Caring & Compassion

IB Learner Profile: Caring- I am kind. I am helpful.

Character Trait of the Month: Compassion-showing concern or empathy for others. I will be considerate of others and think about how they feel.

Why is kindness, caring, and compassion important? “Fostering a culture of kindness enhances the connections made peer-to-peer and student to teacher. Carving out time to intentionally promote kindness cultivates empathy and understanding between individuals, leading to deeper relationships. As relationships form, trust develops, which allows a culture of learning to blossom where all individuals feel genuinely valued -- for who they are and what they contribute as a unique individual. Although there’s no denying that teachers have various demands to tend to, devoting ample time to nurturing the classroom culture through teaching kindness is exactly what allows us to be successful in other areas”(1).

According to neuroscientist and educator, Dr. Judy Willis:

“Classrooms can be the safe haven where academic practices and classroom strategies provide students with emotional comfort and pleasure as well as knowledge. When teachers use strategies to reduce stress and build a positive emotional environment, students gain emotional resilience and learn more efficiently and at higher levels of cognition. Brain-imaging studies support this relationship.