In District 34, we often refer to teaching the whole child. What this means is that aside from teaching academics, we help promote social and emotional skills to prepare children to problem-solve as they navigate the world around them. In other words, a huge part of my day is helping my students be aware of the choices they make, become independent thinkers, and ultimately choose kindness. Yes, kindness does have to be taught. Remember those Fred Flinstone cartoons with the "Angel" Fred and "Devil" Fred sitting on either shoulder, as he struggled with a choice? Well, we have those internal conflicts everyday. In Room 314, we often discuss how characters in a novel have those self conflicts as well. Sometimes, it is easier to choose the less kind route. Kindness doesn't always come naturally. We have to learn to put ourselves in "another's shoes" and think about the effects beyond our actions. With practice, choosing kind becomes habit. A good habit. To practice choosing kindness, the fourth grade and P.R. has embarked on embracing the Season of Giving and Random Acts of Kindness. We have packaged meals for starving children around the world, decorated folders, snack containers, and frames for an animal shelter, given compliments to one another, purposely sat with a different peer at lunch, picked up around the classroom, wrote thank you notes to our Math teachers, encouraged each other in PE and showed good sportsmanship, and practiced saying our pleases and thank yous. As you can see, kindness comes in all sizes. The smallest act can sometimes create the biggest impact. To me, kindness is the most important subject I teach. Yes, I hope that my students enjoy the company of a good book, read with comprehension, write with clarity, solve math problems accurately, create & develop new technology, and explore the world around them. But, what I really hope is that one day I bump into someone who knows one of my former students and says to me, " (Insert Name) is one of the kindest people I have ever met." Below are some pics of my fabulous 4th Graders practicing kindness. Hope they make you smile! |
Welcome to Room 314!
Have fun following our fabulous 4th grade journey! Important Dates
August 22nd- First Day!
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September 2018
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