CE - Rivera

Taking Small Steps Toward Peace

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:13:29 -1000

In grades three and four, we have begun our small steps toward learning about peer mediation. This year, we are using a contemplative approach. While listening, restating, reflecting, and finding solutions to conflicts are all vital components of this process, with a contemplative approach we take a closer look at our steps and discover how this process relates to our whole life. As we make connections to experiences with ourselves, our families, our community, our world, and nature, we begin to open our hearts and minds to finding greater meaning and purpose for our lives.

We played a game called "Who Am I Like?" which included a list of statements. Some items on the list included--

Someone with a birthday in the same month as you.

Someone who has the same hobby as you.

Someone who uses the same brand of toothpaste as you.

Someone who enjoys reading the same kind of books as you do.

Someone who was born outside this state.

Someone who is your friend.

The children walked around in CE class and began searching for someone who had similarities with them. The excitement was high as they sought who they could connect with. At the end of the activity as we debriefed, the one comment that was heard most often was "I never knew 'so and so' was like me!" The children discovered that to find out more about someone, we can ask questions to get to know them better. With our world at our finger tips, and technology linking communities so easily, it is important to strengthen our interpersonal and intrapersonal skills by learning to communicate within ourselves and reach out to others peacefully and with respect.

The fifth graders are now into their third week as Peace Team. Mrs. Johnson and I did a comics activity with them to reflect on their experiences and feelings during these past three weeks. I was truly inspired and enlightened by what I learned from each one of their comics. The facial expressions, the dialogue, and the feelings expressed greeted me with a tremendous learning experience! Through their comics, I learned how they felt and what they were discovering about being of service with our school community. There were feelings of joy and excitement, as well as frustration, anger, loneliness, sadness. All these feelings are indeed part of being of service. Feelings of frustration, anger, loneliness, and sadness, often called the "shadow side of service," does exist but we sometimes ignore these feelings or feel uncomfortable talking about it for whatever reason. However, from this "shadow" we learn hope, faith, and love--as we continue to be of service even when we feel like we don't want to--feeling our hearts opening wider, and allowing compassion and empathy to develop.

This week we are setting goals for being of service and looking at developing three personal areas... our attitude, words, and actions.

Shirley Rivera

CE/Counseling

"The raw elements are already there, waiting to be mined. Contemplative education is the chisel, the sander, the file that gives shape to the courage in your veins. Learn, as Gandhi said, how to 'become the change you wish to see in the world." -- Naropa

Helping to Develop Our Children's Emotional Intelligence

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:50:09 -1000

"Anyone can become angry--that is easy. But to be angry with the right
person, to the right degree, for the right purpose, and in the right way--that
is not easy."
Aristotle - The Nichomachean Ethics

Understanding our emotions and how they develop can help us discover
how our emotional habits can undermine our best intentions, as well as
what we can do to subdue our more destructive or self-defeating emotional
impulses. Most important, this understanding and awareness gives us the
insight for shaping our children's emotional habits.

Daniel Goleman, in Emotional Intelligence, stated that emotions act as
essential guides for our deepest feelings and passions. Their power can be
extraordinary as in certain cases where a parent's impulse to save his or
her child from danger becomes an impulse for survival. Thoughts and
emotions arise almost simultaneously. Perception of an activity occurs,
which is connected to an internal emotional reaction that leads to action.
PERCEPTION --> EMOTION --> ACTION
Has this ever happened to you? You experience a series of thoughts that
keep repeating in your mind (memories, judgments, fantasies) and then
there are bodily sensations, such as pain, tension, or relaxation. As adults,
we often get stuck in the thought process without ever becoming aware of
any specific bodily sensations that are accompanying our thoughts.

Children, in contrast, primarily experience the bodily sensations that
accompany the emotions. When we can recognize this as adults, there is a
deeper sense of empathy for the young child's experience. How confusing
it must be for children to experience a surge of adrenalin! They often feel
compelled to act, perhaps grab back a toy that was taken from them and
strike the thief. One of our tasks as adults is to help children interpret these
bodily sensations - put words to these so that they become conscious
experiences rather than unconscious (Robinson, 2007). Children can be
taught to become aware of emotions and learn many ways to respond to
them. This is called emotional intelligence and there are five domains. The
keystone is self-awareness, knowing one's emotions, and recognizing a
feeling as it happens.

