What type of parent are you? Read this checklist to see if you help your child build resilience. My favorite is “Make the adage that there are at least two sides to every story a mantra in your home.”
Nurturing Resilience: Reminding Ourselves What Kids Need
By Ann Klotz featured in Independent Ideas: The Independent School Magazine Blog
Rainbow Community School has always been a safe haven for introverted children. In a world where social aggressiveness has be glorified, especially in the competitive public education model, Rainbow has always had a way of understanding and honoring the power of the introvert.
Three insights from Rainbow on educating introverts:
1. Provide “in-breath and out-breath” time. At Rainbow, we have active and “outward” times of day; but unlike most schools, those are balanced with “inward” times. Every day has moments of silence, such as when we take three breaths together at morning centering, or when we watch nature, or when we decide to have a meditational lunch.
2. Provide many speaking opportunities where introverts can share about something they are passionate about in a safe space — with their classmates. That eventually builds up to speaking in front of the whole community. However, if they are actually terrified, allow them to “pass” until they are comfortable. It takes time to build trust.
3. Allow introverts to find a role they are comfortable with. Instead of forcing a terrified child to sing in a performance, a Rainbow teacher might ask them to take on another role, such as being in charge of costumes or props. Such a role actually makes them a leader in the eyes of their peers, and builds confidence.
How Parents And Teachers Can Nurture The ‘Quiet Power’ Of Introverts
Billy Goodrum, acclaimed composer and musician, as well as long-time Rainbow parent, worked with the seventh grade to create an originally written and composed song for last year’s Winter Program. In intensive song writing workshops, Billy first worked with the seventh graders to write a collaborative chorus that could serve as the songs steady heartbeat. Students thrived in their creative process as they gained the skills to express their truth through song ultimately agreeing on the title, “Love is Action”.
Why does Rainbow have such dedicated, mindful, creative, and loving teachers? Because we follow every single one of the recommendations in this article. Teachers are still treated like blue-collar workers by politicians. At Rainbow they are highly respected professionals who are provided time to collaborate with one another, autonomy to run their classroom, consistent and relevant professional development, and balance in their lives so they aren’t burned out. The result? Students who are dedicated, mindful, creative, and loving. Empowered teachers create empowered students.
A National Strategy to Improve the Teaching Profession
Our Winter Program featured many beautiful originally composed songs, but “Animal Love” was the only one written by a particularly student. 5th grader Lilly Fox was inspired to write “Animal Love” when she learned that the Winter Program’s theme would be Love this year. More touching still is the way her classmates rallied around her and her song. As one of our smallest classes here at Rainbow, the 5th grade has continued to astonish us with their tender support and committed love of each other.
Come by for a tour today!
