Category: REBkind

kindness, REBkind, travel

Traveling Kindness

Tamara

This week I am spending time in Los Angeles, California, as my final trip for the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence I received in 2018. Due to the pandemic, the original trip was postponed, but now that social distancing regulations are lifted, it’s time to soar with kindness once again!

To prepare for my trip, I gathered my favorite “kindness supplies,” namely candy, coins, post-it notes, pens, and gift cards. I also grabbed a few copies of A Passion for Kindness that I could autograph and leave in random places in California. After 18 months of car-only travel, I was very excited to get back in the air again!

Love packing my bags with kindness surprises!
It’s been 18 months since I’ve flown on an airplane!

When I arrived at the airport Saturday morning, I made sure to wear a smile behind my mask and deliberately made eye contact with the different service personnel I encountered. The woman who checked in my luggage laughed when I cheered as my suitcase came in under 50 lbs. I took time to appreciate joy in the little things, like the conversation I shared with the TSA worker who asked, “How many tech devices do you HAVE in that backpack?!” (Let’s just say that it took 5 separate containers to scan it all!) How blessed am I to have an opportunity to travel across the country, presenting to others about my passion for kindness!

When my candy was flagged for a hands-on inspection, I didn’t fret or get frustrated with the delay. I smiled again and explained the reason for such a massive quantity of sweets. They were doing their job as thoroughly as they could and I was appreciative for all the ways they keep us safe during our travels.

Then came the act of kindness that would completely turn my day upside down.

About 5 minutes before we boarded our flight, the American Airlines attendant came over the loudspeaker and asked, “Are there any passengers who have flexible travel plans that would be willing to give up their seat?”

I really wanted to get on that plane to California.

I really wanted to arrive on time so I could enjoy my first evening in L.A.

But I also wanted to make someone else’s day brighter.

You already know what I did.

Twenty minutes later, I was waving goodbye to the plane that was supposed to take me to my destination.

When I offered up my seat, I was able to meet the young woman who took my spot. She was traveling with another woman and a nine-month-old baby; they were hoping to fly together even though one was traveling standby. It was such joy to see their faces light up when they heard that they could both board the plane! Her gratitude made any inconveniences I would experience for this decision absolutely worth it.

The woman with the baby, trying to work out details to fly.
The woman who received my seat, at the far end of the counter. Faces are blurred for privacy.

The American Airlines attendant, Roz, who helped redirect my path, rewarded my kindness with a $375 voucher for another trip, upgraded me to first-class seats, AND provided a $12 food voucher I could use in the RIC airport. It was a kindness boomerang! The only catch? I would have to wait another 8 hours before I could board the next flight and would arrive in California three hours later than I planned.

Mindset matters.

When I offered to sacrifice my seat, I didn’t anticipate so many rewards. I knew I would get some kind of travel credit, but I didn’t expect that much. I definitely didn’t expect all the extras! But I was kind and patient as they were working out details and I truly believe when you live as a Kindness Cultivator, every now and again what you put out into the world returns right back to you. Having a positive mindset helped me reframe my day: I could attend the opening session of the ISTE Conference virtually and interact live with other attendees. I could eat a meal in a restaurant. I could watch a movie on my iPad. I could read. I could write. So many choices!

I decided to grab a cup of coffee and noticed the tip jar was empty as I placed my order. I added a few dollars, then laughed when I saw the message on the cup I received: “May cause irrepressible happiness.” Kindness for the win!

I love the message on this cup!

After attending a few ISTE sessions while I waited in the terminal, I received an alert on my phone regarding my rescheduled flight. It was now delayed and I wouldn’t be leaving until 7pm. This change would result in a missed connection, possibly requiring me to spend the night in the Chicago airport.

Oh NO!

It would have been easy to fly off-the-handle in frustration at this unexpected change. I could have rolled my eyes, bemoaned Murphy’s Law, and made a snarky comment about how being kind backfires. Instead, I took a short walk to clear my mind, then took control of the things I could.

I contacted my hotel and let them know I was still headed their way. I rescheduled my LA tour for Monday instead of Sunday. I made a few more calls, then went to look for an American Airlines attendant to see if there was something – anything – that could be done to get me to California before midnight.

As luck would have it, Roz was still working her shift at the counter. She called me over and worked her magic, rerouting me completely, putting me on a flight to Charlotte that was boarding right then. She also let me know that due to this change, I would arrive in California only one hour later than my originally booked time. What a gift! I was so grateful for her expertise in scheduling, and her willingness to move mountains to help me out, that I told her she was worth 100 Grand and gave her a candy bar to prove it.

When I arrived in the Charlotte airport, I pulled out my sticky notes and left a few positive affirmation messages throughout the terminal: on the ladies restroom mirror, by the water fountain, and on random tables. I found a rocking chair to settle in and participated in a few more ISTE sessions as I waited for my connecting flight. I also said a little quick prayer that my luggage wouldn’t get lost and would be safe waiting for me in LA.

I love leaving positive affirmation notes everywhere I travel! You never know who will need a little pick-me-up right in that moment!
Learning on the go!

As I boarded my flight for the West Coast, I smiled at people as I walked down the aisle to my seat. I made sure to give the flight attendant my attention and smiled again when she explained the need to put on our oxygen masks before helping others, a point my superintendent, Dr. Gill, emphasized during our district’s Leadership Conference this past week. It was a great reminder that we must take care of ourselves first in order to help others!

Since my flight was rerouted, I no longer had first class seats (but they were fun to have while they lasted!) I was now seated in a row of three, beside the aisle, not near the window like I always prefer. Again, I made a conscious choice to be grateful for the seat instead of dwelling on the change.

Life is short.

Enjoy the journey.