As parents and educators we can model this for our children. It calls for an
awareness of our own learning styles, and acknowledging and honoring our
own emotions. One of the ways is taking the time to settle yourself. Bring
your attention to how you are feeling before starting class or interacting
with a child. Don't analyze your feelings, just be aware of what they are as
you begin each day or interactions with a child. Having quiet moments
during the school day and allowing the children to check in with how they
are feeling through journal writing or drawing is another helpful way of
working with emotions. Classroom community circles where children are
allowed to share feelings about their personal events is another way of
strengthening emotional awareness.

Understanding our emotions can give us insight into helping our children
learn to marshal the emotions as guides for their deepest feelings and
passions as they develop and journey through life.

Shirley Rivera
CE/Counseling
Mid Pacific Institute elementary

Being of Service With Each Other

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:29:17 -1000

The phrase "being of service" is often heard throughout our community and our world. Have we ever thought about what that really means? Is it doing something "to," "for," or "with" someone or something? Does it really matter anyway? The fifth graders believe that it does make a difference.

This school year, Mrs. Johnson (Art) and I are working together with the fifth graders. We have been exploring these questions as the students prepare for their service as Peace Team members Rather than just go on duty and "patrol" the dining room, play court, ball field, and play structure area, we have been doing an in-depth personal exploration and self discovery of how to be of service "with" others. True service is a two-way experience of giving and receiving - In helping others, I am also touched.

International Peace Day

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:31:47 -1000

This past Sunday, September 21, was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly as "International Peace Day," and celebrated by 200 countries around the world. While many in Hawaii gathered together to celebrate "Peace Day," I decided to hold a workshop for children and their families at a meditation center in Kailua.

It was a beautiful sunny day, as eight children, ranging in ages from three to ten years old, and their families gathered at the outside courtyard and sat on mats. We were surrounded by tall and vibrant green potted plants and a water fountain flowing and whispering in the background.

We talked about what peace means to us and how it feels in our bodies. Some children said that peace feels calm, soothing, warm, and relaxing. Then we shared how this feeling can manifest outside us as being helpful, kind, thoughtful, and caring.

The story of the "talking stick" was shared along with how using the talking stick is a way of learning to take turns while sharing. One person holds the stick and speaks, while the others listen. Each person passes the stick around and gets a chance to share his feelings and thoughts. Later that morning, the children each made their own talking stick with branches they had brought, then decorated them with yarn and beads.

At MPI, we also practice this process during each class. This is a skill that starts early in preschool. In the third, fourth, and fifth grades, this skill is used in peer mediation and Peace Team. As the children practice helping others to solve conflicts, learning to listen with compassion becomes a natural way of communicating.

At MPI, we strive towards making peace a part of our school culture. Peace is a way of being with ourselves and others. Peace day is every day.

May the days be gentle and peaceful for you.

Shirley Rivera

"Peace is every step. It turns the endless path to joy." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

A Visit to the CE House

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:16:37 -1000

Welcome to a new school year that holds many possibilities for rich learning, meaningful friendships, and joyful awakenings! I would like to invite you to visit our cozy cottage, where the children come for forty-five-minute class sessions twice a week. Our emphasis in CE (Character Education) is to guide and nurture each child in their own emotional development and spiritual growth.

Aside from the scheduled classes, each day between 11:30 and 12:20 the CE House welcomes children during their lunch recess. It is a time for listening and sharing personal stories, and sometimes seeking counsel for a troubled heart.

Children can ask their small and BIG questions by writing notes and leaving them in the mailbox outside the cottage or simply by writing how they are feeling.

Mahalo

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:38:37 -1000

The Sharing Food Project provided 238 pounds of canned food to St Patrick’s Pantry in February! Community service is a lifelong learning experience, and we are thankful for your support. Spring break means that we will start collecting food sooner than usual so that we can drop it off on Tues, 3/13. Baskets for canned food are located in the dining room, so it is easy to drop off your food at any time before the 13th. A special mahalo to the fifth graders, who help coordinate this project.

Heart Month

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:23:30 -1000

It is appropriate that we talk about matters of the heart around this time of year. Our CE classes have just completed the study peer mediation. We now are beginning to focus on the topic of bullying. We will be paying extra attention to how we treat each other and discussing the differences and similarities of joking, teasing, and bullying. A bullying survey will be taken by the 3/4 and 5th graders, and the results will be analyzed by the students. My goals for this unit are that we be more thoughtful and aware of each other, better able to express our feelings in a positive manner, and personally committed to working toward solutions that are peaceful and inclusive. As a community, we won’t always have to agree, but we must strive to get along and show respect to ourselves and others.

