Cait Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thought I'd share this with you One day a teacher asked the children to list the names of the other children in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the lesson to finish and as the children left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each child on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each child his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The children were happy with themselves and one another. Several years later, one of the pupils was killed in Iraq and his teacher attended the funeral. The church was packed with his friends. After the service one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark's teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then he said: 'Mark talked about you a lot.' After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the wallet, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. 'Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.' All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Brian's wife said, 'Brian asked me to put his in our wedding album.' 'I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary' Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her bag, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' she said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists' We have started adding comments like this onto a page in each child's Learning Journey, for them to keep for later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I've seen this before Cait, it really pulls at your heart doesn't it! What a lovely idea to add something like this to the learning journeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hali Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 how wonderful thank you for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsWeasley Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) I want a list! Maybe we need a forum list project! Edited January 20, 2009 by MrsWeasley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rea Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Thats lovely cait. Its wonderful the power positive words can have. After doing a micro teach session my peers had to write about my performance. I read them in secret on the bus and was amazed, and not a little delighted in what they'd seen in me. I kept those too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Our Manager did this at a staff meeting a while ago - yes, I still have mine Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thank you Cait for sharing. I have a list too, from fellow PLA tutors following a tutor training weekend from back in the 80's, this has reminded me of the warmth I have felt in my heart when I'v often re- read others opinions of me. I think what is most significant with this story and others similar experiences is that the comments are from peers, there is no ulterior motive or materialistic gain for making the comments, they come from mind and heart and they are honest and positive. Also the act of making positive comments is also uplifting too, maybe we should all try to do it more often as the 'norm' and not wait for another person to suggest we do it. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Yes, Peggy. I'm sure you are right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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