After flying for a bit, I noticed the gal beside me diligently working on her laptop. She introduced herself as Rachel and asked if I knew of anywhere she could charge her device, but our flight didn’t provide any outlets nearby. I offered my portable charger for her use, which she greatly appreciated, but she didn’t have a cable that would connect correctly with her laptop’s adaptor.

It was then that the guy on the other side of Rachel joined our conversation. His name was Adam and he happened to have a charging cable that worked! We were so excited by our success, we snapped a collaborative kindness selfie to document the moment. Between my charger, Rachel’s charger, and Adam’s cable, she was able to continue working for most of the flight.

Thumbs up for collaborative kindness!

When we finally landed in California, I added a thank you note to a bag of M&Ms and left them in my seat for the flight attendant to discover after we all had left. It was a small gesture of appreciation, but one I hoped would make her smile!

A RAK for my flight attendant
A closer photo of my message

All in all, it was an incredible day of scattering kindness from the East Coast to the West Coast and thanks to Roz, I made it back to my hotel in plenty of time to check in and get a good night’s rest. I’m excited to see what adventures I will encounter while in L.A. and I look forward to connecting with ISTE conference attendees both virtually and in person while I’m here!

More stories to come soon. Be the good!

Welcome to California!

education, ITRT, kindness, REBkind, reflection, travel

We Rise Together

Tamara

Those closest to me can probably remember when I added “Become a Keynote Speaker” to my life-long bucket list. I had spent several years sharing my educational experiences at local and state conferences, but hadn’t yet been invited to share my story to a large gathering. I was a novice to the main stage and, quite frankly, a bit intimidated at the thought of being front and center with everyone in attendance staring back at me.

In 2015, I checked that bucket list box when a woman contacted me and asked if I would like to keynote a childcare conference in our local community. I jumped at the chance.

It was the first time I wore a wireless microphone.

It was the first time I had a full-fledged panic attack at the thought of forgetting what to say.

It was the first time I realized my story could impact others on a professional and personal level.

My first keynote presentation: “Connections That Count”

Since that time, I have been a keynote speaker for several conferences, each with their own unique flair. As a full-time educator currently serving students and staff at two elementary schools, my school-year schedule fills up quickly, so I have discovered the necessity to schedule events several months, even up to a year, in advance. This has required me to be very selective regarding which opportunities I accept.

This week I had the honor of being a keynote speaker at the Women Education Leaders in Virginia (WELV) conference in Charlottesville, Virginia. In preparation with conference organizers, I was humbled that they chose the subtitle of my book as their conference theme: Lead, Love, and Learn. Wow! Talk about a compliment! I was floored!

My presenter badge with the conference theme Lead, Love, and Learn

As I prepared my keynote, “The POWER Paradox: Leading with Empathy and Compassion” I thought of the women who would be in attendance. Many were Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, and district leaders from school divisions all across Virginia. Some were teacher-leaders in their schools, aspiring to rise into roles of leadership in their respective districts. How could I inspire them when they were tasked daily to inspire others?

It’s quite easy to fall prey to imposter’s syndrome when preparing to share your story, whether it’s through a keynote presentation, a published book, or even a pre-recorded podcast. In a study shared in The Journal of Behavioral Science, researchers concluded that nearly 70% of respondents had battled feelings of inferiority, attributing success to coincidence or luck, not because of the valuable contributions made and shared. Imposter’s syndrome whispers lies of incompetence to push down and paralyze, but it’s one of those battles rarely discussed in open spaces.

I worked on my presentation on nights and weekends, often jotting down thoughts in my turquoise, spiral-bound notebook. (Yes, it’s true. I’m a technologist with a weakness for top-notch school supplies, including college-ruled paper!) When I found articles of interest, I emailed them to myself and I read many books to gain a greater insight to the message my heart needed to share.

The more I prepared for my presentation, the more I pondered the impact of my words. Would my purpose resonate on the hearts of others? Would attendees be moved to take action in their schools and districts? With each passing day I would create, edit, and revise. In essence, my keynote quickly became an extension of my book, A Passion for Kindness, allowing me the opportunity to elaborate on stories briefly mentioned and showcase additional stories untold. It wove through the paradoxical challenges of serving in leadership positions and the ways we could still rise up with strength, empathy, and compassion.

As the conference opened to a sold-out crowd, I took the stage and looked out among the faces of so many powerful women. It was in that moment that I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. Their smiles of encouragement immediately put me at ease; their laughter at my southern vernacular reminded me that I was in a safe, encouraging place.

Many thanks to Jennifer Cavanaugh for capturing and sharing this photo during the keynote!
The middle of the room. Talk about an engaging crowd! They were fabulous!
Ladies on my right
Ladies on my left

For ninety minutes I shared my heart with these incredible ladies and when my keynote came to a close I was humbled to see not one, not two, but an entire room rise to their feet in applause for the message shared. It was an unexpected gesture of kindness that filled me with awe.

As the conference continued with inspiring and empowering learning sessions, led by women leaders from a multitude of school districts, I was reminded again and again of one of my favorite quotes by Robert Ingersoll: “We rise by lifting others.” The conversations we shared were heartfelt; the selfies radiating the joy of rising together for a common cause. We were here to be the best we could be for students, staff, and communities we serve each day. We were unified by our vision and purpose.

Loved spending time with fellow DBC author, Lynmara Colón, and the joyful Jarcelynn Hart!
It took us two keynotes to finally get our selfie, but always such fun to see Krystle Pearson!
Loved capturing a selfie with Ginny Gills!
“Smiling is my favorite!”

See, I would not be in the position I am today were it not for the women who came before me, paving the path. And while there are still gender disparities in this field of educational leadership (and public speaking!), I am thankful for each and every opportunity I have to share my story with others. It is only fitting that today, on International Women’s Day, I spotlight this amazing organization and the women who make it soar.

