I hope you are well. Here we go …. It’s Day 1 of the Kindness Matters 3 Day Challenge. I am super excited because I know you and your pupils are about to create a colossal wave of kindness in and out of school! And we’re all gonna’ surf this wave!

Please play the Introduction Video first and then the Kindness Tip. Today’s Kindness Tip is… Don’t say mean words or use nasty gestures to other children.

What I love about the Kindness Tips videos are the debates they create. Why not ask the pupils if they have ever been on the receiving end of somebody being mean?

This is a great way to start to teach adolescents about emotional intelligence and how our words and actions can have negative consequences.

Ask pupils to journal their daily kindness experience in the e-journal, as this will be instrumental in the coming weeks when they have been consciously practising kindness on a daily basis.

How did you get on yesterday? I bet you got some mixed feedback from your pupils. Oh, the joys of working with children!

In today’s Kindness Tip, I would like you to discuss with your pupils why washing our hands after we’ve used a toilet is an act of kindness?

Do the children wash their hands? Why do they need to wash their hands?

We know that working in a school can be a breeding ground for bugs, which can result in a terrible illness amongst certain sections of the population – the dreaded MAN FLU! – which I have experienced first-hand. I invite my teacher colleagues to discuss this in the staff room over lunch.

On a more serious note, please talk to your pupils about how not washing their hands can make them poorly, as well as making others feel poorly, too.

Straight to the point – today’s Kindness Tip is… Opening doors for people.

This has got to be one of my favourite acts of kindness because it is totally free, literally costing nothing.

When I am delivering this tip in super learning days, I always go into depth about the importance of opening doors. In High Schools, a lot of pupils say “yeah, well I do that and some people don’t say thank you back”. To this I always say the same thing – real, genuine, true kindness seeks no return. We, as the giver of kindness, have to remain IMPARTIAL and expect nothing in return, remembering that the act of giving kindness rewards us from the inside.

It is not our place to judge or complain if people do not say thank you back. For all, we know anything could be going on in their head. (I know enough goes on in my head but that’s another story and not to be discussed here!)

P.S. The next time you open up the door for someone sneak in a cheeky smile – you will be pleasantly surprised at how good it makes you and the other person feel.

I hope you inspired all your pupils yesterday to go forth and pull open as many doors as possible! A big well done for that!

Today’s Kindness Tip is… Offer to help pupils who are lost.

This happens especially after transition week, but it can also be quite daunting for new pupils coming to the school. Please encourage your pupils to be vigilant and look out for new pupils or younger ones, that might need a little support in getting to the next class or just to somewhere they have to be.

Ask the pupils whether they have ever done this act of kindness.

Or, have they ever been lost and someone helped them out? If so, how did that make them feel?

Following on from yesterday’s Kindness Tip…. Today we extend this beyond our time and skills. So, today’s Kindness Tip is… Reading to another pupil in class.

I don’t know if it is just me, but I love seeing pupils all reading together in class in silence, or maybe it is the silence I love, or perhaps both!

I remember years ago when I was speaking in a through school in Blackpool, and I had the opportunity to see year 9 read to year 1. It was truly remarkable to witness the younger ones mesmerised by the older pupils. It was a total win/win situation.

Please ask the pupils why they think it is important to read with each other?

Do any of them like to read with younger pupils?

Do any of them read to their younger siblings?

Good morning!

Let’s unwrap today’s Kindness Matters tip and, speaking of wrappers, let’s encourage the pupils to look out for these on the floor!

Your Kindness Tip today is, of course,… Pick up a piece of litter you did not drop and place it in the nearest bin.

Safety first, fun later! I always encourage youngsters to be mindful of what they pick up outdoors in the community and to always have adult supervision when doing so. Litter picking in school is a lot safer.

Ask the pupils why picking up litter is an act of kindness.

Talk about the 3 R’s – Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.

Ok, I think it is time for me to stop talking all this rubbish! (See what I did there – I know what you are thinking, ‘Don’t give up your day job, John, just yet’.)

I hope you are well.

Isn’t it lovely to see how excited your pupils get when they’re going to Maths, Science, English or any other subject, and the energy that arises when it is time to finish a lesson?! Before you know it, some of your pupils are racing to get out of class and a stampede can quickly emerge which can also happen when rushing to break or lunchtime.

So, today your Kindness Tip is… No pushing when leaving the classroom.

It’s all about being safe and sensible whether leaving the class or out in the corridor. We will be looking at safe and sensible stuff in a future kindness tip.

