“The most important
thing a kid can learn is who they are. You have to decide who you are and
recognize this is a journey you are on. I look at the kids and say, ‘You don’t
all have to be the same kid. But if you know who you are, your life is going to
be a lot better.’ Kids who don’t know who they are make bad decisions and get
into all kinds of mischief.” Rafe Esquith (excerpt from One-on-One with
America’s Most Inspiring Teachers)
Most middle school students experience a few years in which
they develop inwardly a skewed sense of self. During this period of time their
identity has an “important-at-all-times” focus. Their personal and social concerns
often dominate over their academic concerns. Given these feelings of wanting to
belong, middle school students are fiercely loyal to peer group values and
sometimes cruel and insensitive to those outside of the peer group. Often lost
in this storm of social-emotional growth, students don’t think much about how
others feel. What are some ways we can help middle school students navigate
through this self-centered period toward a more empathetic way of thinking and
behaving? How can we as educators help students embrace the importance of
treating others the way they want to be treated? Here are few suggestions.
1. Good Literature-
Read books with your students that portray a young protagonist that must make a
moral decision. Tell students that Huck Finn is not about Huck Finn, it’s about
them. What would they do? Animal Farm is not about the animals, it’s about them
and what they would do in that situation. Students read all of these characters,
themes, and lessons and start to decide the most important thing a kid can
learn; who they are becoming.
Here are some books that allow teachers to start a
conversation and get middle school students thinking about the person they are becoming.
Harry Potter and the Sorcer’s Stone
To Kill a Mockingbird
Anne of Green Gables
The Lovely Bones
The Ender’s Game
The Book Thief
The Giver
James and the Giant Peach
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Where the Red Fern Grows
2. Share examples of Empathy- Students
need to know that there are students their own age doing courageous things in
order to stand up for what is right. Educators can do this by sharing articles
or videos each day. I can think of no other way to start the day than sharing a
quick inspirational video or article with students. Below are a couple of
examples
Danny's Day
Inspirational Softball Story
Sportsmanship Feel Good Moment
2012 Sportsmanship Awards- Demetrius De Moors
Teaching our students the Golden Rule is just as important
as any other standard we are charged with teaching. I want our students to see
themselves as Huck Finn as he is going down the river and seeing the hypocrisy,
the racism, and the violence and saying,“ I’m leaving and I don’t want to be a
part of this society.” I want them to see in themselves the bravery of Atticus
Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) who when he is asked by his children, “Are we
going to win the case?” and he says “No.” But he still takes the case. He
doesn’t run away. He goes into the courtroom and he fights the fight that he
can. If we expose our students to others showing courageous character I’m
confident they are much more likely to rise to the occasion when their Atticus
Finch moment arrives.