Pam Moran, retired Superintendent for Albemarle County Public Schools and 2015 Virginia Superintendent of the Year, was one of the first to endorse my book, A Passion for Kindness. Her book, Timeless Learning, was released in August 2018.

Many thanks to the WELV members who graciously accepted me as one of their own and continually poured into my soul with their kindness, grace, and thought-provoking conversations. I may have arrived at their event as a keynote speaker, but I left as one of their own.

Thanks also to the Pierce Group Benefits who sponsored the purchase of 150 books so every conference attendee could be uplifted and inspired with A Passion for Kindness.

The next time you have an opportunity to lift up someone else with your words or actions, don’t hesitate. Go and do. Your vote of confidence in what they have to offer the world may be the one thing needed to push them forward to greatness.

We rise together.

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education, kindness, REBkind, reflection, writing

Becoming an Author in 2019

Tamara

As I sit here at my writing desk reflecting on the past year, I am simply awestruck. I don’t even know if I can fully articulate the impact 2019 has had on my life.

It has been a transformational year.

In 2019, I became a published author. Just typing those words still brings the novelty and thrill of a child, hands clasped together in absolute glee, looking up towards the heavens shouting, “I DID IT!” It was a goal I had hidden on my heart for decades and, truth be told, if it wasn’t for the constant support of many friends and coworkers, I’m not sure I would have crossed the finish line to say those words.

I actually wrote a book about my passion for kindness.

OH. MY. GOODNESS. WOW!

“I’m a published author!”

I could end this post right there, as that bucket-list goal, life dream achievement was enough – more than enough – to celebrate a year well-lived. But what I didn’t know in February 2019, when my book showed up on Amazon lists and Barnes and Noble advertisements, is that it was just the beginning of an incredible adventure I am still learning how to navigate.

There’s no rule book on how to become an author or what to do once it happens. I just knew that I had a story to share with the world and I wanted to inspire and uplift others along the way. While my book details my kindness journey both inside the classroom and outside in the community, I also shared the stories of twelve Kindness Cultivators (one for each chapter) and dozens more scattered throughout the pages.

This wasn’t a book focused solely on me, it was a book about us.

I told myself if only one person was positively impacted by my book – just ONE – then to me, it was enough. It would be worth the hours of writing and sacrifice of time, energy, and sleep. It would be worth the paranoia of perfectionism and the irrational angst of anxiety that whispered in my ear as I worried about every little detail.

Just. One. Person.

It was enough.

The response to A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love, and Learn has been overwhelming for this gal who comes from “the land of tomatoes.” I can still remember Maureen Ambrose holding my book at a playground before I even had the chance to get my own purchased copy. My father-in-law, affectionately known as “Grandpa Letter,” bought a copy for every person in his neighborhood book club before I even figured out which pen would work best for autographs. My forever friend, Lisa Zader, drove hours to help me unpack boxes of books, delighted to be the first to photograph my excitement.

Mike Mohammad posted a screenshot of himself ordering my book, then later posted a screenshot of the Kindle version on his iPad saying he couldn’t wait for the hard copy of the book to arrive, he wanted to read it right then. Even now, nearly a year later, my heart soars remembering the way Christine Bemis‘ Nana held my book in her hospital bed while recovering from a fall, her smile radiant as she listened to stories about prioritizing kindness. I was especially touched when I saw the watercolor artwork created by Amanda Fox‘s 10 year old daughter, Rowan, inspired by the cover of my book.

The posts flooded my social media feeds with your book screenshots and smiling faces. I took screenshots of your screenshots so I could always remember the ways you wrapped me with love to celebrate my accomplishment. Each day was like unwrapping a new gift under the tree, waiting to see what would connect with you as a reader, which stories would resonate most.

Local businesses and organizations welcomed me into their spaces for book signings and meet-and-greet events. Educators around the world contacted me to join them on their podcast shows or moderate their Twitter chats. I received invitations to create webinars and presentations. Dr. Gill, the superintendent of my school district, invited me to all four graduation ceremonies and mentioned my passion for kindness in his commencement speech with quotes from my book. I was even interviewed for our local CBS Channel 6 news station’s morning show and later chosen as one of their “Month of Giving” recipients at the end of the year.

Rob Cardwell from WTVR Channel 6 News surprised me at school as one of their “Month of Giving” recipients.

I visited Houston, Texas and Boston, Massachusetts then traveled out of the country to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada as part of my R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence, meeting dozens of kindness cultivators along the way. It was especially humbling to meet Barbara Gruener, Jet Stream Jax, Houston Kraft, Todd Nesloney, Wendy Hankins, Cathy O’Grady, and Annick Rauch during my travels. I was so inspired by those mentioned in my book that I turned one of my books into an autograph book so I could capture the signatures of those who made such a powerful impact on me!

Blessed by Barbara’s kindness to drive more than an hour to visit Todd Nesloney at his school!
Wendy Hankins signing her page in my book.
Barbara Gruener’s sweet autograph for my book.

Becoming a published author has been absolutely surreal!

What has resonated most about this entire journey of becoming an author in 2019 has been the ways in which my story has impacted yours. Every single day – without exception – I have received some form of contact from someone in the world: emails, text messages, private messages, voicemails, cards in the mail, even post-it notes on my desk and door.

You have shared in my joy. You have asked questions. You have poured out your hearts and taken time out of your day to describe your commitment to kindness. You have inspired me with your examples of ways that you make the world a better place to lead, love, and learn.

I have hugged parents who are completing kindness missions in memory of their children who have passed away. I have listened to students share the most wonderful things they have done for others and how “being kind makes a difference.” I have watched strangers come together for a common cause and enjoyed the viral sensations of kindness posted in our Passion for Kindness Facebook group.

