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Marty Kirschen has developed a caring corner on the Web! His Web site, Caring Education, and his free Learning Through Our Hearts e-mail newsletter offer caring teachers a forum for connecting and networking. Today, Education World talks briefly with Marty Kirschen about his goals and plans for this online "caring community." Included: A sampling of 30 ways teachers can show they care from a recent edition of Learning Through Our Hearts!

Marty Kirschen sees the power of the Internet more clearly than many people do.

"[On the Web] we all have a wonderful opportunity to learn from ourselves, from the teacher next door, and from others," Kirschen told Education World. That is the philosophy behind Kirschen's Caring Education Web site and the Learning Through Our Hearts newsletter. Kirschen and his colleagues have created a community where teachers can help themselves and others create more caring classrooms.

Kirschen turned to teaching nine years ago after a career as a television executive. Currently a teacher of children with autism in the Los Angeles area, Kirschen told Education World, "I feel that working with the children in my classroom -- who communicate in ways other than by verbalizing -- provides me a good opportunity to use caring and to learn to be more caring."

Kirschen sees a direct connection between caring and competence. "When a child feels good, he or she learns much more easily," Kirschen said. Caring also helps children improve social and academic skills in a way that allows them to use those skills on their own in the future, he added.

"Where character education often deals with principles and telling children what they should be doing," Kirschen told Education World, "caring education first and foremost involves the teacher in 'being caring.'"

Kirschen believes that many teachers practice caring in the classroom -- and that many others want to do more to create caring classroom environments. His Web site offers those educators a place to converse about how to create a caring environment and a place where they can "draw on the wisdom of fellow teachers."

As for the future of the Web site, Kirschen dreams that the site might make it even easier for caring teachers to connect with one another. "When teachers come together to help one another, when we truly listen to one another, our caring ways and inclinations can grow," said Kirschen.

Take time to see all the Caring Education Web site has to offer! You'll find a wide variety of ideas for creating a caring environment inside the classroom as well as ways of extending learning about caring into the home and community. There are links to other online resources and a calendar of caring events. Feel free to offer your own thoughts in response to any of the many "conversations" that have developed on the site!

30 WAYS TO SHOW STUDENTS YOU CARE

Marty Kirschen gave Education World permission to share a sampling of tips for creating a caring classroom. These 30 ideas were originally published on the Caring Education Web site.

Look for many other tips from caring teachers on the Caring Ways page of the site!

1. Go out of your way to compliment a child who gets very few strokes. Take more care to notice what is important to him or her.

2. Compliment the efforts, not just the successes: "That was a good try on that puzzle; I see you really working hard."

3. Compliment children for being kind and courteous and be courteous yourself: "Thanks for saying you're welcome."

NOTICE AND ACKNOWLEDGE STUDENTS

4. When you see one child has a difficulty, address the subject to the class as a whole: "Some of you may be having difficulty drawing a fish. Who would like to share a good way for the class to see?"

5. Ask the child about something that you know is important to him or her: "How was that Little League game you played last night?"

6. When you see a child is upset, take time to speak privately with him or her. Learn what is going on. That action will be appreciated.

MAKE SMALL GESTURES -- THEY GO A LONG WAY

7. Give a reward or gift to children for no reason at all -- other than to show you love them: "Tomorrow, we all get a treat, a popcorn party!"

8. Work on the placement of your desk so that when a child comes up to speak to you, that child will be next to the chair and not across from you.

9. A gesture that accommodates individual needs is appreciated. For example, give extra time on a test to a child who is a very nervous test taker.

10. Find a way to make a personal contact with parents and caregivers as soon as possible after the start of the school year. Acknowledge the importance of their role and something positive about each child.

FOCUS ON HELLOS AND GOOD-BYES

11. Tell students what is new and good for you this morning. Ask students to share the same.

12. When you make eye contact with a child during the day, smile! There are so many non-verbal ways that you can show you care.

13. When ending a conversation, pause silently with the child before turning away. A short pause while still looking at the child shows that he or she is important and that you are not just rushing to the next thing to do.

WORK ON YOUR OWN ANGER

14. It is important to know how to deal with your own anger in a physical way. For example, when you're feeling anger, take a deep breath, count to ten, or find your own space.

15. Be aware of your own bias toward a child and go out of your way to try to deal with the child fairly. You may not like tattoos, but don't be unkind to a student because of his or her new tattoos.

16. When a child does something that is troubling or hostile, it can be helpful to ask yourself and/or the child: "What's really going on? What is happening behind what you are saying and the way you are saying it?"

SEEK AND EXPRESS THE GOOD

17. Identify some positive intent that exists, even in an action that does not work out well: "I know you want to help your friend, but giving him the answers on the test is a not a useful way."

18. Take note when you are starting to show continual disfavor with a child. Often by trying to understand more what is going on with the child, you can help yourself find a way to feel more positive.

19. Tell yourself that the student is doing something that annoys you, but he or she isn't doing it to annoy you!

LISTEN TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING

20. When listening to what a child has to say, turn your whole body toward the child. In that way, you show that you are giving the child your full attention.

21. Kneel next to the child to communicate with him or her. Speaking from on high can be distancing; it can feel daunting to the child.

22. Find quiet time for reflection or relaxing after a more active time. You might use a guided imagery activity or play music that allows a mood to be set and calm to return.

ENGAGE STUDENTS IN COMMUNICATION OF ALL SORTS

23. Bring in stories of your own experiences that relate to what you're teaching. "I know how frightening it was for Hansel and Gretel to get lost in the woods. It happened to me one time!"

24. Allow your weaknesses to show -- this is very human: "I must admit, I had trouble learning how to boil an egg, and my mom was a home economics teacher!"

25. When pressed for time, communicate with your students later in writing. Set up a special box where you put notes to hand to your students at a later time.

26. Have a message center in the classroom where students can give the teacher notes that can be read and responded to at a quiet time.

ENGAGE STUDENTS IN RESOLVING SOCIAL PROBLEMS

27. Be careful about invoking the "Golden Rule" too early in solving a problem. That can bring about guilt or resentment. It may be better to initially ask "How do you think she feels?" rather than "How would you like it if she did that to you?"

28. Note when a child in the class is being "excluded" by others. Give that child attention alone and with the class present.

29. Find a way to improve performance that looks for improvement and not perfection: "Alfredo, show me that you are making an effort to interrupt less -- by interrupting less."

30. When you notice a transgression, allow the child to see you noticed without calling him or her on it. This often gives the child the opportunity to appreciatively self-correct.

See 50 more Caring Ways!

Gary Hopkins
Education World® Editor-in-Chief
Copyright © 2005 Education World

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