Kindness can help promote friendship.
Some groups of students are naturally kind to each other, but some need a little help. Creating an "Acts of Kindness" system in your classroom is a simple way to encourage friendly behavior amongst students. As children watch other children do things that are protective, proactive, responsible, or helpful, they will be inclined to do the same. An "Acts of Kindness" system involves recognizing people for their good actions and can be adopted by an entire school.
Instructions
Creating the Program
1. Take one closed file folder and staple the sides so that it no longer opens. Write ACTS OF KINDNESS on the front of the folder and BLANK on the top tab. Attach the folder to an easily accessible wall or closet door in the classroom.
2. Take a second file folder and staple the sides. Write ACTS OF KINDNESS on the front and FULL on the top tab. Attach this folder next to the first.
3. Create a form, either by hand or using a computer, with the following sections: Date, Name of person reporting, Name of person who did the kind act, Act. You can fit four forms per letter size sheet of paper. Photocopy the sheets, cut them out, and place them in the file folder labeled BLANK.
Using the Program
4. Explain that students will use this system to recognize people for their kind acts. For example, if someone's box of crayons spills and another student helps that child pick them up, a third student may decide to fill out an Acts of Kindness form. The reporting child would fill out each section of a blank form and place it in the folder labeled FULL.
5. Pull two forms out of the FULL folder every Friday and reward both the people who reported and the people who did the kind acts. Rewards may be small prizes such as special pencils, stickers, notepads, etc. Rewards can also be privileges such as a lunch date with the teacher, a chance to teach the rest of the class a favorite game, or extra time on the computer.
6. Explain the program to your principal. She may be willing to adopt the program for the whole school. In that case, a bin could be kept for each grade level in the office, and at the end of the week the principal could pull a form from each grade's bin and announce the students over the intercom.
Tags: file folder, Acts Kindness, ACTS KINDNESS front, Acts Kindness system, each grade