Secret agents of kindness2/3/2024 ![]() Students and teachers who implement the SKA program benefit from it directly, but acts of proactive kindness have a positive impact on the entire school culture. Acts of intentional kindness improve school culture In other words, this project is worth the time. The relatively short investment of class time is far eclipsed by the kindness-focused student culture that emerges during such a project and the journaling associated with missions encourages metacognitive reflection in students. In classrooms that seek to make space for collaboration and service learning projects, the Secret Kindness Agents’ missions are a perfect match. Secret Kindness Agents are a unique service learning project Students realized that when they chose kindness over lashing out, they had the power to dismantle that combative relationship and rebuild connections with people that were collaborative and fulfilling. Pearson reports that one of the greatest lessons that came out of their journey together was that students began to see that the universe was not one of bullies versus targets, but that everyone was a potential bully and a potential target. As Secret Kindness Agents, students learned the value of empathy and connectionĪs part of the learning experience, SKA students shared their journal responses discussing what being an SKA meant to them. These small, transformative acts had a profound influence on everyone involved both through the act of kindness itself and through the gratitude the SKAs experienced because of their efforts. Other agents helped people carry a heavy load or held doors open. They didn’t have to be complicated tasks. SKA missions were easily accomplished at schoolĪssignments ranged from sitting with someone who was alone at the lunch table to picking up litter or writing thank-you notes to school personnel. Everyone got their own Secret Kindness Agent name, and together, the class brainstormed mission assignments that were placed in an envelope and drawn at random. ![]() The rules were simple and the mission was clear: Spread kindness without using money or resources other than your own time and energy. The SKA classroom mission: Spread kindness using only your time and energy The book outlines Pearson’s (also known as SKA Mama Beast) journey in establishing a classroom of SKAs and developing and assigning missions. She and her students journaled their activities into a book that is part memoir, part how-to manual for educators who wish to start their own Secret Kindness agencies. One of those ripples of influence is Pearson’s classroom project, Secret Kindness Agents (SKAs). A how-to for educators on becoming Secret Kindness Agents No Exceptions.” While Miller has retired from active field work, it’s safe to say that Agent L’s influence has been felt far and wide. Miller’s mission bloomed into a blog with dozens of “Affiliated Agents” in other cities carrying out random acts of kindness under the slogan, “Be Kind. As a birthday present to a friend in 2009, Laura Miller of Pennsylvania became Secret Agent L, brightening the days of her fellow Pittsburgh residents with small gifts of flowers, cards with inspirational quotes, or even $5 Starbucks gift cards. The Secret Kindness Agents were not the first organization dedicated to anonymous good deeds. No Exceptions’: Secret Agent L’s inspiring good deeds This kindness is driven by the idea that one good deed can be a ripple that travels farther than the instigator could ever imagine. ![]() We see stories in the news all the time - someone pays for the order behind them in the Starbucks drive-through and the resulting cascade of charity can last for hours. Many people are familiar with the concept of proactive kindness. Through Pinterest and the educational philosophy of Paulo Freire, the Secret Kindness Agents were born. Instead of accepting the helplessness and powerlessness they were feeling, Pearson and her students embraced action.
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