What a Kid Named Alan Taught a Teacher like Me

March 25, 2014March 25, 2014 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

A teacher and ambassador for Wear the Cape, Christina M. attended the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Character Development (NJASECD) convention at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey on March 19, 2014. Powerful ideas were exchanged at the conference, and we’re glad to be able to share highlights! From Christina:

Hope was the feeling that filled the day at the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Character Development (NJASECD) convention last week. Hope for a better world for our children. Hope for their future. Hope for change.

Along with this hope, the NJASECD provided the many educators, administrators, and parents in attendance with the tools needed to launch a heroic journey toward these goals. The crux of the NJASECD’s approach is the collaboration of school and home climates to both improve and promote positive character education.

I had the pleasure of hearing Rutgers Professor of Psychology Dr. Maurice Elias address several ideas on how to begin creating a “School of Character” in any district. His recommendations included the following:

Don’t be afraid to be direct with your children and with their school. If you feel they are doing a great job, tell them. If not, tell them.
Determine the climate and culture of your child’s school. What is the common language? What are their policies?
Work together, grow together. Schools and homes need to integrate a common, shared language, which includes their core values.
Make kids feel like they matter. Treat each child as if he or she is your own grandchild.
Encourage buddying throughout all ages. Team up students with those older and younger.
Turn learners’ “on switch” on. Create a mindset for success.
Nurture “rainbows in students’ clouds.” Adapted from Maya Angelou, this phrase reminds us to allow children to overcome their problems in order to succeed.
Encourage what kids can do. “All children must nurture their amazing sense of potential,” explained Dr. Elias. We need to push students to believe in their potential, not focus on their failures.

The feedback I heard from many teachers, administrators, and parents was, “YES! We want to work together to create a synchronized home and school climate for our children.” Dr. Elias’ suggestions did not seem overwhelming, intimidating, or unattainable. We all agreed when he stated:

“Our greatest reward is the smiling faces of our students, not test scores.”

Beyond this inspiring session, the highlight of my day was hearing a testimonial from a young man named Alan. Alan is a recent graduate of the POSSibilities Program (Providing Opportunities for Student Success) at North Brunswick High School. Alan is living with a rare blood disorder, as well as specific learning disabilities. In 2013, he was featured on ABC’s news special Above and Beyond due to his profound success in the program. He credits his success to the teachers, family, and program, which includes an Autism Awareness campaign and work assistance program. Alan shared that, before the help of his teachers and friends in the program, “I was stuck inside myself and didn’t know how to bring out the inner me.” His message was simple, yet so profound: We can help others bring out their inner selves.

Alan is right…and following the eight tips above may help us do just that.

Short and SO Sweet

November 26, 2013November 26, 2013 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Recently, a teacher named Stephanie who is a fan of Wear the Cape witnessed the actions of a pint-sized everyday hero while on the job. As relayed by Stephanie:

A few days ago when I was on lunch duty, I noticed one of my students sitting at a table with several of our special needs students. Many of them are non-verbal, so they too often spend their lunchtime among other students’ chatter without being included.

I watched this particular student wondering, “Is he sitting with them or just near them?” After several minutes, it became clear that he was there because he wanted to be, drawing pictures for them and offering them jokes.

It’s so rare that we see children or even adults leave their comfort zones to give others comfort. I almost cried in the middle of a lunchroom full of 5th graders; I was so touched by how truly sweet he was. He was Wearing the Cape and showing – without knowing – the entire 5th grade how to be a great person, a self-made superhero.

After learning about Wear the Cape and spreading the word amongst our faculty, the teachers at our school now wear our “capes” – Wear the Cape t-shirts – to school on Fridays. We received so many questions about our shirts that my co-teacher Tara took the time to explain what Wear the Cape is all about – restoring the power of kindness and good character.

Highlighting the actions of the student who had recently taken the time to bring a little sunshine to his special-needs schoolmates at lunch was the perfect way to help the whole class see how to Wear the Cape on a daily basis. Without a word, this student had modeled good character and what it looks like to embrace our differences. He even explained to his classmates that sitting with the special needs students makes him feel good, that they like him being there.

It’s important that teachers recognize children who are Wearing the Cape. It makes them feel good and makes others want that feeling, too! Real-life examples help kids understand what it means to exude good character, and they give them ideas that can be applied in their own lives. I have a feeling that many of my students will start sitting with the special group at lunch…and I can’t wait!

Many thanks to Stephanie for sharing this heartwarming story! We hope it inspires more people to step out of their comfort zones in order to bring others comfort.

Free Wear the Cape Lesson Plan! Pass it on

November 20, 2013November 25, 2013 Leigh Ann ErricoLeave a comment

Wear the Cape is excited to unveil (drumroll, please…) a free, introductory lesson on character that can be utilized by educators, scout leaders, religious teachers and more. The lesson and all supporting materials are available to download for free in our newly-added “Resources” section of Wear the Cape’s website and by clicking here.

In line with Wear the Cape’s mission, the lesson focuses on kindness and character-development strategies. Students are challenged to think through the characteristics of a hero and to identify how these qualities can be applied in their everyday lives, particularly through interactions with peers. From the Resources page:

For kids across the country, school is one of the first and most impactful venues for socialization, learning and personal development. But we trust that any teacher can tell you, lessons learned at home are equally as important.

Since teaching emotional intelligence and encouraging kids to embody good character is what Wear the Cape is all about, we are excited to offer a free lesson for educators, scout leaders and religious teachers that also involves parents. It is our hope that this guided, interactive discussion will extend conversations on good character and kindness to family dinner tables far and wide.

We invite you to download the lesson and supporting materials below. And please let us know how it goes! We would love to hear highlights of what kids say and do throughout the experience, as well as how the content impacts your classroom or group overall.

We would greatly appreciate you sharing this with your children’s teachers, as well as family, friends and leaders at your places of worship. We hope that it’s a fun, thought-provoking tool that will facilitate important discussions in communities across the country. Let’s help kids gain confidence in choosing good character to improve childhoods, schools and the future of society. Thanks for doing your part!