Look for Kindness

Well said Mr. Rogers!!

After the tragic school shooting in Connecticut I heard a lot of people asking things like "what's wrong with the world?"  My opinion is that we have too many negative influences in our lives.  Or rather that we focus too much of our energy on those negative influences.  Think about a typical news broadcast, there are probably ten ugly stories about violence or theft for every one story about something positive.  People point to violent movies, video games, and song lyrics as causes for violent behavior.  The real issue (in my opinion) is the absence of gentle, kind and compassionate influences.  We have forgotten how to recognize and appreciate them!!

The other day a car swerved across two lanes of traffic to get onto the freeway in front of me.  Instead of causing an accident or refusing to let him into the line of traffic, I took 5 seconds out of my day to let them in.  Because of this "kindness" I had to suffer the abuse of the angry driver behind me.  This driver was so upset at my actions (?!?) that he/she was honking their horn and flashing their brights at me for a ridiculously long time.  I'm not sure what they would have suggested I do (I didn't stop to ask), but letting that other car in ahead of us was clearly unacceptable.

Last year a student shared a story about when she said "Thank you" to her bus driver and her friends reaction was "Why did you say that?" with the typical scornful teenage tone.  The student persisted, continuing to thank the driver every day and eventually it caught on and other students started doing the same.  But that initial reaction is very telling...

We seem to have lost the ability to recognize and appreciate kindness around us.  We question people's motives, assume the worst, and ridicule people for doing the right thing.  I believe that future tragedies may be prevented if we can all learn how to appreciate the compassion and kindness that we see in the world... and pass it on.

This week your challenge is to recognize kindness.  Write down at least one kind thing that you witness (not that you do yourself).  How did people react, did anyone notice, say thank you??  Record what you observe and report back in class.

Cyber Bullying!!

A student from Massachusetts has been expelled from high school after a prank towards a teacher went too far.  Watch the video below. Do you think that the punishment fit the crime? Do you think there is an epidemic of cyber bullying?  Do you participate, have you been a victim?  Why do think this problem is getting worse?  What can we do to make it better?  I encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section...

Are you interested in ways to help stop cyber bullying?  Check out the video in this link...
new strategies to catch cyber bullies.

http://on.aol.com/video/new-strategies-to-catch-cyber-bullying-517379368

Texting While Walking - Video

We all know the dangers of texting while driving.  It is dangerous enough that the state of Oregon has made it illegal to use a cell phone without a hands free device while driving.  But what about walking?  Here at our school the hall ways can get pretty crowded.  There are groups of teenagers clogging traffic at almost every intersection.  The most frustrating thing for me, as I hurry to class, is being stopped by students walking at a snail's pace because they are texting.  These students are completely oblivious to the traffic around them.  This is becoming an epidemic as you will see in the video.

I don't expect a room full of teenagers to admit to the dangers of distracted walking...but what about driving?  Consider the following questions...

• Do you occasionally text while driving?  What about talk on the phone?  
• Do you have friends that text while driving?  Do you say anything about it?
• Do your parents text while driving?  Do you say anything about it?
• Does anyone have a friend/family member that has been involved in a car accident due to texting while driving?

I encourage you to speak up the next time you are in a vehicle with a driver who is texting.  Even at a stop light...  It is dangerous, irresponsible, and inconsiderate.  When you are behind the wheel of a vehicle you owe it to your passengers and the people around you, to dedicate your undivided attention.  Whatever you are texting...can wait!!

Choosing Positive Influence

Think about the people that you are closest to...

Maybe it's your best friend, your boyfriend/girlfriend, a sibling, a parent.

Choose two or three people in your life and, on a piece of paper, answer these questions...

Is this person a good influence in your life - how?

Is this person a bad influence in your life - how?

It is entirely possible for someone to be both!

 

Discussion:  Do you have "friends" that you sometimes wish you weren't friends with?  Do you have friends that might not really care much about you?  Do you have friends that bring nothing but chaos and drama to your life?  Why are you friends with them??

Why are you friends with the people you are friends with?  Did you get to know them, realize you had a lot in common and choose to become friends?  Have you known them so long you don't even remember how you became friends?  Do you participate in the same activities?  Do you have friends in common, which automatically makes you friends by association?  Are your friends a positive or negative factor in your life?

We all have positive influences and negative influences in our lives...

It can be very difficult to sever relationships with people, even when you know it is not a healthy relationship.  Especially when you are young, if you see them all the time, or if they are friends with other people you spend time with.  The older you get, the easier it becomes to choose who will be present in your life and who you will spend time with.

In the mean time - you don't have to turn your back on these people.  Just BE AWARE.  Know who the positive influences are.  Who helps you make good decision, who supports you and will be there for you?  Who brings stress and anxiety into your life?  Who encourages you to make bad decisions?  Pay attention to these influences and be aware of the people in your life.

Don't Try This At Home!

Watch Danny MacAskill's video, he has fallen... A LOT!  It was probably really frustrating and embarrassing at times, not to mention painful.  But if he had given up the first time he fell off his bike, he would never have been able to achieve these amazing things.

Life is like this.  You will almost certainly fail (repeatedly) before you succeed.  The key is to keep trying, to not give up, to learn from each mistake, to gain experience from each failure!

Most of us have witnessed a baby or toddler learning how to walk.  It can be pretty funny, but for the child it can be frustrating and they may feel like giving up.  Imagine where you would be today if you gave up every time something was hard!!  You have persevered and overcome more challenges than you realize.  Most of us have learned how to walk, talk, tie our shoes, ride a bike, (do long division?).  These things used to be hard, now they are easy.  If you give as much effort to your education as you did to learning how to walk, you will be successful!  It's going to be hard...it's supposed to be hard.  But if you refuse to give up, you will get where you want to be.

Thanksgiving

• What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods?  
• Are there any Thanksgiving traditions that may be different than what other families do?
• Do you prefer stuffing or dressing?  (Do you know the difference?)
• Canned cranberries or homemade cranberries?
• Light meat or dark meat?
• Have you ever had Tur-duck-en?

Thanksgiving is a time to take stock of the blessings in your life, to be thankful for what you have!  Take time over this holiday break to think about what you are thankful for.  Find a way to SHOW your thankfulness.  Do more than just say thank you, offer to help with cooking or cleaning.  Offer to make breakfast the following day.  Offer to watch the younger kids so the adults can get things done.  And, get ready for Holiday Sharing. 

When we come back to school next week we will begin our annual holiday sharing.  Think about the members of our community that are less fortunate.  What can you share with them?  Bring in non-perishable food items, bring money to donate, buy gifts for our adopted families.  Watch next week for ways to participate in our Holiday Sharing.

Get to Know You - Venn Diagram

  

Today we did a get to know you activity.  Students were partnered up and asked to complete a Venn Diagram, listing things that were unique and things that they had in common.

This is a fun way for students to see how much we have in common.  Sadly, we tend to focus on the differences that divide us instead of the commonalities that unite us.  When we celebrate our differences instead of judging one another and comparing ourselves in a negative way, our unique characteristics can bring a lot of life to a community.