Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Name of Conference Name of Presenter Date.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy

Name of ConferenceName of Presenter

Date


Johnny has 3 apples. If Amélie takes 2 apples,

How will Johnny feel?


What is Roots of Empathy?

Breaking the intergenerational cycle of violence and poor parenting.

Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effects in reducing levels of aggression among school children by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.


Our Mission

Our mission is to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies through the development of

empathy in children and adults.


Our History

Mary Gordon is the Founder, President and the inspiration behind Roots of Empathy.


Our Reach• Working in partnerships, the

Roots of Empathy program reaches elementary children from Kindergarten to Grade 8. In Canada, the program is delivered in English and French and reaches rural, urban, and remote communities including Aboriginal communities.

• Roots of Empathy is also delivered internationally in New Zealand, Isle of Man, the United States, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Germany.


Our Goals

• To foster the development of empathy

• To develop emotional literacy

• To reduce levels of bullying, aggression and violence, and promote children’s pro-social behaviours

• To increase knowledge of human development, learning and infant safety

• To prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting


Our Teachers…

A trained Roots of Empathy Instructor and neighbourhood parent and infant visit the classroom over the school year.

These interactions and the accredited curriculum build children’s social and emotional competence.


Shared Cultural Values

“These programs transcend race, color, and family in our centre. They have brought us all so much closer and truly reflect the values of our Nation.”

-Wet’suwet’en First Nation


Program Elements

• Based on the school year

• Infant and parent Visit classroom once a month (9 Family Visits)

• Instructor makes 27 classroom visits; including Family Visits

• Curriculum Manuals; 4 age ranges: Kindergarten, Primary (grades 1-3), Junior (grades 4-6) and Senior (grades 7-8)


How the Program Works

Each Theme has a:

• Pre-Family Visit (preparation/ prediction)

• Family Visit (observation/experiential learning)

• Post-Family Visit (reflection/critical thinking/problem solving)


Emotional LiteracySocial and Emotional Competence

• The ability to identify and regulate their own emotions (recognize, understand, cope with, express)

• Key to successful relationships and conflict resolution

• Empathy is a component of social and emotional competence


Emotional Literacy

Try not to get mad at a baby because he might learn to be mean when he grows

up.

• Observation of and labelling baby’s emotions

• Reflecting and identifying own emotions

• Understanding the emotions of others (empathy)

• Comfort in discussing emotions


Compared to comparison groups, Roots of Empathy children demonstrated:– Increased social and emotional

knowledge – Increased prosocial behaviour with

peers– Decreased aggression with peers

Lasting results:– Follow-up study showed decrease

in aggression and increase in prosocial behaviours maintained after three years

Research Results


Pepler & Craig (2001):

• Peers are present in 85% of bullying episodes on the playground and in class

• 1 in 7 children are bullied

Bullying – Roots of Empathy Engages the Bystander & Onlooker


Bullying – Roots of Empathy Engages the Bystander & the

Onlooker


•Public Health Nurses/Social Workers

•Police Officers•Child Welfare/Youth and

Family workers•Early Childhood Educators•School-based instructors:

Psychologists Guidance counselors Speech pathologists Special education

assistants Principals/Vice-Principals Unassigned classroom

teachers*

Who can become a Roots of Empathy Instructor?

* The Roots of Empathy program may not be delivered by a teacher in his/her own classroom.


Teacher’s Commitment

• Attend an introductory Roots of Empathy principal/teacher presentation

• Welcome and support the Roots of Empathy Instructor and family

• Maintain regular communication with the Roots of Empathy Instructor

• Participate actively in all lessons and assist when needed

“[The class] is becoming more aware of their feelings and the feelings of others. The program is a wonderful way of creating a caring environment in your classroom and a great way to get the community involved in our school.”~ Roots of Empathy Classroom Teacher


Principal’s Commitment

• Attend an introductory Roots of Empathy principal/teacher presentation

• Strong understanding and support of the program

• Finding an enthusiastic classroom teacher to host the program

• Welcome and support for Roots of Empathy family

• Occasional use of office equipment/supplies

• Willing to be involved in media events or coverage, evaluation or research

“[Roots of Empathy] teaches the kids to be able to label how they’re feeling

and to then start to think how someone else might feel or to help a

person”~ Roots of Empathy Principal


Recognition

Mary Gordon and Canadian Governor-

General Michaëlle Jean

Mary Gordon and His Holiness the Dalai Lama


Roots of Empathy – the bookChanging the World Child by Child

“Roots of Empathy is a simple, brilliant and powerful example of how developing children’s empathy can be a priority, and can be accomplished with amazing results. The heart is the way to the mind, but they have to be explicitly linked. Roots of Empathy is a model of social

and academic inclusion.”

From the foreword by Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto


Changing the World Child by Child


International Advisory Board

Dr. Gwynne Dyer - Author, Journalist, Filmmaker

•Lecturer of International Affairs and Historian

Dr. Bruce Perry - Senior Fellow, The Child Trauma Academy, Houston

•Author, Lecturer, Researcher

Professor Sir Albert Aynsley-Green KT – Former Children’s Commissioner of England

•MA, D Phil, Dhc, DCL, MD, Duniv, FRCP, FRCP (Edin) FRCPCH, FFPH, Fmed Sci

Board of Directors

Scott Clark – Director & TreasurerPresident, C.S. Clark Consulting

Mary Gordon – DirectorFounder/President – Roots of Empathy

Mary Alice MacNeil – Director Family Mediator and ADR Consultant

Mario Nigro – DirectorPartner, Toronto Office, Blake,

Cassels& Graydon LLP

Sarah Polley – DirectorActor, Director, Social Activist

Scott Rutherford – ChairFounding Partner, Rutherford

Development Strategies Principal, Mobius Executive Leadership,Lecturer, Rotman School of Business, U of T

Lyle Viereck – Director Director, Aboriginal Relations &

Negotiations, BC Hydro



For more information:“name and title”

250 Ferrand Drive, Suite 800Toronto, ON CANADA M3C 3G8

t: 416-944-3001 f: 416-944-9295 e: [email protected] w: www.rootsofempathy.org

Charitable Number 89643 4818 RR0001

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Name of Conference Name of Presenter Date.

Documents

Transcript of Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Name of Conference Name of Presenter Date.