Hey Teach!
Who doesn’t love a little extra kindness in the classroom? Whether it’s a warm smile, a thoughtful word of encouragement, or helping someone pick up their fallen books, these small acts of kindness can make a huge difference. It’s true—kindness really does make the world go round!
If you’re looking to create a kinder, more compassionate classroom, the first thing to remember is this: "More is caught than taught." As adults, we set the tone. When children see you being kind—to other adults, to students, and even to yourself—they learn what kindness looks like in action. You’re showing them the standard, and trust me, they’re paying attention.
Acknowledge and Discuss Kindness
One of the best ways to encourage kindness is to acknowledge it when it happens and talk about its impact. This is such an important part of teaching kindness. While we might assume that children naturally know how to be kind, the truth is that many need guidance and practice to build those skills.
To help with this, I’ve created a 100 Acts of Kindness Poster and an accompanying PowerPoint lesson designed for primary-aged students. Grab it here. It’s a fun and interactive way to get your class involved in spreading kindness.
How to Use the Kindness Chart
Introduce the kindness chart to your students with a little excitement—let them know they’re about to embark on a kindness journey! If you’re using the accompanying PPT SLIDE LESSON PLAN (which works beautifully as part of your PSHE or citizenship curriculum), it will guide you through the process. If not, no worries! Here are some simple tips to get started:
Kindness posters for school
- Define Kindness for Your Class
Alternatively, you could save the ticking for a short end-of-day session (more on this later). Share a few examples of kind acts with your students and ask them to think of their own. Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:
- Smiling at someone who looks upset
- Sharing a book, pencil, or resource
- Inviting someone who’s alone to join a game
- Holding the door open for others
- Letting someone else go first
- Using polite words like “please” and “thank you”
- Saying “sorry” right away if you accidentally hurt someone
2. Talk About Genuine Kindness
The Impact of Kindness
Once your class understands what kindness looks like, take a moment to talk about the impact it has. Acts of kindness don’t just make the recipient feel good—they can be just as rewarding for the person performing them. By helping children see this two-way benefit, you’ll encourage them to seek out opportunities to be kind.
Keep the Momentum Going
Check in at the end of the day to see how many acts of kindness have been recorded. Do make the kindness chart part of your daily routine. Whether your students have been adding their own ticks throughout the day or you’ve saved it for a group session, this is a great time to reflect. This tool is really powerful when you can get the children to willingly share with the class how someone was kind to them and how they feel. Of course, some acts of kindness may be personal, and children may not want to share—let them know that’s perfectly okay, too.
By regularly talking about kind acts and their impact, you’ll help your students tune in to kindness and make it part of your classroom culture. Filling up the chart will become something they look forward to as a class!
Don’t forget to grab the kindness FREE resources here.
Extend the Kindness
Once your kindness chart is complete, why not take it to the next level with the Pay It Forward concept? It’s a wonderful way to show students how their kindness can ripple out into the wider world.
Here’s to a classroom where kindness truly shines!
Kizzy xx
P.S. Don't forget to be kind to yourself!