When 2019 began, I was looking forward to the joys of becoming a published author. When I sit here now, as 2019 comes to a close, I realize I became something else.

I became a better person because of you.

You believed in me.

You encouraged me.

You picked me up when I got knocked down.

You hugged me when I became overwhelmed.

You shared my stories with others and embraced the knowledge that there’s plenty of room in the spotlight for all of us to stand.

All that I accomplished in 2019 was because of you.

You showed me the true meaning of having a passion for kindness.

Thank you for an amazing year!

Traditionally I share my accomplishments with links to blog posts and such, but this year I decided to create an infographic to summarize it all. A special thanks to Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. for taking a chance on this first-time author. It’s been a year to remember!

Check back soon – my One Word 2020 post will be shared on New Year’s Day!

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education, ITRT, kindness, REBkind

Be the I in Kind

Tamara

Often when I am traveling and speaking, people will ask, “How do you teach about kindness when you don’t have a class of your own?” It’s the spark of a rich conversation focused on key elements of my role as an instructional coach and technology integrator. Simply put, I collaborate with teachers and administrators daily! By working together, we can create new learning experiences for students that weave kindness with skills and content they are already learning. It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of my job!

This month I had the pleasure of collaborating with the librarian, Kristy Banton, and gifted and talented (GT) teacher, Maureen Ambrose, at Mechanicsville Elementary. The PTA sponsored a musical performance by the Virginia Repertory Theater based on the book, “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud and Kristy wanted to provide an extension of this experience to continue the focus on kindness. Maureen and I quickly agreed that collaborating together would maximize our impact!

Planning

Through our instructional planning, we designed engaging and meaningful station rotations (a focus for our school), offered opportunities to use technology, and included a service-learning activity. We planned one week full of differentiated activities by grade level groupings and named it “Caring Cardinal Days” to represent our school mascot and character education program. We also planned out the logistics of purchasing/securing materials, how long each station would be, and who would be in charge of time keeping so we would be fully prepared for implementation.

Our station rotations included the following (all students completed the Unmasking Kindness Quiver Masks station):

  • Kindness Buckets (K-3) – Students created a paper bucket from brown lunch bags, decorated, and wrote kind compliments for others to put in buckets to reinforce writing skills.
  • I Can Be Kind Digital Posters (K-3) – Reflecting on our school values to be safe, be responsible, and be respectful, students discussed how kindness fit into these categories. They used an I Can Be Kind activity template in Seesaw which allowed them to create a digital poster they could color and record examples of being kind.
  • Unmasking Kindness Quiver Masks (K-5) – Reflecting on kindness books that had been read to students prior to our lesson, students discussed the power of using kind words. They colored a Quiver Masks printable and used the Quiver Masks app on iPads to record a kindness sentence from one of the books to practice reading fluency. Videos were then uploaded to Flipgrid for easy sharing with parents! (Here’s an example of one class’ Kindness Masks.)

Alternate activities for Grade 4 and 5 students included:

  • Service Learning – Makerspace Blankets (4-5) – Students worked with a partner to measure and cut 3″ strips along the edge of a 30″ piece of fabric. Then students worked collaboratively to tie strips together to make ties along the edges, creating a cozy animal blanket to donate to a local animal shelter.
  • Be the I in Kind Green Screen Posters (4-5) – Inspired by a tweet shared by Kelly Hoggard on Twitter, I recreated the Be the I in Kind sign into a digital poster so students could literally put themselves in the word “Kind” using the Do Ink green screen app. Students took photos of one another, uploaded into the app, cropped and adjusted the chroma key, then uploaded their finished products to Seesaw to share with others in the school.

We also made sure that we clearly articulated learning intentions and success criteria with students on easy-to-read station signs and in our conversations with students. We wanted them to know exactly what they were learning and why, and how they would know they were successful with the tasks.

Caring Cardinal Days are HERE!
Our Kindness Buckets/Makerspace Blankets Station
Makerspace Blanket Station Signs
Kindness Books for our Unmasking Kindness Quiver Masks Station
Unmasking Kindness Quiver Masks Station Signs
Digital Kindness Poster Station Signs
Let the green screen fun begin!

Implementation

By collaborating with a teacher who sees every student in the school each week, we had the opportunity to maximize our impact for talking about kindness while also integrating technology with language arts skills. Our rotations were very short (only 12 minutes!), but in doing so, our students were able to experience all three rotations and still have time to check out books from the library. Win-win!

Creating Kindness Buckets
Creating Be the Kind Digital Posters
Creating Kindness Quiver Masks
Creating Be the I in Kind Green Screen Posters
An example of a student-created green screen kindness poster. We offered 5 choices for backgrounds (free templates at the bottom of this post!)
Collaborating with Parters to Create Makerspace Blankets
“We made this blanket all by ourselves to donate to homeless animals!”
A spotlight of a few of our Digital Kindness Posters we shared through Seesaw!

Reflection

What I love about collaborating with teachers on learning experiences is the ability to dive deep with instructional coaching. Following our first day of lessons, we quickly realized we needed to adjust our pace with instructional delivery and, for some students, we had to provide additional differentiation and support so all students could complete the tasks at hand. We also realized that we overpacked how much students could accomplish in only twelve minutes, so we looked for ways we could streamline tasks to provide more time for student creation.

For example, in the Unmasking Kindness Quiver Masks station, we originally wanted students to look through books and select kindness sentences on their own. While this opportunity for choice is wonderful for a full-length lesson, it was impossible for students to have enough time to peruse each book, choose their sentence, color their masks AND record their sentence into the app before it was time to switch groups. We decided to print out sentences from the books to provide more time for students to record their voices and for some classes, we gave them the masks to color before they arrived for our lesson.

