Warm fuzzies...

Ok...so I subbed for one teacher all week (Tuesday to Friday). I know the kids as they are on my mom's "team". So it was a fun week.

However...by Thursday, they made me crazy! They can be so mean and hateful to each other. Typical kids stuff...but still mean and unkind. So! Friday I brought 2 apples in. One apple we said mean things to and dropped it on the floor. A LOT -- The other apple we were nice to, cared for it, protected it, and loved it. Then, I cut the apples open and we talked about how the "abused" apple was bruised and how when the kids are mean to one another people can become bruised. We compared that apple to the cared for apple which wasn't bruised. It was pretty effective. Mom said the kids talked about it in her class later.

Then we wrote warm fuzzies to each other. I had a paper on everyone's desk and each person had to write something nice about everyone. No "you are nice" comments either. It had to be something specific.

I am transcribing them now onto special paper so I can laminate them on Tuesday and give it to them. I am touched by the sincerity of these kids. They're great!

They have a classmate that had to move to a special class and we couldn't have done the warm fuzzies without sending him one too.

Just when I think things are hopeless...I find hope in these kids.

When I was a teacher's aid for a middle school teacher, we did this for her kids once and it was a really great experience.

VERY cool that you did this for those kids

Hi 1 Day -- That is a wonderful exercise. A story has circulated about a teacher who used it. One of her male students who needed the reassurance went to war, died. At his funeral, his parents or someone showed her the folded piece of paper, worn to shreds in his wallet. He'd carried the paper with him all those years.

(((((((((((((((((((1DayAt A Time)))))))))))))))))))))))

It's teachers like you who can change kids lives! What wonderful work you do!!

emmy

Thanks everyone! These teachable moments are my favorite part of teaching. Makes the stress and the testing pressures worth it.

Kids are great! Ooo kid story!

On Friday, a student came up to me and says, "Mrs. S.....I have a question. (dramatic pause) I think I am old enough to know! (another dramatic pause while numerous questions I do NOT want to have to answer run through my mind)

What is mascara?"

I was so relieved. Then he wanted to know what the stuff you put on your cheeks was. lol I love little kids!

Sweet Thanks for posting!

LOL! That's great, too!

I've seen that--it's a good story!

I finished the warm fuzzy transcriptions...and even wrote my own (see Kudos).

Some where hilarious. I love how kids think! I'd heard the story about the solider too...a long time ago. Thanks for reminding me of it!