Good morning!

Ok, down to today’s kindness – only a bright spark like me could come up with this kindness tip (don’t give up the day job, John!), so your tip is…Turn off electrical items when not in use.

I remember during my childhood how my mum would always say, “Who’s left all these lights on? It’s like Blackpool illuminations!!”. Now, as an adult, I absolutely get it. And more importantly, I also get the bit about the environmental impact of wasting and saving energy.

The question is, do your pupils, and can they link this to kindness?

Here is a great kindness tip and a bit of food for thought – see what I did there?

Your Kindness Tip is… Donate to a local food bank.

There is just one word of caution – make sure to inform the pupils that they have to ask their parent’s permission when wanting to donate to a food bank.

I remember getting up one morning, and my daughter had emptied my cupboards! Her heart was definitely in the right place, but my heart definitely went to the wrong place when I saw my full weekly shop in her carrier bags ready for the food bank! Of course, we still donated….. but we agreed on our donation.

Ask the pupils do they know where the food goes?

Have they ever previously donated to a food bank?

I hope this tip creates plenty of food for thought for you and your pupils.

Hello again!

WOW!  We’re 10 days into our Challenge and I’m sure you and your pupils have been in fine form this week both inside and outside of school spreading kindness thickly like a beautiful sweet jam on a hot piece of toast (mmm….).

Well, your Kindness Tip today is… Respect school equipment.

This will open up a good discussion with your pupils about the value of school equipment and how others also need to use that equipment; and by putting this into practice, pupils are actually acting kindly.

Ask the pupils if they have ever disrespected school equipment and what the consequences of this type of behaviour can be.

Look forward to seeing you again very soon.

Hey, what a wonderful morning!

We all know how important it is to preserve and prolong the earth’s precious resources for future generations, so today your Kindness Tip is… Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. In essence, it’s the 3R’s.

Today I would like you to discuss with the pupils the effects of applying the 3R’s to our planet, and the consequences of not taking care of Mother Earth.

Hi,

Safety first, fun later. I always cringe if I see pupils running with their shoelaces undone, as I know the potential consequences and I do not want them to hurt themselves. So, with this thought….

Your Kindness Tip today is… Offer to tie another pupil’s shoelaces.

What I love about this tip is that it is showing that pupils care for one another. Also, it allows us to practice on other pupils if we’re not that great at tying shoelaces. Win/win!

Ask the pupils what some of the consequences could be if they were to ignore helping someone tie their shoelaces.

When was the last time they offered to tie another pupil’s shoelaces, whether they knew them or not?

Have you noticed how some people take water for granted?

I always encourage pupils to be an H₂0 heroine or hero, as I explain the importance of saving water. I do the same with my own kids, as there is just no need to waste such a valuable resource. Wastage is not good for the environment or your pocket.

Today’s Kindness Tip is… Turn off the water tap after washing your hands.

Ask the pupils whether turning off the tap after washing their hands is an act of kindness.

You could also bring in the 3 R’s – Reduce, Re-use, Recycle.

And on that note, I am going to get a glass of water for myself and one of my Kindness Matters team. Remember, sharing is caring

Hi! How’s my favourite teacher getting on?

I hope you and all your pupils are enjoying your daily Kindness Tips.

Today’s Kindness Tip is such an important one because it’s at the heart of what it is to be a human….. If another pupil looks upset or unhappy, see if they are ok.

We know that young adolescents can go through painful emotional experiences as they grow up, and they can end up falling out with friends over even trivial things. I’m passionate about encouraging pupils to look out for each other. If they see another pupil upset or just ‘not their self’, see if they are ok, make them feel included, maybe give them space or mention it to a teacher. This is the essence of a kind community in action!

Ask your pupils if they have ever seen or experienced this for themselves and, if so, what did they do?

Good morning again!

I am going to do my best to keep this email clean!

Your Kindness Tip is… Thank the school caretaker(s) and cleaners.

I am very fortunate in my role as a motivational speaker to get to visit lots of schools, and I live by my mantra of, ‘a greeting, gesture or giggle leave other people feeling better than before they met you’.

I always do my best to make all the teachers and pupils feel good, but I definitely go the extra mile for the reception staff, cleaners, caretakers and volunteers. The principles of T.E.A.M. (‘Together Everyone Achieves More’) apply here, as we are all part of Team School – in this together.

Ask the pupils what the last compliment was that they gave the caretaker, cleaner, or school volunteers.