We discovered that the fleece fabric we chose for the blankets, while super cute and cozy, left a TON of fuzz on the tables and floor. We literally had to shake out the tablecloths and vacuum the floor while students were doing library checkout in order to have the room neat and tidy for the next class. Should we do this activity again in the future, we are going to choose a smoother fabric that doesn’t shed so much!

We also reflected on some of the conversations we overheard from students, both positive and not-so-positive. We discussed ways we could redirect students to use kind words with others while also balancing the value of having all voices heard.

Flexibility and Compassion

Even in our most perfect planning, life will sometimes throw a curve-ball when you least expect it. The day after we began our Caring Cardinal rotations, my Aunt Edith passed away. Her funeral was scheduled for one of our rotation days, so we had to scramble to make last-minute adjustments with only two stations instead of three.

On another morning, I was unable to run my station due to a required training I had to attend. We even had an unplanned fire drill, too! During these times we were reminded that flexibility is essential as an educator. Kristy and Maureen didn’t bat an eye with the changes to our plans; they worked around the inconveniences and showed with their words and actions the power of compassion for others in tough times.

Caring Cardinal Contributions

By the end of our week-long lessons, our students had created kindness-filling buckets, digital posters, used green-screening and augmented reality apps, and donated a total of 15 handmade blankets to the Hanover Humane Society. WOW! Talk about Being the I in Kind! Our students rocked it out!

We even had special visitors come to our Caring Cardinal Days to learn with us and share in the joy. A special thanks to Connie Piper and Sue Maisey who made time in their schedules to stop in. We would also like to thank our sysop, Ethan Swainston, for capturing a few video clips and our district’s communication specialist, Amanda McDaniel, who put together this video to showcase our lessons with the world. (If video won’t play below, you can view it on YouTube.)

If you would like to do something similar with your students or staff, please check out the links below. We would love to know how our learning experience has sparked kindness in your buildings, too! Feel free to comment or share this blog post with a friend – we are better together when we share our #PassionForKindness!

Resource Links

Overview of Stations

Station Signs

I Can Be Kind Digital Image

I Can Be Kind Seesaw Activity

Be the I in Kind Digital Posters

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education, kindness, REBkind, reflection, travel, vacation

Canadian Kindness

Tamara

As part of my #REBkind travel experience to “Cultivate Kindness for Global Impact,” I flew to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to spend some time with Annick Rauch, a first grade French immersion teacher. Annick and I have been virtual friends on Twitter for several years now, but only met in person four weeks ago at the #ISTE19 conference.

Annick and I at #ISTE19.

It’s interesting how one can feel so connected to another without having actually spent time with them in person. While we’ve spent hours conversing on Twitter, Voxer, and even a few Google Hangouts, having the opportunity to spend quality time together was an incredible gift to receive!

A perfect sign for our visit together!

We had many things planned during my visit, as this was the first time I had traveled to a foreign country on my own. I wanted to see and experience all things Canadian while also brainstorming and planning with Annick to move forward with a year-long kindness collaboration between her first grade class and a first grade class at my school in the States.

On Saturday morning, as we prepared to start our day, I glanced at Twitter and saw that I was tagged in a post from Dave Reimer about my book, A Passion for Kindness:

The tweet made me laugh because I hadn’t even given any thought whatsoever about book signings during this trip, but if you know me well, you know that kindness is constantly on my mind and I am always up for a great adventure!

Later that afternoon we finally connected with Dave and, oh, what an amazing experience! What began as a simple request for a book signing created a ripple effect of kindness! Take a peek at the tweets Dave shared capturing the moment we met and what happened next!

Friends, let me tell you. This ripple effect brought SO much joy to my soul for a multitude of reasons! It was humbling to not only meet a stranger who had read my book, but one who so readily wanted to share his experiences, too!

It was just as incredible to see how his family joined in the fun, supporting his passion for kindness in completing RAKs as a family adventure the next day. Cultivating kindness isn’t just a “one time thing,” but a catalyst to be the good for others, too.

I was humbled to share this moment with my dear friend, Annick, who had already blessed me with her generosity as chauffeur and photographer throughout the trip. Personal photos are my little reminders of the joys in this world so it was an absolute delight to have these images to share and reflect on as part of my #REBkind experience.

On Sunday, Annick and I snuck back to Dave’s house to leave one of Gini Bonnell’s “Be Kind” signs on his doorstep. (For those who have read my book, it’s the one showcased on p.42!) What a wonderful way to keep the kindness going!

Giving away another handcrafted Be Kind sign!
The sign has found a perfect home!

In addition to the ripple effect started by Dave and his family, Annick and I scattered small acts of kindness in a local grocery store to join in the Grocery Store Challenge promoted by Sofia’s Angels RAOK Foundation. We left Canadian coins on a bag of ketchup-flavored Lay’s Potato Chips (because we don’t have them here in the States!) and taped coins near the Crayola crayons display so a child could “Color the World with Kindness.” Then, as we were leaving the store, Annick RAK’d me back by purchasing a bag of ketchup chips I could take home for my kids to enjoy!

A Canadian Superstore!
I found the ketchup chips! Who knew?!
I exchanged American dollars with Annick’s Canadian coins so locals could purchase items in the store.
Annick then surprised me with my very own bag of ketchup chips – the first time I’ve ever eaten them!
“Color the world with kindness”

I even left a copy of my book to be discovered by someone visiting the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, a perfect place to remind others of the many ways we can, and should, value the contributions of one another.

Another donated book – this time at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights
They had a Nelson Mandela exhibit at the museum, so I left a note referencing a quote I included by him in my book.

