The Paper Doll Project

With the recent tragedy of the mass shootings in Christchurch, my class has been talking about acceptance, tolerance, diversity and values.

Being in Southland we are not directly connected to the event of March 15th, but we all want to acknowledge how sad we feel about what has happened to people who should have been able to carry out their daily lives without fear, just as any New Zealander or visitor to our country should be able to do.

We are joining the Paper Doll Project to honour the victims and their Muslim community and to celebrate the special character that New Zealand has as a nation - one of many colours, creeds, races and religions.

We wish peace and aroha to all who are in this country - be kind to one another, that's all we ask. We are all human, we are all unique - we need to celebrate this.

Encouraging Cultural Sensitivity

Four tips, using websites, that aim to encourage students to develop and display emapathy towards others:  https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/11/03/4-tools-to-help-kids-develop-empathy-and-cultural-humility/

Fun! (And THAT song is not to be heard...)

This week's Think About It...

Link to image

THINK before you speak

I have had this poster on my quotes Pinterest board for a while - this time of year (nearing the end of the third term, senior pupils starting to think/worry/get excited about heading to college) is a good time to bring it out for the classroom - even though we have a great team culture in the classroom, the pupils have had three terms together and, as they are so familiar with each other and it is easy to get 'ratty' with those we know so well, we just need a little reminder right now that kind words always have more effect than unkind words...

The Teach Junkie blog has these posters available for free download...

Shannon's version

and Leslie's version