Kindness in the Classroom

Kindness is the 5th part of the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Before I write anything, I always ask the Lord to help me and I love how He inspires. I learned an old Anglican prayer from Dr. Barry Black and Alistair Begg that reads, “I want to think myself empty, I want to write myself clear and I want to pray myself hot,” while asking the Lord for His guidance. As soon as I was done praying, the Pay it Forward concept came to me.  He is good! I can’t think of any other topic that portrays kindness in the classroom better. In today's world of technology and gadgets, we need human kindness. The concept of Pay It Forward (as developed in Catherine Hyde’s novel) is simple.  It begins with doing an act of kindness for someone without any expectation of being paid back.  Instead, the recipient of the kindness is encouraged to “Pay It Forward” to three others with the same expectation that the unconditional kindness will be paid forward.  The unconditional kindness can be large or small, depending on the interest and age level of the giver. Catherine Ryan Hyde, in her novel “Pay It Forward” about a 12 year-old boy who accepts the challenge of his teacher to change the world, is the springboard from which the Pay It Forward Movement began.  Trevor’s idea was to choose three people for whom he will do a favor or act of kindness.  When the people thank him and ask to pay him back, he tells them that they are to “pay it forward” instead to three more people. It’s nothing less than a human chain of kindness and good will.

Catherine Ryan Hyde established The Pay It Forward Foundation in September 2000 to educate and inspire students to realize they can change the world and provide them with opportunities to do so. The Pay It Forward Foundation is a small, mostly volunteer organization with a powerful heart and gift to educators.  They provide Pay It Forward grants, ideas to share and an excellent website with success stories. The Pay It Forward Foundation has trademark rights to the term, “Pay It Forward Foundation.”  The idea of “pay it forward,” however, is in the public domain and the foundation encourages all who want to promote the concept of paying it forward to do so.  The Pay It Forward movie and website are property of Warner Brothers and the novel, “Pay It Forward”, is copyright property of Catherine Ryan Hyde. She has now given the reigns over to a young man named Charley Johnson. He developed the Pay It Forward bracelets and has distributed hundreds of thousands throughout the world. He's spoken at TED twice and is about to do his third. Here are three samples: the story behind Pay It Forward bracelet, Global Reading Flash Mob of Pay It Forward, Charley Johnson on TEDxBountiful.

In April 2005, I developed a “Pay It Forward” presentation for students of all ages which encourages students to create their own movement with their families. I have presented the lessons for hundreds of children from kindergarten to college and in very large group settings and even churches.  I have an annual date with one of my daughters who is a teacher on the Friday before Thanksgiving to present the concept to their families around the Thanksgiving table. If you are interested in a presentation for your classroom, just contact me. There’s no charge for a Pay It Forward lesson, you only need to agree to pass it on!

Pay It Forward Day is April 30th each year.  An Australian group is hoping this will become a worldwide event.  Check their website at www.payitforwardday.com for more details and ideas on how to Pay It Forward!

Let’s face it, our classrooms can use a whole lot of kindness. Why not make a commitment to raise the kindness level in your classroom this year and teach your students not random acts of kindness, but purposeful and targeted ways to be kind to others? Order the Pay It Forward bracelets for your students and as they do an act of kindness, they hand to bracelet to the person and encourage them to pass it on.  Simply beautiful!

Prayerfully yours,

K

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.

Christian Teachers in the Public Schools

Yesterday I spoke with some delightful teachers at a Georgia CEAI event where we studied and discussed ways to be legal and graceful in the public schools. The personal stories were priceless, the fellowship and sharing could have gone on for hours. Christians in the public schools, we need to meet more often.  You are not alone and meeting face-to-face is empowering.  One of the attendees was Dalene Vickery Parker, the author of Christian Teachers in the Public Schools.  Naturally, I was intrigued immediately by the title, but was drawn in by her kind and gentle spirit.  Dalene has written a practical and comforting book for all of us who enter through the public school doors. She is a 16-9 educator without even knowing it! 16-9 educators are seeking to know the law and to be light in the their schools through the Fruit of the Spirit. Dalene’s book will certainly seam the threads of the tapestry of being a Christian in the public school.