In a world that is filled with conflict and chaos, it’s refreshing to step away for a bit and focus on things that bring joy to our soul. We each have our passions, purpose, and missions to achieve in this life. Mine is simply being kind to others and seeing what happens next. Sharing this story with you, my fabulous friends, is icing on the cake!

If you complete an act of kindness this week as part of Dave’s pay-it-forward challenge, let us know by posting with the hashtag #passionforkindness! Your kindness inspires! We can each do our part to make this world a beautiful place to lead, love, and learn. And if you ever make your way to Winnipeg, be sure to say hello to Annick and Dave. They will make your day brighter, guaranteed!

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ITRT, kindness, REBkind

Kindness Bingo 2019

Tamara

A few years ago I was brainstorming ideas with my coworker, Stacie Taylor, about how we could interact more with the teachers in our district using Twitter. We had discovered the power of Twitter to connect people with shared interests and we wanted to keep the conversation going throughout the summer.

Inspired by Teri Pendley, Melody Stacy, and Matthew Arend, we created our first board, shared it on Twitter, and tagged a few coworkers to join in the fun. All summer long, we tweeted about our joyful moments, sharing dozens of selfies and photos of our adventures.

#HCPSpln Twitter Bingo – 2017

In our second year, we edited the bingo board template and this time encouraged our global PLN to join us, too. We added icons from The Noun Project, included a few hyperlinks for the digital version, and shared with the link http://bit.ly/twitterbingo18. The response was overwhelming as so many people across the world started sharing the board with their coworkers and friends, may even customizing it with their own district’s hashtag.

#HCPSpln Twitter Bingo – 2018

As Stacie and I sat down at the start of June to brainstorm ideas for a new Twitter Bingo Board this summer, she suggested a kindness theme. Now I know many people think this was my idea, but I have to give her complete credit! (And yes, I realize how ridiculous it is that the gal who wrote a 250 page book about kindness didn’t even think to offer it up as a bingo board theme!)

This is our first week of summer break and it has been SUCH a joy to see people across the United States and the world sharing their kindness tweets as they complete the various challenges on our board. I can only imagine how many posts will be shared by the first week of September when our summer officially ends and we are back in school with students!

If you would like to join in the fun of Kindness Bingo, you can get your template at http://bit.ly/kindnessbingo19 and click the “Use Template” button in the top right corner to customize for your organization. You can also save the image below to use as shown!

#HCPSpln Twitter Bingo – 2019
“Kindness Edition”

It’s been fun to see all the different ways people mark their bingo boards. Some people save a digital image to their phone then use the photo editing markers to slash through boxes. Others add emoji stickers to cover the spaces they’ve completed. Some will take photos of their printed boards as they complete squares and many try to cover the entire board by the end of summer break.

The rules of Kindness Bingo are pretty easy: When you complete a bingo, share a photo of what you did and include the hashtags #passionforkindness and #HCPSpln (or your own district’s hashtag). That’s it! You are welcome to tag me if you like (@tamaraletter) because kindness always makes me smile!

If you are on Facebook or Instagram, you are welcome to share there as well – don’t think this has to be limited to Twitter! Any possible way we can brighten the world with kindness is a win for everyone!

For those occupations that don’t provide a traditional “summer break” like teaching, I’m sure you can find ways to complete the tasks above in the workplace or during evenings and weekends. We want everyone to feel welcome – you are ALL invited to the Kindness Bingo fun!

May your summer months be filled with joy as you shine your light for all to see!

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Texas Kindness: Character Strong

Tamara

What does it mean to be “Character Strong?”

I have pondered this question, allowing it to swirl a bit in my mind, ever since I returned from my visit to Houston, Texas in March. During that trip, I was graciously allowed to tag along with Barbara Gruener as she and other kindness cultivators around the U.S. gathered to learn more about the Character Strong program, honing their skills as presenters and advocates for kindness.

Houston Kraft inspired us throughout the training day.
A group selfie once training was done!

Character.

Strong.

Driving back from the training, there were visual reminders of the strength of this community of Friendswood, that was underwater just 18 months before. Abandoned houses juxtaposed with boarded up buildings and Do Not Enter signs were in stark contrast to blooming flowers and thriving neighborhoods just a few streets away.

A home that was underwater during Hurricane Harvey, now stands abandoned.
An entire neighborhood is now abandoned, a casualty of the hurricane destruction.

This is a community who embodies the spirit of strong character. As we drove, Barbara shared story after story of resilience and perseverance that carried them not only through the horrific weeks of unprecedented flooding 6-10 feet high, but continued for months thereafter.

Strangers rushed in to rescue friends and loved ones from nursing homes, now boarded up and vacant from the storm. Neighbors checked in on one another, doing whatever it took to help each other rebuild, restore, renew.

Residents of the Friendswood Health Care Center were rescued on school buses and taken to the local high school during the crisis.

I find in times of unspeakable tragedy, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, that the character of others rises and soars. Strength and compassion shine brightest on the darkest days, and we are reminded of the good in the world.

The American flag still flies strong in Friendswood, even despite the desolation.

To see more photos of the floodwaters caused by Hurricane Harvey visit http://bit.ly/harveyphotos17.

Later that afternoon, Barbara brought me to Lake Friendswood Park and we walked the path along the lake as her husband and son went fishing in kayaks.

The entrance to Lake Friendswood Park.
The lake was a perfect place to ponder and reflect.

The calm water and beautiful blue skies reminded me of the phrase Jet Stream Jax shares in his Kind Coins video:

“If raindrops can create a flood, people can create a jet stream of kindness.”

~Jet stream jax
A Passion for kindness, p. 36

I believe that’s what makes people of strong character: when they put their differences aside, embrace the humanity of which we all share, and continue to create ways to inspire and uplift others.