And there you have it – we are halfway through this amazing journey. I know it’s challenging to keep on track, but, now we are halfway, the next 15 days will feel like we were born to be kind!

Hi,

So how did the last Kindness tip go? Ready for more? Do you want to feel appreciated today?

Well, today’s Kindness Tip is… Compliment staff and other pupils.

Come on, who doesn’t like a compliment or two? And how good are they when they come right out of the blue, especially if you’re feeling…… well… a bit blue!

What I like about compliments is that they are FREE and take very little time to do, but the impact they can have on someone’s day, even their life, is MASSIVE.

Ask the pupils when and what was:

• the last compliment they received?
• the last compliment they gave?
• the last compliment they saw someone else say or do?

Most importantly, how did it make them and others feel?

On that note, I will sign off by reminding you just how good of a teacher you really are and how grateful we all are to have you and your important work in our life.  You’re my favourite teacher & you rock!

Hi again and good morning!

I hope you are well on this beautiful day.

Your Kindness Tip today is this… Return a coat to a pupil or member of staff.

Pupils can get upset when they lose any part of their belongings, such as coats and bags, so it’s always good to talk about this as a class.

Have they ever returned a lost piece of property?

How do you think it made the other pupil feel who got it back?

This is likely to open up a great debate about respecting other people’s property, living as a community and, of course, being kind to each other.

Hi,

Is it just me or does this happen when you are teaching? if one pupil wants a drink, then another pupil wants a drink. Similarly, with the loo!

It’s what I call ‘monkey see, monkey do’, or learned behaviour. Pupils naturally copy each other, with some of that behaviour being good and some not so good.

Your Kindness Tip today is… Fill up another pupil’s water bottle or get them a drink when you do.

This also helps to teach our pupils the importance of sharing and common courtesy. And, not forgetting ‘monkey see, monkey do’, hopefully, this will encourage other pupils to also be considerate to others.

Hi,

Here is a bit of food for thought (pardon the pun).

Your Kindness Tip is… Thank the canteen staff daily.

It’s always necessary to use your manners but with this tip, I would like you to discuss the following:

How often do your pupils thank the canteen staff?

Why is it important to use our manners?

I can see it now, your canteen staff will be wondering, ‘What’s got into all these kids? Their manners have been fantastic!”.

Hi,

Thank you, thank you, thank you …… 2 words that make a massive difference. Feels even better when we receive a card with ‘Thank You’ written on it.

Your Kindness Tip today is… Design a Thank You card.

This can be for a family member, teacher, a friend, or somebody who the pupils feel makes a difference in their life.

And on that note ask the pupils who they are grateful for having in their life.

I don’t personally have your postal address so I will use this platform as my Thank You card and say a huge Kindness Matters THANK YOU to you as a way of expressing my gratitude for all the amazing teaching you do with your pupils.

See you bright and breezy next time. Until then, have a wonderful time filled with as much loving kindness as you can handle!

Good morning!

Your Kindness Tip today is to thank a member of the community who makes a daily difference, such as:

• Lollipop person
• Post (wo)man
• The bin workers
• A school volunteer

I recall many years ago when I was writing my book Kindness Matters, my son asked me, when he was about to leave primary school for good if he could give a box of Maltesers to the lollipop lady who had kept him safe during his primary school years. What a wonderful act of kindness, I thought.

Even as adults we can miss many opportunities to thank people who make a positive difference in the world on a daily basis. I wonder who you could thank?

Hi,

We all know the good old saying “sharing is caring”. Aaahhh….

And on that note your Kindness Tip today is sharing classroom equipment. Please talk to the children about being vigilant in class and noticing opportunities to share equipment, especially with pupils they might not know too well.

Hopefully, this will also open up debates about other things we can share in life.

Who were the last pupils they shared some equipment with?

What other things do the pupils share regularly?

Hi,

Bring on even more brownie points for the Kindness Coach!

I don’t expect children to understand how much energy teaching takes but I believe it is important to let children know the power of education and the impact your teaching is having on them daily.

As the late great Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world“.

Today’s Kindness Tip is… Thank your teachers regularly.

And on that note, I would like to thank you for being a fantastic teacher.

Hi,

Guess who is after more brownie points today? You got it me, Mr John Magee.

What’s it like moving around from classroom to classroom? Maybe you’re having to use a classroom that’s not yours and you have to move your equipment for your next lesson.

Your juicy Kindness Tip today is this… Help a teacher with their books or equipment.

Share with the pupils how it makes you feel when pupils offer to help you out when they see you or other members of staff with their hands full.

