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Caring, Common Sense, Confidence, Effort, Focus, Initiative, Motivation, Perseverance, Problem Solving, Responsibility, Teamwork...

Caring Builder

Sharing Experiences

It´s easy to see the headlines in the newspaper and hear them on television and get the idea that people just don´t care for each other anymore.

Yet, all of us who are out here in the world know that there are both very harsh and very soft, caring events happening every day. The soft ones just don´t make the headlines.

That´s why I never tire of telling about the leaders in the MegaSkills workshop program, many of whom are volunteering to help fellow teachers and parents. If I read the news as a barometer of how people really feel about each other, I would have never predicted this outpouring of help and, yes, love. Because these stories of caring don´t make the news, it´s all the more important for us to make sure children know that caring exists and to have examples of caring, not grizzly headlines, as models for their actions.

Sparking the Conversation

In your own experience, you see caring... the boss who boosts your confidence; the neighbor who watches out for your child; the teacher who sends home a note telling you what your child has done right.

Caring Building: Newspaper Activity

Using the newspaper, ask students to identify people in newspaper articles who show caring and those who do not. Examples are features on folks who manage to save a child from a burning house and other who get into traffic accidents by not paying attention to their driving. Collect newspapers over a few days to have a number of caring examples to share.

Moving to Bigger Questions

Does caring for others and giving to others do anything special for the carer? For the giver?

What does it mean to act selfishly? Who is an unselfish person that you know?

© Dorothy Rich, 2000. The nonprofit Home and School Institute, sponsor of the MegaSkills program, was founded by Dr. Dorothy Rich in 1964. For information about bringing MegaSkills books and programs to your school and community group, contact: The Home and School Insitute, MegaSkills Education Center; 1500 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington DC 20005. Phone: (202) 466-3633. Fax: (202) 833-1400. www.MegaSkillsHSI.org Reprinted with permission.

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