Did you know that yesterday was Random Acts of Kindness Day? I had no clue! I was on Twitter and started seeing post after post of #RandomActsOfKindnessDay. So being home with my kiddo in observance of President’s Day, I did a little research and am now completely hooked!
Here are a few “fun facts” about kindness:
- “Studies show that being kind makes you more energetic and increases our sense of self-worth.
- Did you also know that kindness is teachable? It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.
- Kindness is contagious? The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people!
- Committing acts of kindness lowers blood pressure.
- People who are kind and compassionate are usually the most successful.
- Five [random acts of kindness] in a week will increase your happiness for up to three months.”
Every year, National Random Acts of Kindness day grows in popularity and is celebrated by groups, organizations, schools, & individuals. With the obvious need for more social emotional learning in our classrooms and schools, why not start with kindness? There are countless ways to incorporate kindness into your classroom and/or life. But if you are like me you don’t need one more thing to try to deliberately include into your already packed schedule. Have no fear, I am here with several random acts of kindness that you can implement in your classroom to participate in National Random Acts of Kindness Week:
Have your class write a letter or create signs to the building custodian(s). Thank them for taking care of your school and keeping your classrooms clean and safe.- Start a staff meeting or a team meeting off with an inspiring video of Chris Rosati and challenge your co-workers to participate in “the butterfly effect”.
- Take a class walk and pick up litter on your way.
- Implement Third Party Compliments in your class or building.
- Write a letter to a Veteran thanking them for their service.
- Read a book about kindness to your class and discuss. Have no fear, here is a book list PreK-Young Adult.
- Have students write a gratitude list. Have them think of three people they are grateful for and what they have done for them.
- Gamify it up! Here are several games to play in the classroom that will encourage friendship, patience, and laughs.
- Challenge your students to not complain for 24 hours. Have them write their complaints down instead of sharing them with the world.
- Make someone smile with a good joke or have your students write their own jokes and create a class joke-book.
- Here is an awesome link to a 2020 Random Act of Kindness Calendar for the classroom….one act of kindness every day!
Have your class write a letter or create signs to the building custodian(s). Thank them for taking care of your school and keeping your classrooms clean and safe.
But why stop at just a week’s worth of Random Acts of Kindness? Why not “make kindness the norm”? Check out the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to become a RACKtivist, take the Kindness Challenge, and download the 2020 kindness in the workplace calendar. Starting today I will do my best to spread kindness by utilizing this workplace calendar. Look for future blog posts for updates on how this journey is going. 🙂
I hope you have an awesome day and do your best to spread kindness to others.
Katie Algrim – Director of Innovative Professional Learning
(t):630-444-3044
(c):630-675-4447
(e):kalgrim@kaneroe.org