Using Writing to Teach Kindness

In order to teach my students about kindness this season I started out by having them explore their own best memories.  I did not specify what they could write about but I did tell them that my best memories are when I was able to spend time having Christmas dinner with my cousins and yes, when I received my very favorite doll Drowsy.

We brainstormed some sentences of students’ favorite memories.  My favorite Christmas memory  is…

I decided that we would *discuss* the whys instead of writing about them as often it is difficult to express WHY something was special in writing.  I wanted to make sure students understood that they have these special memories because someone else (Mom, Dad, Auntie, Grandparents, Santa) was kind and they did things to make them have a nice Christmas. (They cooked dinner, they decorated, etc..) If you would like to try some of this writing yourself, these printables are from my Thoughtful Christmas Writing Prompts for Caring Kids. Just click on the picture below.

As educators, we remember and honor our fallen colleagues and their students from Sandy Hook School.  We honor them each day in our classrooms in which we continue their dream of teaching our children.  We honor their memory with our service.  Join with teachers everywhere in committing random acts of kindness to show our love for Sandy Hook.