Update: May 2019
Read the May update from Making Caring Common and don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter to get updates straight to your inbox.
In the News
NPR's new series "Life Kit" includes lots of practical parenting advice, including how to teach kindness. Listen for a shout-out to Making Caring Common and Rick Weissbourd! Here's the full run-down of MCC coverage this month:
NPR Life Kit: Kindness Can Be Taught. Here's How
KQED's Mind/Shift: What Students Gain From Learning Ethics in School
Boston Globe Magazine: Is 'Girl Power' really the right message for our daughters?
The Atlantic: There’s More to College Than Getting Into College
Motherly: Survey: Millennial moms are committed to bringing back kindness
Sojourners: What Do We Owe Our Kids?
Harvard EdCast: Putting Ethics First in College Admissions
Jackson Hole News & Guide: Ask your kids: Am I a helicopter parent?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Good moral character? In Pa., drunken driving and other crimes don't mean you can't teach
For more information and resources, check out our website, and be sure to follow Making Caring Common on Facebook and Twitter to join the conversation online.
For Educators: How to Build Empathy and Strengthen Your School Community
Empathy is a key part of being a responsible and helpful community member at school and elsewhere. Although it doesn’t necessarily take a lot of work to build empathy, it does take attention and commitment — but it’s worth it for students, educators, and the school community. Here are five essential steps for schools:
Model empathy
Teach what empathy is and why it matters
Practice empathy
Set clear ethical expectations
Make school culture and climate a priority
Read more tips for building empathy.
Tip for Families: Make Caring for Others a Priority and Set High Ethical Expectations
Even though most parents say that raising caring children is a top priority, often children aren't getting that message. Children need to hear from their parents that caring about others is essential, and that it is just as important as their own happiness. Try this:
Keep to a clear message
Prioritize caring when you talk with other important adults in your children’s lives
Help your children understand that the world doesn't revolve around them
Read more tips for cultivating empathy at home.
From our Friends: Teen Summit, College Toolkit, Professional Development
Makers of Good Teen Summit
We’re excited to collaborate with Hershey on the Makers of Good Teen Summit, which is bringing teens together to advance social inclusion efforts in communities across the U.S. Learn more →
Off to Schoolkit
NBC News Learn has created a new resource to support families and students who are applying and transitioning to college. Create your own “Off to Schoolkit” on their website. Try it out →
Summer Leadership Seminar
Challenge Success is hosting one-day Summer Leadership Seminars in three cities across the U.S. for middle school, high school, and district level leaders. Learn more →