Learning to use kind words
An example of how I used the What if Learning approach to change the focus of a lesson unit for a Year One Italian Class
The story: Il Pappagallo (Arcobaleno series – out of print)
A pet parrot annoys all the family members who react with harsh words (Get lost! You’re annoying! etc). Previously I have got around this by asking the children if they think the family members really mean what they say and concluding that they don’t. But in reality the Parrot takes the words to heart, he is hurt by them and leaves home. As the family tries to coax him down from the tree in the backyard, he repeats back all the harsh words, not realising he’s in imminent danger of being caught by the cat. He escapes the cat’s clutches and there is a heart-warming conclusion. It’s a funny story and we could leave it there. The language focus is on learning names of family members and colours, not the harsh words.
Seeing anew
The effect of words. Harsh words have the power to hurt; kind words have the power to heal. How did the Parrot react to harsh words? How can we show kindness to one another by the words we choose to use? Here’s an opportunity to counter the harsh words with an alternative approach. These ideas draw on the following bible verses:
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Proverbs 16:24
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Choosing engagement
With the class, draw up a list of alternative kind words in response to the story and the parrot’s reaction: I’m sorry, I forgive you, that’s ok, please, thank you.
Reshaping practice
Make pappagallo puppets (as usual) but this time the students sit in a circle and we engage in an activity to learn kind words. A child says a kind word we have learnt. All the parrots repeat it. Subtext: kindness leads to kindness, we repeat the patterns we are exposed to, the idea of modelling. Repeat in pairs, in small groups.
Applying/reinforcing: Make a Chatterpix with the parrot speaking the kind words; take parrots home so they can teach family members kind word in Italian
Ongoing practice: Encourage students to use kind words in other contexts in the classroom
An example of how I used the What if Learning approach to change the focus of a lesson unit for a Year One Italian Class
The story: Il Pappagallo (Arcobaleno series – out of print)
A pet parrot annoys all the family members who react with harsh words (Get lost! You’re annoying! etc). Previously I have got around this by asking the children if they think the family members really mean what they say and concluding that they don’t. But in reality the Parrot takes the words to heart, he is hurt by them and leaves home. As the family tries to coax him down from the tree in the backyard, he repeats back all the harsh words, not realising he’s in imminent danger of being caught by the cat. He escapes the cat’s clutches and there is a heart-warming conclusion. It’s a funny story and we could leave it there. The language focus is on learning names of family members and colours, not the harsh words.
Seeing anew
The effect of words. Harsh words have the power to hurt; kind words have the power to heal. How did the Parrot react to harsh words? How can we show kindness to one another by the words we choose to use? Here’s an opportunity to counter the harsh words with an alternative approach. These ideas draw on the following bible verses:
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Proverbs 16:24
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Choosing engagement
With the class, draw up a list of alternative kind words in response to the story and the parrot’s reaction: I’m sorry, I forgive you, that’s ok, please, thank you.
Reshaping practice
Make pappagallo puppets (as usual) but this time the students sit in a circle and we engage in an activity to learn kind words. A child says a kind word we have learnt. All the parrots repeat it. Subtext: kindness leads to kindness, we repeat the patterns we are exposed to, the idea of modelling. Repeat in pairs, in small groups.
Applying/reinforcing: Make a Chatterpix with the parrot speaking the kind words; take parrots home so they can teach family members kind word in Italian
Ongoing practice: Encourage students to use kind words in other contexts in the classroom