Ask the class when was the last time a pupil did this act of kindness. And, if you want to push the boat out, how many teachers could they help this week?!

Happy hunting, class

Happy Day 25!

I have to confess that this is one of my favourite Kindness Tips, with me being a teacher.  Not that I am after even more brownie points but, believe you me after your pupils have watched this tip you are in for a huge wave of kindness. Let’s get the surfboards out and ride this wave!

I would like you to share with the pupils how it makes you feel when they compliment you or ask how you are.

And if you are really up for it, share with them what you enjoy doing in your spare time.

See you bright and breezy for our next Kindness Tip.

Good morning!

I sincerely hope you’re having a good day today.

Recently, I did a fantastic Random Act Of Kindness when I gave this lovely elderly lady a beautiful compliment – she was in her mid-90’s, and I said she didn’t look a day over 60! As you can imagine, this made her day. And mine, too.

OK, down to today’s Kindness Tip… let’s make new pupils feel really welcome.

Have you ever been to a party or social occasion where you didn’t know anyone at all and you got that really daunting feeling of being an ‘outsider’? It’s a really uncomfortable feeling when we feel like we don’t belong somewhere. The flip side to this is that really comfortable feeling of being with your close friends and feeling like you ‘belong’.

Well, you can imagine what it is like for a pupil joining a new school, which would be made even more daunting if they are also from another country.  Empathising with their situation, we can then offer our kindness in abundance. Let’s ask the pupils why they think this is essential.

Have they ever made friends with someone new in school?

Hello again!

Oh no, it’s our last few days together on the Kindness Matters 30 Day Challenge. On a more positive note, let’s look at how much kindness we have put into the world so far.

Straight to the point with today’s Kindness Tip… Sharpen the pencils in the classroom!

When I am speaking in schools I tend to frame this topic in the context of ‘paying it forward’. Sharpening pencils is a simple and great way for pupils to understand how they are paying kindness forward to other pupils they might not meet. How would those on the receiving end of this act feel, knowing that someone has sharpened the pencils just for the next group of pupils to use them?

I wonder what else you could pay forward daily?

Hygiene! Or maybe just a ‘Hi’ will do! 

I hope you are well and all your pupils have been thoroughly enjoying the 30-day challenge.

Now, for the record, I don’t think I have an issue with germs……. Or do I?

I know we have talked about washing our hands after using the toilet, but I want to encourage the pupils to wash their hands after break times.

Let’s face it, there’s a whole world of bacteria out there that we get to touch during break time, such as on floors, shoes, phones, toilets, noses, ears, hair, mouth etc., and then we go back into class and share the stuff around. Yummee! I’m sure most of this is harmless, but this topic can lead into a fruitful discussion with pupils about personal hygiene and how this links to being kind when we’re in a community of other people.

Good morning!

One day we will have reached what we consider to be ‘old age’, whatever that means to you.

Your Kindness Tip today is to help elderly members of the community.

Stranger danger! That’s the first one I’d like to throw into the mix, as we both know that it’s important for the pupils to be accompanied by an adult when offering their kindness to an elderly member of the community.

Ask the pupils what was the last act of kindness they did for an elderly member of the community? How did this make them and the recipient feel?

Good morning!

Can you believe it is the last day of our Kindness Matters 30 Day Challenge?

I do have one final email to send you to thank you and all your pupils, but, until then, today’s Kindness Tip is this… No running in the corridor.

Once I was in a school whilst the Deputy Headteacher was talking to pupils about being safe and sensible. The pupils responded well to what the teacher was saying about not running inside of school, especially on the corridors.

Ask your pupils why they think this is an act of kindness?

What are the benefits of being safe and sensible?

I want to sign off this email by thanking you and all your pupils for your immense kindness. The next email you’ll receive from me is for you all.

Boohoo….. I hate goodbyes

Today is a celebration of the completion of your Kindness Matters 30 Day Challenge, but your goodwill and kindness do not have to stop there.

Over the past few months, my fantastic team and I have been working on my YouTube Channel so that excellent schools like you can find useful free resources from me to share with your pupils.

You can find all of my social handles via my website at the end of this video.

Please do feel free to email me at John@kindnessmatters.co.uk with photographs of the kids with their certificates (with parental consent). Of course, we will not use any image without school confirmation.

I will be in touch to keep you updated with free resources and Kindness Tips. In the meantime, why not head over to my YouTube channel Visit: www.kindnessmatters.co.uk you can also follow me on Twitter @Kindnesscoach_