Presenting Seeds of Empathy Schools of the Future Conference

Presenting Seeds of Empathy Schools of the Future Conference Brenda McCormack Lisa McIntosh Barb Morgan Copyright 2018 Roots of Empathy

Copyright 2018 Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy Impact 75,000

1

Social innovation that is changing the world child by child

Volunteers were mobilized in 20172018 to help nurture empathy in children in classrooms.

Children experienced the program last year.

3,000

1 million

Programs delivered in 2017-18.

3,000

Tiny teachers became heroes in the classrooms last year

6,500

Children have benefitted from the program globally since it was created

12

Countries where we have programs

Founder/President Mary Gordon is the Founder, President and the inspiration behind our organizational empathy based programs - Roots of Empathy and Seeds of Empathy.

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Johnny has 3 apples.

If AmĂŠlie takes 2 apples, How will Johnny feel?

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Seeds of Empathy Designed for 3 – 5 year old children in early childhood settings to; • foster social/emotional competence, • early literacy skills and attitudes, • while providing professional development for their educators.

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This is Seeds of Empathy

How the SOE Program Works • Based on school year • 10 themes, each theme has: • Literacy Circles • A Family Visit • Child care staff are trained as Literacy Coaches (Literacy Circles) and Family Guides (Family Visits)

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Social and Emotional Competence Program

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Seeds of Empathy At the heart of the program is an infant and parent from the community who visit the centre throughout the year.

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Seeds of Empathy The baby is the “Teacher” who shows his feelings.

This helps the children to identify and reflect on their own feelings – emotional literacy and the feelings of others - empathy.

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Early Literacy Program The Literacy Circle

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Learning in the Early Years • The Early Years offer an unparalleled opportunity to support children’s social and emotional learning, which will influence their happiness and success in their lives.

• Childrens’ attitudes to reading are formed early and through important relationships in their lives.

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Curriculum Activities Discussion, Reflection, Observation, Music/Movement, Drama and Art

Drama and Discussion Curriculum Activity Copyright 2010 Roots of Empathy

Professional Development for Early Childhood Educators •Increase knowledge of early childhood development and skill sets in working with 3-to-5-year-olds •Help promote empathy in early childhood settings

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Goals for Children •Foster the development of empathy and emotional literacy •Build social and emotional understanding •Reduce aggression and increase pro-social behavior •Develop positive attitudes towards and competencies in early literacy Copyright 2010 Roots of Empathy

Emotional Literacy The “emotional literacy� taught in the program gives children the vocabulary for understanding and talking about their feelings.

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Emotional Literacy • • • • “That’s Mad, I’m Mad” – SOE Child

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Observation of and labelling baby’s emotions Reflecting and identifying own emotions Understanding the emotions of others (empathy) Comfort in talking about their feelings

Perspective-taking In Seeds of Empathy, children’s literature opens up doors to feelings and helps with perspective taking.

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Empathy Empathy – Having the capacity to understand how another person feels and to care about how this person feels.

Perspective Taking – the cognitive aspect of empathy.

Emotional Literacy – emotions are the affective aspect of empathy.

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Self Regulation • Self regulation is the ability to manage and recover from stress. • When children are highly stressed, or in fight or flight, they shift from social or learning brain to survival brain. • This makes it harder for them to think, make decisions, understand others and express themselves.

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Temperament is a person’s innate predisposition to respond to the world in a particular way.

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Temperament Traits 1.

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Intensity Sensitivity Adaptability Mood Activity Level Rhythmicity First Reaction Persistence Distractibility

Seeds of Empathy Heartfelt Moments “I hope Liam never feels upset or scared. If he does, I’ll hold him.”

– SOE Child “When you feel sad, you just gotta get some loving.”

– SOE Child Copyright 2010 Roots of Empathy

Changing The World, Child by Child " The SOE baby is the catalyst, and the children are the levers of change. " Mary Gordon

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Changing the World Child by Child

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For more information on Seeds of Empathy:

Brenda McCormack Director of International Relations and Business Development bmccormack@rootsofempathy.org For more information on Roots of Empathy in Hawaii: Barb Morgan bmorgan@rootsofempathy.org mail@rootsofempathy.org www.rootsofempathy.org @rootsofempathy

Charitable Number 89643 4818 RR0001 Roots of Empathy, USA is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Copyright 2018 Roots of Empathy