RACK Book

My class did 15 Random Acts of Christmas Kindness this December.  This year I took pictures of each one and created a book.  Most anything can be made into a classroom book, and this one is pretty special.  I'm hoping it's a reminder of how we changed the world for 15 days.  Maybe it will inspire them to continue their world-changing ways.  (Go here to read about our RACKing.)

Joy!

Have you met Barbara from The Corner on Character?  She is a true gem.  I haven't had the privilege of meeting her in person, but several email conversations have convinced me that I'd love to steal her away from Texas and make her work at my school.  She inspired this post over a year ago with one of her random acts of kindness suggestions.  I quickly incorporated it into my classroom RACK (Random Acts of Christmas Kindness) activities we do during the month of December.  Look here if you're interested in hearing more.

We made get well cards, and I delivered them to the local Walgreen's pharmacy to be handed out with prescriptions.  Here are a few pictures.

This is what we wrote on the back.

When I made my delivery to Walgreens the other day, the pharmacist happily responded, "Oh yeah.  We had these last year!"  I'm glad my kids and their kindness left a mark, and I hope they leave many more in the future.  (Thank you dear Barbara for the inspiration!)

Christmas Place Mats

Back in November, I read a post by Miss Trayers at Not Just Child's Play.  Her kids made Thanksgiving place mats as a form of community service.  I loved the idea so much that I incorporated it into my RACK (Random Acts of Christmas Kindness) days that I do with my kids in December.  Go here to read more about RACKing.  

My kids made Christmas place mats for some local senior citizens.  They did such a beautiful job.  I was proud to share them with our elderly community.  Here are just a few, but they were all wonderful.

I hope these place mats create some smiles and change some worlds this Christmas season!  (Thanks Miss Trayers for the wonderful idea.)

My Top Ten...Make That Three

It's that time of the year when top ten lists are the thing.  I've only been blogging since October, so I think I'd better stick with my top three.  (Links are attached for those who would like to know more.)


1.  Noiseless Notes - I picked this one, because I suppose it represents authenticity, purpose, and meaning - the things that I hope are always present in my classroom.  I want my kids to read and write, not do stuff about reading and writing.  It's not always easy to separate oneself from stuff or to even recognize its presence for that matter.  

Regie Routman says, "Effective teachers who have high-achieving students do more writing and reading of whole texts and spend little time on 'stuff' - activities about writing and reading."

Debbie Diller states, "Too many times we begin with the 'stuff.'"

Gail Boushey and Joan Moser believe that too often we do, "...artificial reading and writing activities (worksheets and so on)."

2.  Classroom Books - My kids and I make classroom books together.  By the end of the year, we have so many that each child takes at least two home as souvenirs, although by then they're not in the best of shape since they've been loved on so much.  Even though every crew of kids has a different personality, as well as likes and dislikes, every class loves reading the books we create.  What kid wouldn't enjoy reading about themselves and reading something they had a hand in making?  I'm pretty sure there's no stuff in this here basket.

3.  RACKing (Random Acts of Christmas Kindness) - Our 12 days of RACKing tops off my list.  (Thanks again to The First Grade Parade for the idea.)  I find it interesting that my favorite post was the one that taught to the heart and not the head.  What goes on in the classroom is a whole lot bigger than the numbers reported in the local paper or on the news.  

To RACK or Not to RACK?

I was challenged by a post from The First Grade Parade this December.  You can read about it in my post entitled Inspired to RACK!  Will I do it again next year? I respond with a hearty, "Yes and amen!"  My one hope was that it would thoroughly seep into the hearts of my kids and so fill them up that it had to leak into their lives outside of school.  From what I've heard, that's just what happened.  Can I get a witness?  Here are a few testimonials.


This comes from Libby's mother:
I LOVE Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  She really did make my bed this morning, and she started a "RACK" club with me and some stuffed animals.  She has also been making lists of RACK's she could do for her siblings.  Much better than the Christmas lists to Santa she had been consumed with :)  Thanks for the awesome idea!

This is from Hailey's mom:

Thank you for all you do!  The absolute highlight for Hailey thus far was your secret santa 12 days of Christmas.  She LOVED it all so much and could not wait to tell me all each day.  Academically, you are the best.  But more importantly, you ALWAYS seem to find time to really teach these little ones what matters most in life and about serving , respecting and love.  You always teach them how to FEEL...an amazing gift.

