Strong Spirits, Kind Hearts

Helping Students Develop Inner Strength, Resilience, and Meaning

By (author) Sandra Finney author of Strong Spirits, Kind Hearts, coauthor of The Way of the Teache

Publication date:

23 May 2013

Length of book:

218 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

Dimensions:

261x188mm
7x10"

ISBN-13: 9781475802092

Strong Spirits, Kind Hearts is the first practical teacher resource to provide comprehensive coverage of all aspects of developing strong spirits and caring young people. It is focused on middle years’ students but most lessons can be adapted for older and younger students as well. This resource describes ways to incorporate emotional and spiritual supports into daily routines and interactions with students and provides ready-to-use activities, lessons and units that can be integrated into subject area teaching. This book helps teachers to:

understand the importance of strengthening students’ spirits and how this support improves students’ learning and classroom morale
build resilience and hope through their interactions with students
distinguish between the development of strong spirits and religious education
use approaches that are respectful of religious and spiritual diversity as well as more secular views
implement a wealth of strategies, lessons, and units that develop students’ compassion and sense of connection to others and the natural world
integrate a focus on meaning and purpose within subject area lessons.

Acknowledgements
Preface

Part One: the Classroom World
Chapter One: The Teacher as Compassionate Role Model
A Teacher’s Creed that Supports Students’ Spirits
One Small Thing About Me
Chapter Two: The Classroom Community: Everyone is Safe here, Belongs here, is Needed
A Teacher Talk: We are all in this Together
A Process for creating a Safe and Caring Classroom
Kindness Lessons
A Teacher Talk: When Adults are Unkind
Would everyone Please Listen to Me?
What do you Need?
A Teacher Talk: Thinking about Anger
The Sharing Circle
Chapter Three: Strengthening Bonds between Class Members
A Teacher Talk: A Community Needs Diversity
A Teacher Talk: Moral Courage and Diverse Views
Who I am Now: A Project
Getting to Know You
Getting to Know you a Little Better
Many Ways to be Smart
Laughter is Good for the Soul

Part Two: The Inner World
Chapter Four: Building Resilience and Inner Strength
Sources of Strength –Sources of Happiness
The Gifts of Silence
A Teacher Talk: The Gifts of Silence
Finding the Kindness Within
A Teacher Talk: Tuning in to your Heart
I am More than You Think
Who Needs You?
A Teacher Talk: You are Needed
Chapter Five: Change your Thinking—Change your Life: A Unit
A Teacher Talk: Learning about your Thoughts
What are You Thinking?
We can Change our Thoughts
A Teacher Talk: We can Change our Thoughts
We can Change our Thoughts and Behaviours
Paths to a Happier Life
Chapter Six: A Meaningful Life
From Routines to Rituals
Beauty that Money Can’t Buy
A Teacher Talk: What is Beautiful?
We are All Creative
A Teacher Talk: The Need to Create
What is Your Song?
Chapter Seven: Spirit Matters
Exploring Questions of Meaning and Purpose
The Box for Important Questions
Other Ways to Explore Students’ Questions and Concerns
What is the Spirit? What is the Soul?
What is Sacred to You?
Exploring the Many Meanings of Prayer
A Teacher Talk: There are Many Ways to Pray
Wondering about God
Enrichment

Part Three: The Natural World
Chapter Eight: A Breath of Fresh Air
Short Activities Outdoors
Take Short Walks Regularly – Ideas for Walks
Visit Local Gardens
Visit Whatever Body of Water is Possible for You and Your Class
The Spirit of Place
Chapter Nine: the Ten Thousand Things: Supporting Awe, Wonder, and Respect
What has Heart for You? How much will your Heart Hold?
Take a Nature Break through the use of Multi Media Technology
Explore the Diversity within and across Species
Use Nature-Focused Thoughts for the Day
Collect Awe and Wonder Stories
Develop a List of Marvels and Mysteries
Study Colours, Shapes, and Patterns
Develop Students’ Interest in and Appreciation of Plants
Foster a Respectful Connection to Animals
A Teacher Talk: How should Animals be Treated?
Wondering
Chapter Ten: The Tree of Life: An Integrated Unit
Introductory Lesson: the Tree of Life as a Spiritual Symbol
The Trees in my Community
Awe and Wonder Stories related to Trees
Passionate about Trees
A World without Trees
Adopt a Tree
Culminating Activity: Create a Tree of Life with Personal Meaning

Part Four: One World
Chapter Eleven: We are all One
Why do we need Bears?
A Circle of Life
What and Who do you Need in a Day?
What do we have in Common with Others?
Whole People, Whole Lives: Moving Beyond Global Labels
Chapter 12: Good People of the World: An Integrated Unit
What is a Hero?
What does it mean to be Courageous? Where does Courage Come From?
True Stories of Child and Youth Heroes
Heroes in My Family and Community
What Causes People to Hate, Hurt, and Kill?
Different Types of Good People: “Everyday Heroes”, Humanitarians, Eco-Heroes, and Philanthropists
Thinking Globally: Acting Locally
Respecting, not Patronizing: What it means to use an Empowerment Model
A Better World
The Hero within us All

Appendices
Appendix A: Ways to Help Parents and Administrators Understand a Focus on the Student’s Spirit
Appendix B: Principles of a Restorative Approach to Classroom and School Discipline

References

Strong Spirits, Kind Hearts is an impressive and inspiring compilation of ideas, activities and lessons that promises to enrich students' spirits within public education. Sandra Finney encourages transformational approaches to learning. Her book is a must-read that is easy to use without oversimplifying essential ideas and processes.