On the back of her book, she states, “Whether you are a student, parent, or teacher, one thing is clear: the public schools in America are a rough place to be for kids and adults alike. If you are a Christian educator in a public school, where do you turn for uplifting and scriptural-based advice? How do you strike a balance between wanting to share the love of Christ with your students and coworkers while retaining the professionalism and religious distance expected of those within the educational community?”  Dalene organized the book into 13 Essentials for the Classroom: Learning to Pray, Learning to Fight, Learning to Wait…………(I’ll let you get the book to read the rest!)  The best part is that you really don’t have to read it from cover to cover because you can hone in on the essential you most want to learn or practice.  I just began the book myself and look forward to finishing it this weekend. She has also created a Facebook page for the book. Why not go to her page and give her a “like” to encourage this new author. 

Special thanks to Dalene for risking her finances, her name and her professionalism to help encourage all of us in the public schools.  Let’s spread the word for her especially now as we began the 2012-2013 school year.  Start the year off by establishing your spiritual plans before you write any lesson plans. Begin your school year with refreshment before you enter the hectic routine (or lack of routine) that our days in school represent.  You can purchase her book for under $13 at Amazon.com or at Beacon Hill Books, her publisher. She does have e-reader versions available for Kindle, Nook and iPad readers. 

One thing is for sure – we need each other. Thank you Dalene for giving us a common platform where we can unite in truth and comfort.  By the way, she said you can remember how to say her name by associating it with Mary Magdelene and then just shorten it to Dalene.  She’s just as sweet as her name.

Prayerfully yours,

K

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.

Patience in the Classroom

Is patience in the classroom an oxymoron? On the surface, perhaps, but in reality, it is a necessity. How can learning take place without patience? To establish patience in the classroom, we must begin with ourselves.  How can you bring that patience to the classroom? Every fruit of the Spirit is a gift to the classroom, but patience is unique.  Even God can lose His patience. I heard a sermon about that recently and thought that it would be impossible for God to lose His patience, but He did with Israel several times.  So if you have ever lost your patience in the classroom, join the club.  Our purpose is to overcome the loss of patience with the presence of God with us as we go about our charge as teacher.

With first things first, pray for patience.  Be specific. Ask God to help you with that particular child that knows how to push all those buttons.  Ask for intervention when you are unable. Sometimes “we have not because we ask not.”  Ask! Next, practice. Be purposeful about addressing those things that wear your patience down and then practice having a different reaction.  For instance, if the way the students enter your classroom in unruly and unorganized, instead of getting heated and getting on them for being so noisy, laugh about it.  Add a little humor and then practice, practice, practice until they please you and then praise them.  Too often, the management chaos in our classrooms is our fault for not setting routines and expectations and then keeping up with them.  When things become too familiar, we get sloppy (the students and us!) Change it up. If a routine is not effective any more, make a new one and practice, practice, practice.  Going home exhausted by a chaotic day does no one any good. Bring patience to your classroom with practiced and purposed management.

What about the student who makes the little hairs on your neck stand up when they enter the room? We’ve all had them, but the difference between being stressed and being patient is how it is handled.  When “that” student begins to move your patience meter down, pray immediately for wisdom and guard your mouth. Be especially careful, not to say what is in your head and heart at the moment.  He/she is an image bearer, don’t forget.  Next, begin targeted prayer for the child. Sit in their desk before school starts and pray for his/her family and home life. Ask for help with communication with the parents before you call home. Ask for private time with the student to discuss goals for success in your particular class setting. Pray for patience. There is no easy method for solving the stress of having students who are disrespectful or unruly, but praying for them changes the situation and us.

You know you have patience in the classroom, when you want to be there, when your students feel safe and learning is happening.  May God bless you and your students in this upcoming school year with patience for each other. Grace and peace to all.

Prayerfully yours,

K

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by clicking here.