Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Buckets Full

This school year hasn't exactly been the easiest, in fact it is one of my most challenging ever, for many reasons. In my classroom today, the morning wasn't going well, so...during lunch I thought and hoped and prayed that I could somehow turn this day around. Out of the blue, I found a book that I'd purchased a couple of months ago, but had misplaced.

Have you heard of it? Have You Filled a Bucket Today?  It makes kindness more concrete for children: when you do something nice for someone, you fill up their bucket...and your own. Doing something nice for someone makes you feel good!

Moments after reading it aloud to my 24 second grade students, we were discussing simple acts of kindness, when the boys made a circle on the rug and hugged one another. Next, the girls decided to do this group hug as a chain. Then one little girl had big crocodile tears running down her cheeks. I asked her about her tears and she said that her little brother was in the hospital and she missed him. He was very sick. She had, "by accident, given him her sickness". She felt sad.

We all decided to Fill Her Bucket...and her brother's.




The day miraculously turned around. I know my bucket is overflowing now.
Miracles are everywhere.
And, we were able to do our math and science lessons with smiles all around. ♥
~K

9 comments:

Martha Lever said...

This is just about the sweetest thing I have heard in a long time, Kathy. It is a testament to the power of prayer...and kindness. I know that these kids will remember you the rest of their lives. I remember my 2nd grade teacher. And I loved her.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

This is a lovely post, I love the idea of filling buckets for people. I just checked at our library but they don't have this book.

Anonymous said...

Oh Kathy! What a lovely story! I am so glad you are where you are in life, you know? Those litttle kids just seem so wonderful to have in your life... yay yay yay! I am smiling, and crying at the same time...

Jennifer Richardson said...

what a bucket-filling story!
I just love love:)
Good share.....thanks.
-Jennifer

Anonymous said...

that is a lovely story, and a great idea. glad it turned out to have a happy ending.

Unknown said...

This is so sweet and also very touching. I hope the lesson continues on for years to come.

Createology said...

Kathe I don't know how I missed this post of yours. What a wonderful way to teach "your" littles. Seems like divine intervention had a hand in your bucket filling day. So sorry you got more snow. I will be sending you sunny thoughts. Enjoy your long deserved weekend...

Erin Butson said...

oh................Kathy! what a great story. love it. way to turn it around. it's really, really hard to turn around a day going south. i usually just get crabby, so I'm proud of you! Such a good example for me.

Cat said...

So neat that you are working with children, and what a great story of filling a bucket! You are filling these children's buckets with precious memories that will help them in moral decisions later in life.