Here's Garrett's mom:
The RACKing continues and has spurred his big brother Austin to do some RACKing also. Garrett has RACKed me by helping to set the table, get my slippers and clean up after Austin made a mess.  He made his bed one day without having to be asked.  Today he even gave Austin the last cookie in the container and left a note saying "You've been RACKed".  Today Austin decided he would RACK Garrett and made him a lunch complete with a special piece of candy.  He even cut his sandwich into the shape of a dinosaur for him.  He too left a note saying "You've been RACKed."  It's spreading!!! Thanks so much.

Dakota's mom:
Dakota loved RACKing.  The only one I actually witnessed her do was at the grocery store.  She put away four carts that were left out.  She informed me it is one if your pet peeves.  :) She was very excited to tell me about the ones you did at school each day. She wanted to do more at home but the things she was coming up with were pretty expensive and at very inconvenient times. She did love it, though.  The seeds have been planted.  Every year we pick names in our family and do secret acts for that person.  The RACKing showed her that she can look around and find people and situations anytime and anywhere.  Thank you!!



This is what Jackson's mom has to say:
Jackson has talked A LOT about RACK!  I thought it was so fabulous that he got so into it!  We are doing cookies for our neighbors so he can RACK them :)


This is from Paige, who was RACKed with hot chocolate while on recess duty.  The next day Abbey had a conversation with her about that moment.

She said her bucket was still really full because she brought me hot chocolate on the playground.

Those stories alone make it all worthwhile.  How could I not make RACKing a tradition in my room?


Also, Libby's RACK list inspired me.  Towards the end of our 12 days, we each made our own list.  Here are a few examples.

(Translation:  Make my mom's bed.  Do my laundry without asking mom.  Wash the windows nice and clean.  Make cookies with mom.  Make cookies.)

(Translation:  Make the bed.  Make pictures for them.  Make sure the house is clean.  Leave treats for them.  Give a hug.  Buy stuff for them.  Make presents for them.)

(Translation:  Put a treat on the table.  Do not fight.  Clean every single room.  Fold clothes.  Be nice.  Clean the kitchen.)


I say none of this to toot my own horn.  If you've read my first RACK post, you know this was not my own idea.  I'm just thankful that I was blessed to stumble across the idea and watch how it affected the lives of my youngsters, hopefully forever.

Inspired to RACK!

Read no further until you've clicked on this link and have read "Let's go RACKing!"  Seriously.  Play along.  You'll be glad you did.  Okay, you read it, right?  Aren't you glad you did?  The author of that post thoroughly inspired me, and gave me hope that I could do something similar with my kids.  Compassion, unselfishness, respect, heroism, and all the many honorable traits that I wish to sink into the core of each of my first graders are things we read about, discuss, and practice almost daily, but will these traits become part of who they are unless they have the opportunity to use them outside the four walls of our classroom?


I've got my kids for 12 days during December, and I'm making plans to RACK each of those days.  I want to keep it fairly simple but very meaningful.  There are some things that I'll have to orchestrate, preparing treats for example, but as much as possible, I want the kids to take ownership.  I want them to know how it feels to show kindness without being acknowledged or expecting anything in return. We'll remain anonymous, but when possible, we'll leave notes similar to the one in the inspirational post.  Here's my tentative plan.  


Day 1: Leave treats on each car in our school parking lot.

Day 2:  Take a quick walk to the Kuna Library and leave a collection of bookworms for the librarians to pass out.  

Day 3:  Leave treats for the lunch ladies.


Day 4:  Take hot chocolate out to duties at recess.


Day 5:  Clean the school grounds.


Day 6:  Leave a treat in the school mailbox for the postman.


Day 7:  Donate food to our school's food drive.


Day 8:  Donate a book to Operation Wish Book.


Day 9:  Leave a treat for our custodian and leave our classroom and hallway in better shape than normal.


Day 10:  Leave treats in the office for parents who sign in.


Day 11:  Head outside early before the dismissal bell rings and sing Christmas carols to the bus drivers while they wait.


Day 12:  Write Christmas cards for the senior center.


I'd love to hear back from anyone who has similar plans or who has ideas for me.  I've never done this before, so I welcome any and all thoughts.  There's still time to make changes.  I can't wait to RACK!