Maybe your kindness is a smile for the daycare teacher who is holding your child at the end of a long work day. Perhaps your kindness is surprising a stranger with a meal paid-in-full at a local restaurant. Your kindness may be driving past a front row parking space near the mall so someone else can have that joy, or maybe you take a few moments of your day to text your mom to say, “Hi.”

Whatever you are doing to remind people they matter, keep rocking it out. Don’t stop. We shouldn’t need a tragedy to bring us together, but it’s nice to know that in the moments of deepest despair, there is light.

There is love.

There is hope.

A special thanks to Barbara Gruener and her family for hosting the first of my R.E.B. trips to cultivate kindness for global impact. I knew she would be the perfect person to receive Gini Bonnell’s “Be Kind” sign, a reminder that the world really can be changed by the kindness of one.

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Texas Kindness: Jet Stream Jax

Tamara

The third visit in our Texas Kindness Tour was meeting a very special student named Jet Stream Jax. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may recognize his name from my Remixing Relevance post in October 2017 where I shared about his community of Friendswood, Texas receiving catastrophic damage from Hurricane Harvey and his call-to-action to help rebuild school playgrounds in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Maybe you shared in the joy of my May 2018 post titled A Jet Stream of Kindness where our students virtually connected with Jax over Facetime to see him enjoying his new playground and asking questions about his journey.

Perhaps you read about him in Chapter 3 of my new book, A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love, and Learn where you learned more about kindness rocks and how they can heal hurting hearts.

If this is the first time you have heard the name Jet Stream Jax, you need to watch his “Kind Coins for Hurricane Relief” YouTube video right now and listen to his story. It’s compelling. Heart-wrenching. Inspiring. Then you will know exactly why I chose to include him in my book and wanted to meet him in person.

Barbara Gruener, author of What’s Under Your Cape? Superheroes of the Character Kind, was Jax’s elementary school counselor. In the fall of 2017, she tagged me in a tweet sharing his Kind Coins video, which ended up being the kick-off lesson for our year-long kindness initiative last school year. Throughout the year, we thought of Jax and his school community as we collected coins and strengthened our compassion for a boy we had never met.

Then the day arrived where meeting him was no longer a wish, but a reality.

Barbara and I planned to arrive at his school after dismissal, which gave us time to trek back to town following our visit to Todd Nesloney’s school. We met in the front office with formal introductions, where I presented him with a signed copy of my book, showing him the section I had included about his kindness advocacy.

Showing Jax his story, shared on pages 36-38 in A Passion for Kindness.

I asked if he would autograph my book, too, and he carefully penned his initials on the page. (I have one copy of my book as an official “autograph book” where I’m gathering signatures of those who are mentioned throughout the pages.)

After a short walk through his school building, he led us to his school’s playground, which was actually an obstacle course complete with a timer.

Jax ran through the obstacle course as his mom, sister, and district representatives watched from the wall. I had so much fun recording him as navigated each of the challenges, mastering the entire run with a time of 40 seconds. He then turned to me and said, “Your turn!”

Last year, when Jax connected with our classes, he offered an open invitation to our class: “If you’re ever in Texas, you can run the course and try to beat my time.” Here I was, in person, for a once in a lifetime opportunity – to become a kid again and enjoy the playground our students helped to build with their donations.

When a student invites you to share in their joy, there is no other answer but, “Yes!”

I gave it my best effort with Jax and his sister cheering along the way. I will admit that my speed as a middle-aged, mom of three, lagged a bit behind Jax, but I was pretty impressed with my time of 52 seconds. (The videos of our obstacle course runs make me smile at the memories!)

After exploring the playground a bit more, Jax led us to their Playful Hearts Peace Garden where he and Barbara searched for the kindness rock created for my school.

A Heart of Kindness
We found the rock for Mechanicsville Elementary!
Jax shared his family rock that was painted for the rock garden.

Our visit concluded with a few formal photos and a brief interview with the communication specialist in Friendswood Independent School District, then we gathered at the front of the school to take a few more photos together. It was a joyful reconnection for Barbara and Jax, and I had the privilege of meeting another amazing kindness cultivator in our world.

The following week our visit made the front page news in an article written by Karolyn Gephart for the Friendswood Reporter News and was spotlighted by Friendswood ISD on their Twitter and Facebook pages. So exciting!

Article in Friendswood Reporter News
Tweet by Friendswood ISD
Photo courtesy of FISD Comm. Dept.

Never doubt the power you have to put good in this world. Whether you are a nine-year-old storm chaser from Texas or a forty-six-year-old woman from a town that grows tomatoes, your words and actions matter.

Keep sharing your stories. Keep doing kind things for others. Keep being the person that someone else needs you to be.

Each day is a new day to inspire!

Photo courtesy of FISD Comm. Dept.

In March, I traveled to Houston, Texas as part of my R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence, the first of several trips I will complete this year and next. My proposal, “Cultivating Kindness for Global Impact” takes me to various locations in the United States and Canada to dive into learning opportunities that align with my passion for kindness. One of the perks of these trips is meeting Kindness Cultivators, many of whom I spotlight in my book, A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love, and Learn. This week and next I will be sharing stories from my journey so you can “travel” with me, too!

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Texas Kindness: Kids Deserve It

Tamara

The second stop of my kindness tour with Barbara Gruener was visiting Webb Elementary School to meet principal, Todd Nesloney, author of Stories from Webb and co-author of Kids Deserve It and Sparks in the Dark.

I met Todd in 2014 when we both presented Ignite sessions for the ISTE Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. In fact, it was his presentation about Genius Hour that sparked my passion project collaborations with teachers in my school! It was a delight to see him again and thank him for the positive impact he’s had on my teaching journey.

