Archive for May 2017
Let Them Eat Cake
Where’s the happiest place on earth? Hint: It doesn’t begin with the word “Disney”. For close to 50 years, Denmark has been ranked as the happiest country on earth. Why? Well, researchers can name quite a few reasons, but one of the most interesting ones to me has to do with the national school curriculum. …
Read MoreThe Human Connection
“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” -Kid President While visiting with my mom, my daughter took out her phone and her nimble fingers went to work, quickly answering a text from a friend. She went on automatic pilot, tuning us out, as our inter-generational visit quickly came to a halt. My…
Read MoreThe Empathy Test
Since I’m blogging about empathy this month, I decided to take an online empathy quiz. I ended up taking several and basically they all said the same thing. I have a high level of empathy. This didn’t surprise me to be honest. However, the test I found most interesting was “The Empathy Test” by Greater…
Read MoreI Feel Your Pain
“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.” – Mohsin Hamid Have you ever been outside with your students and all of a sudden you see a rogue kickball come flying by? You automatically cringe and feel the pain of the child who was boinked on the head with the flying sphere.…
Read MoreThe Release Teaches
From the desk of Alice… It’s graduation season which always makes me reflective. This year my oldest child graduates high school and one of my nieces graduated college recently so I am currently immersed in conversations about announcements, ceremonies and celebrations. And please bear with me…in honor of Mother’s Day, I am going to wear…
Read MoreEmpathy and Compassion Begin at Home
Your toddler hits and screams when he doesn’t get his way. Your five year old often doesn’t seem interested in the feelings of others. What can you do to help them develop a sense of empathy (trying to understand how someone is feeling) and compassion (empathy + taking action to help someone)? Instead of talking…
Read MoreLook Me in the Eyes
“Listen with your eyes for feelings.” -Stephen Covey I have often heard people say that the eyes are the window to the soul. These ocular tools deliver important nonverbal messages and are natural transmitters of emotion. Most educators develop their “teacher look” early in their career. You know, that look that we shoot across the…
Read MoreLife Is Not About Me
“Life is not about me. Life is about helping the people around me.” – Ryan Janvion Knowing my disdain for the negative news that so often takes center stage, my husband handed me an article from the sports section of the Journal that he knew I would love. It featured the words of Wake…
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