Small Kindnesses
Little Shifts for Big Results
A student had arrived in my high school classroom in a mood. After addressing the class as to the assignment for that day, I noticed this student with her head down on her desk.
I walked over and whispered to her, “Do you feel OK? Do you need to go to the nurse?”
Her head moved from side to side. No.
“Do you need to go to guidance?” I queried next.
Again, I watched the back of her head as she moved it from side to side.
“Can I help you with anything?”
Once more I got the side to side head nod. Another no.
“Well, in that case take another minute,” I continued, “and then I need you to sit up and start the classwork.”
Mission Possible
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know something was upsetting her. I went back to my desk and sifted through my book bag to locate a package of heart stickers I had purchased for upcoming Valentine’s Day. Though intended for younger children I also work with, this was all I had and I was going with it. I took out the scissors from my desk drawer and clipped out a row of three red and white hearts.