It's a privilege to serve...

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:08:50 -1000

Martin Luther King, Jr., told us: "Everyone can be great...because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." It is my privilege to serve as the CE teacher while Ms Rivera is on her sabbatical. I am enjoying meeting your children as we discover what kindness and service mean in the life of our school community. Ask your child about the toothpaste experience. I look forward to meeting you as well.

Being of Service

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:57:34 -1000

“When can I sign up for duty?” “Who will be my partner for peer mediation?” “What do I do as a ‘guardian angel'?” “Where do we go for peer mediation duty?” These are some of the questions our third graders have been asking. They have just finished peer mediation training and are our newest peer mediators. CONGRATULATIONS!

The fourth graders will help as “guardian angels” in coaching the third graders during the mediation process . They will sit with the third graders and offer help when needed to settle a conflict.

Parents, please take a few minutes to sit with your third or fourth grader and go over their peer mediation folder with them. You might also want to role play a conflict with them and have them mediate for you. You’ll be amazed at their new skills in listening, restating, and finding peaceful solutions.

Peer Mediation

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:10:37 -1000

For several weeks, the third graders have been asking, “When are we starting peer mediation?” On Oct. 16, they finally received their Peer Mediation folders and were so excited to be starting their training! In the next few weeks, we will be learning about conflict, ways of dealing with conflict, anger and anger management, attentive listening, and the basic mediation skills. The different ways of listening are important social skills that help us get along with others, even as adults! Please practice these skills with your child and encourage “your peer mediator” to share his/her skills with you at home. Your child may be able to help you solve a conflict at home one of these days!

Seeing with the Heart

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:00:12 -1000

Welcome to an exciting new school year! I hope your child's first few weeks of school have been filled with curiosity, joy, and friendship. We have all been reacquainting ourselves with each other and welcoming our new friends into our community. It has been a great joy to see all the children interacting with one another.

The first weeks of school have been focused on helping the children love and respect themselves as we explore our feelings, strengths, and talents. Our fifth graders are still getting used to the idea that they're now the "elders" of our elementary school, and are gradually stepping into the various leadership positions as their teachers guide them in the responsibilities that go along with these positions and roles. The two service areas are HUGSS (Helping Us Grow in Service and Smiles), and Peace Team. The question "What does being of service mean to you?" was introduced this week as we laid the foundation for their important role as Peace Team members in providing service to our school community. We often hear the words "being of service" used in many ways throughout our community. I hope you will take a moment now to reflect on what this means for you.

Moving from Anger to Peace

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:05:42 -1000

Children have many feelings and, generally, express them openly. Feelings are a part of us, and some feelings are pleasant, while others are uncomfortable. “Everyone feels angry sometimes. While we can’t avoid the feeling of anger, we can prevent acting in angry ways that hurt others. The distinction between feeling angry and acting upon it is important. Helping our children make this distinction and helping them manage their anger without hurting others are among our most important tasks.” (Spelman, When I Feel Angry)

"The Miracle of Peace"

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 10:52:12 -1000

On January 11, to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., one of our world’s great leaders in nonviolent social change, fifty-five third and fourth graders took the pledge as the newest members of our peer-mediation team at Mid-Pacific Institute. Here is what they pledged - “I will do my best to help others solve their conflicts peacefully, to listen with my heart, to be a positive role model, and to be part of creating the miracle of peace in our world.”

"All knowledge is not taught in the same school. One can learn from many sources."

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:39:03 -1000

Dear Families and Friends, Thank you so much for your generous support of our UNICEF project! We all helped raise almost $1,600.00. Our funds will help many children and families all over the world. When I was in Johannesburg, South Africa, I visited a township where the families lived in very small wooden or cardboard sheds with dirt floors. In that community, there was one water pump where villagers could get clean water. The water pump was provided by UNICEF. Another time, when I was in New Delhi, India, I visited a school where the children had paper, pencils, and other school supplies from UNICEF. When I was doing work in Calcutta, India, I experienced how UNICEF provided medicine for the children at an orphanage. Yes, the work of UNICEF is dear to my heart. Thank you for caring and reaching out!

What is the quality of relationships that nourish the heart of students?

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 11:16:17 -1000

We are more than our mind and bodies. Our feelings are an equally important part of our being. Getting to know our feelings and how they affect our thinking and actions has been our focus these past few weeks. The children have been setting goals for ways to care for and respect their body, mind, and feelings, and then sharing the various ways that they cared for and respected themselves.