{"id":195,"date":"2016-12-12T15:36:51","date_gmt":"2016-12-12T23:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/?p=195"},"modified":"2016-12-12T16:49:36","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T00:49:36","slug":"december-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.sandiego.edu\/character\/blog\/2016\/12\/12\/december-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"December 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 2016 Blog<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Edward DeRoche<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Through much effort and careful planning, I was able to avoid participation in \u201cBlack Friday\u201d and \u201cCyber Monday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Using a specially designed GPS system, I tried to track another meaning for December\u2014a virtues search \u2013one that might help frame what this month should be about for all of us –parents, kids, and teachers== now and for the New Year.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 <\/em>KINDNESS TUESDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kindness is not an inherited trait; it is a learned behavior. \u2014<\/em>Katie Couric<\/p>\n

An article in Scientific American<\/em> (February 26, 2009) titled \u201cForget Survival of the Fittest: It Is Kindness That Counts,\u201d features an interview with Dacher Keltner author of Born to be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life. <\/em>Keltner noted that humans have remarkable tendencies toward kindness, play, generosity, reverence, and self-sacrifice.<\/p>\n

The interviewer asked Keltner about \u201ctake aways \u201c from his study. His science-based conclusion was that emotions are \u201cthe core of our capacities for virtue like \u201ccooperation\u201d love and tenderness,\u201d and that emotion that bring out the \u201cgood in others and in one\u2019s self can readily be cultivated\u201d (taught and learned, observed and practiced, modeled and mentored).<\/p>\n

Here is a video by San Diego’s Superintendent, Cindy Marten, addressing teachers (also useful for parents) on the topic of \u201cWhy Kindness Matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

http:\/\/superintendentcindymarten.blogspot.com\/2013\/11\/kindness-matters.html<\/a><\/p>\n

The Superintendent\u2019s talk addresses the WHY question.<\/p>\n

In the link below, two elementary school teachers (Pinger and Flook) discuss the HOW question by sharing their lessons from a \u201ckindness curriculum\u201d for young students (K-3).<\/p>\n

http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_if_schools_taught_kindness<\/a><\/p>\n

The research suggests that \u201cacts of kindness\u201d may help increase and strengthen student relationships, social engagement, and broaden their social networks.<\/p>\n

GRATITUDE WEDNESDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow<\/em>.\u201d <\/em>– Melody Beattie, Author<\/p>\n

Robert Emmons, a professor of psychology and author of the book THANKS! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier<\/em>, states that gratitude<\/em> is the \u201cqueen of the virtues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emmons defines gratitude<\/em> \u201cas affirming a benefit and giving credit to others for that benefit. In other words, gratitude, when properly understood, leads to an active appreciation of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several studies demonstrate relationships between gratitude and physical health. Why? Say the researchers, because of the \u201cpositive emotions that it fosters, the influence it has on relationships, and at the heart of joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California (http:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/gratitude<\/a>) offers several video presentations on the this topic including \u201cmaking gratitude viral,\u201d “cultivating gratitude in the workplace,\u201c \u201chow can we cultivate gratitude in schools,\u201d and \u201chow parents can foster gratitude in kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

EMPATHY THURSDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It\u2019s a foundation for acting ethically, for good relationships of many kinds, for loving well, and for professional success. And it\u2019s key to preventing bullying and many other forms of cruelty.<\/em> R. Weissbourd & S. Jones<\/p>\n

The first the first stage of becoming empathetic is “cognitive empathy,” or the act of knowing how another person feels. The second is “emotional empathy,” or the capacity to physically feel the emotions of another. As with cognitive empathy, however, emotional empathy can have troublesome consequences if applied in isolation. Third is “compassionate empathy”, which is what occurs when we combine the previous two in the name of acting upon what we think and feel. (Sam Chaltain, \u201cThe Empathy Formula,\u201d Huffington Post,<\/em> 12-18-2012)<\/p>\n

Cultural historian and author of Wonderbox: Curious Histories of How to Live,<\/em> Roman Krznaric describes how the art of empathy can not only enrich one’s own life but also help to create social change. See the six habits of empathetic people at: http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G9jC1ThqTNo<\/a><\/p>\n

Also view this 3-minute video by Dr. Susan Stillman describing what empathy is about. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v&feature=youtube<\/a><\/p>\n

CIVIL SATURDAY<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 Mary Wortley Montagu<\/p>\n

One of the best resources I found \u201cshopping around\u201d, is Marilyn Price-Mitchell\u2019s \u201cCivility 101\u201d — respect, restraint, decency, empathy. She answers questions like: What is civility? Is it declining? What is the relationship between incivility and violence and bullying? What are 15 ways to foster respectful behavior? She is a developmental psychologist, she writes about positive youth development, K-12 education, and family-school-community partnerships. Website<\/a> \/\/ @DrPriceMitchell<\/a> \/\/ Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Speak Kindly: A Video<\/strong> about Civility<\/strong> and Respecting Others – YouTube<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RPZIxnGfK9k Oct 13, 2009 …<\/strong> Class Project for Communication Civilities and Ethics about the dangers of not speaking kindly.<\/p>\n

HAPPY SUNDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Faith \u2013it makes things possible, not easy.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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