Webb Elementary in Navasota, Texas is another “must-see” school. We were delighted to receive a tour by a fifth grade student named Eli, whose smile could light up the darkest room. We began our tour in the office where a massive Lego wall spanned more than half the wall. Barbara snapped a photo of Eli and I adding a few creations of our own to the wall.

Eli proudly explained the meanings behind their “House Families” and patiently watched as Barbara and I took dozens of photos. We learned that families include students from every grade level and they remain in these families for the entire year with school-wide challenges at regular intervals.

As we were admiring the giant wall paintings, several kindergarten students passed by and excitedly announced that their family had won the latest challenge and they were chosen to go on a field trip together! The pride they had in sharing this reward with us was precious!

Love in many languages.
One of their family emblems hand-painted on the wall.
Each family emblem and name is displayed at the front of the school.

As we continued our tour, we saw many Disney references, the chosen theme for this school year. We also admired their “I Am” mirror wall (I couldn’t resist looking into the ‘kind’ mirror!)

“I am Enough.”
“I am Kind.”

I love the way Webb Elementary makes use of each nook and cranny to make school an inviting place to be. A corner reading nook caught my eye as did the colorful canvases displayed throughout the building. I especially loved the family canvases shown at each teacher’s door, spotlighting personal families, too.

Random Reading Spot with canvases on walls.
Canvases of teachers and their families outside of each classroom door.

At the conclusion of our tour, we met back with Todd and spun the color wheel to determine which family we would join. It was a joy to get a sneak peek at Webb Elementary and learn more about their school culture!

A special thanks to Barbara Gruener who volunteered to drive the distance to Navasota and back. We were able to enjoy the Bluebonnet wildflowers along the way and geared up for our next stop: meeting Jet Stream Jax who inspired our Kindness initiatives in the Fall of 2017!

More Texas fun to come in my next post! Stay tuned!

In March, I traveled to Houston, Texas as part of my R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence, the first of several trips I will complete this year and next. My proposal, “Cultivating Kindness for Global Impact” takes me to various locations in the United States and Canada to dive into learning opportunities that align with my passion for kindness. One of the perks of these trips is meeting Kindness Cultivators, many of whom I spotlight in my book, A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love, and Learn. This week and next I will be sharing stories from my journey so you can “travel” with me, too!

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Texas Kindness: Kind Kids

Tamara

On my first #REBkind trip, I visited Houston, Texas and neighboring locations to meet kindness cultivators and learn more about character education. I was blessed beyond measure by the hospitality of Barbara Gruener (@BarbaraGruener), author of What’s Under Your Cape: SUPERHEROES of the Character Kind. She not only opened her home to me as a warm, welcoming bed-and-breakfast, she offered to drive me around town to meet others and take in the local sights around Friendswood, Texas. Although I was in town for less than three days, we made the most of every moment!

*Fun Fact for you: Friendswood began as a colony created in 1895 by two Quakers, Frank Jacob Brown and Thomas Hadley Lewis, “to establish a community dedicated to God.” (The term “Quakers” and “Friends” are often used interchangeably.) Almost one hundred years later, I would be married in a Friends church in my hometown! What a delightful connection to discover!*

Our first stop on this kindness adventure was teaching a kindness class! Barbara had already arranged to teach a lesson with Wendy Hankins (@MrsHankinsClass), but unbeknownst to Wendy, I was joining in the fun, too!

At Kirk Elementary School, they have a school-wide genius hour where students get to follow their passions and join a mixed-age group for a themed lesson. Wendy and her coworker, Christine Owings (@MrsOwingsClass), host a kindness club called Kind Kids (@KindKidsAtKirk) and Friday was their first lesson with a new group. It was perfect timing for a surprise visit!

I wish we had taken a photo of Wendy’s face when she came through the door and saw us sitting in her school’s office! It was the first time we had ever met, but we hugged as if we were long-lost friends!

After introductions, we made our way back to her class and Barbara and I blessed Wendy with a copy of both of our books. We took a few photos, then watched as Wendy welcomed her students to class, listening to sounds of “Limbo” playing through the laptop. We even had a chance to check out the students’ stellar dancing skills, too!

When students switched to their Genius Hour groups, our “class” had expanded to nearly 40 students! WOW! I read one of my favorite kindness stories, “Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed” by Emily Pearson, then Barbara and I shared our personal experiences with kindness, specifically how one ordinary deed could make a monumental impact on someone else’s life.

We discussed the hurricane that came through their area last school year and showcased Barbara’s student Jet Stream Jax (both of whom are spotlighted in Chapter 3 of A Passion for Kindness.) We showed them Jax’s Kind Coins video and talked about kindness rocks, kindness shirts, and how we can all become kindness cultivators, too.

Wendy showed them where their Kindness Club was mentioned in my book  (p. 113) and Barbara led a visualization activity so students could see the ripple effect of kindness over the course of one month. The students were excited to start sharing kindness with the world!

Following the kindness lesson, as students switched back to other classrooms, Wendy showed us the Kindness Quilt displayed in their school’s hallways that students had made last semester. (Could you tell it was created with 12″ x 12″ scrapbook paper? So quick and easy!) Before we left, I gave Wendy a few things for her students as little reminders that every act of kindness matters.

Barbara and I were filled with such joy from our visit with Wendy, Christine, and the kind students of Kirk Elementary! It was a wonderful way to start our morning of kindness!

In March, I traveled to Houston, Texas as part of my R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence, the first of several trips I will complete this year and next. My proposal, “Cultivating Kindness for Global Impact” takes me to various locations in the United States and Canada to dive into learning opportunities that align with my passion for kindness. One of the perks of these trips is meeting Kindness Cultivators, many of whom I spotlight in my book, A Passion for Kindness: Making the World a Better Place to Lead, Love, and Learn. This week and next I will be sharing stories from my journey so you can “travel” with me, too!

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