Children are more likely to be

respectful when important adults in their lives respect them. They are more likely to

care about others if they know they are cared about. Demonstrating empathy,

kindness, and coping skills are incredibly effective ways to teach students how to

have these qualities as well. These traits can be expressed through sharing personal

stories, experiences with stress, or lessons learned throughout life. Teenagers are

incredibly impressionable, and words of wisdom, encouragement, and empathy can

make all the difference in someones life.

 STEP TWO

Activities

Here are a bunch of ideas for how you can get students involved in Kindness

Week! If you do have a class participate in one or more activities, please take

pictures and email them to enyapfeiffer@gmail.com or

jenna.free@vbschools.com

Kind Words
o Pass out blank paper to students and have them write their name on
the sheet. Then, have students place their paper somewhere around
the room. Provide ten to twenty minutes for students to walk
around and write something on their peers paper about their
positive qualities. Mrs. Free conducted this activity for her AP
English 12 classes, and received immensely positive results. Papers
were covered with kind words ranging from complimenting smiles
or styles, to more personal notes about how someones work ethic
motivated them to work hard as well.
 Kindness Jar
o Using a jar, have students write on slips of paper at the beginning of
class. They can write encouraging words, nice things about each
other or the teacher, or even (appropriate) jokes. At the end of class,
read out a few or all of the slips. Reading those notes throughout the
week can be a simple and uplifting aspect to a class. Having the
teacher read the notes allows for filtering of any unkind or
inappropriate notes.

Kindness Notes
o Using the attached template, or your own, set aside time at the end
of a class to encourage students to write a note to a friend, teacher,
or faculty member about how they have positively impacted them.
During Kindness Week (April 24 28), a table will be set up in the
cafeteria selling t-shirts and with free cards students can use to
write these notes.

Kindness Matters T-Shirts

o Light blue t-shirts with Kindness Matters on the front and I
believe in teaching empathy on the back will be sold throughout the
week before and the week of Kindness Week for only $5! If students
are interested in buying a shirt, they will be sold during lunches
throughout kindness week, or you may message Enya Pfeiffer at
7575476277 and include the number and sizes of shirts. The shirts
can be delivered to your classroom, and students must have the $5
in order to receive their shirt. See the attached sheet to show
 students what the t-shirts look like. Teachers are encouraged to
purchase shirts as well. If you do decide to buy a t-shirt, please wear
them on Friday, April 28 to school!

Good Job Notes

o After a Socratic Seminar, project, major test, or discussion, taking the
time to write your students a Good Job Note can reinforce
students good behavior and increase engagement and participation.
The note can be short and sweet, simply praising the student for
their beneficial contribution to a class discussion, success on a
difficult test, or positive attitude in general. Though this may be time
consuming, notes like this serve as incentives and encourage
students to contribute and put forth their best effort.

Social Media
o Throughout Kindness Week, students are encouraged to tweet/post
kind words to one another using the hashtag #thskindness to spread
positivity! Please encourage students to post using this hashtag
throughout the week.

In Conclusion

Implementing activities that encourage empathy and kindness stretches

far beyond just one week of activities. Creating a culture of kindness begins with
the teacher simply practicing empathy. Kindness in action has many different
appearances, but they all begin with you. As a teacher, you influence students
more than you will ever comprehend. So be kind. Engage with students, build
relationships, and participate in shaping future generations into more kind,
empathetic people. You have the power to change lives, and it all begins with
kindness.

Thank you,

Enya Pfeiffer

Attached:
1. Template for cards
2. Posters for teachers to hang in the classroom
3. T-Shirt advertisements (separate attachment)

#thskindness