COURSE TITLE:

NURTURING COMPASSION WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS

NO. OF CREDITS:

5 QUARTER CREDITS
[semester equivalent = 3.33 credits]

WA CLOCK HRS:  
OREGON PDUs:  
PENNSYLVANIA ACT 48:  		 50
50
50

INSTRUCTOR:

Michael Sedler
mike@communicationplus.net

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will focus on helping children move from complacency to compassion in their interactions with other people. Too often, children are self-focused and miss opportunities to support, encourage, and help those around them. There are also those children who seem to lack an emotional connection to the outside world. We often say they are “unattached” or “lack sensitivity.”  Through a combined presentation of literature, research, hands on activities, discussion topics, and personal interactions, this course will increase the ability of educators to impact children in the emotional recognition of social responsibility.
We will emphasize acts of kindness, reading social situations, increasing sensitivity to others, and  phrases and actions that lead toward support toward others and compassion. This exciting class will change the dynamics within a classroom, a school, and a home. It will be enjoyable, energizing, and filled with strategies and interventions for a school. Regardless of the age group one works with, this class will benefit the educator.  It is geared toward a broad audience, encompassing K-12 students.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, participants will have:

  1. Identified key components that lead to appropriate social interactions.
  2. Emphasized social-emotional areas without lecturing and pushing children away with “controlling words or actions.”
  3. Assessed individual students in order to identify what areas of effective interaction he/she is lacking.
  4. Taught compassion concepts to others in a way that translates to action, not just words.
  5. Explored task analyze social situations, addressed areas of compassion, and taught children specific strategies to support other people.
  6. Applied new strategies within a classroom, school, or home.
  7. Interacted more effectively with students and modeled aspects of compassion and social responsibility.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Completion of all specified assignments is required for issuance of hours or credit.  The Heritage Institute does not award partial credit. 

 

HOURS EARNED:
Completing the basic assignments (Section A. Information Acquisition) for this course automatically earns participant’s their choice of CEUs (Continuing Education Units), Washington State Clock Hours, Oregon PDUs, or Pennsylvania ACT 48 Hours. The Heritage Institute offers CEUs and is an approved provider of Washington State Clock Hours, Oregon PDUs, and Pennsylvania ACT 48 Hours.

 

UNIVERSITY QUARTER CREDIT INFORMATION

REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIVERSITY QUARTER CREDIT
Continuing Education Quarter credits are awarded by Antioch University Seattle (AUS). AUS requires 75% or better for credit at the 400 level and 85% or better to issue credit at the 500 level. These criteria refer both to the amount and quality of work submitted.

  1. Completion of Information Acquisition assignments 30%
  2. Completion of Learning Application assignments 40%
  3. Completion of Integration Paper assignment 30%

 

CREDIT/NO CREDIT (No Letter Grades or Numeric Equivalents on Transcripts)
Antioch University Seattle (AUS) Continuing Education Quarter credit is offered on a Credit/No Credit basis; neither letter grades nor numeric equivalents are on a transcript. 400 level credit is equal to a "C" or better, 500 level credit is equal to a "B" or better. This information is on the back of the transcript.

AUS Continuing Education quarter credits may or may not be accepted into degree programs. Prior to registering determine with your district personnel, department head, or state education office the acceptability of these credits for your purpose.

ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

REQUIRED TEXT

Selected text from Bibliography.
All handout materials, case study, and samples.
Obtain your text directly from libraries, the publisher, a local bookstore or an online booksellers.
A list of publishers and their phone numbers are located in the back of the Course

None. All reading is online.

MATERIALS FEE

A course manual may be downloaded, from the instructor’s website at http://www.michaelsedler.com/ without charge, once you have registered for this course. Click on classes, from there scroll down the page and click on the orange lettering ‘Manual’ next to the class “Nurturing”. It will download as a PDF. While there is no fee for the manual, you may have to pay in order to order a book from the bibliography. Or, you may borrow one from a friend or check one out at the public library for free.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHING THIS COURSE:

Mike Sedler, D.Min., M.S.W. brings over 30 years of educational experience as an administrator, social worker, behavior specialist and teacher to each of his classes.  

He provides consultation services and seminars throughout the United States and Canada for schools, agencies and businesses.  He has been teaching “adult learning classes” since the mid 1980’s and has had the privilege of working for The Heritage Institute for over 25 years. 

He has a graduate degree in Social Work, a Doctoral degree in Ministry, a Counseling license, as well as his teaching certification (K-8).  His combination of classroom experience, behavior intervention approaches, and involvement in working with hundreds of families allows for an excellent blend in all his classes.

Mike is passionate about children and emphasizes the importance of avoiding power struggles, offering options/choices to children, setting clear boundaries and guidelines as well as finding a place of positive engagement and connection with each individual.  His heart for people and emphasis on positive communication are found throughout his seminars and classes.

All of Mike’s classes are practical and “field tested” in schools and classrooms. Educators have found ongoing success in implementing Mike’s clear and concise approaches.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

NURTURING COMPASSION WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS

Chansky, Tamar.   Freeing Your Child From Anxiety.  Broadway Books, 2014.  Helping children become comfortable with one another (grades P-12.)  www.bwaypub@randomhouse.com  800 782 9000.

Dalton, Jane and Fairchild, Lyn.  The Compassionate Classroom: Lessons that nurture wisdom and empathy.  Zephyr Press, 2004.  Creative classroom ideas for empathy and self-awareness (grades 7-12.)  www.zephyrpress.com  800 232 2187.

Davis Powell, Sara  Wayside Learning: Connecting with Students.  Corwin Press, 2010.  Emphasizes relationship building with students (P-12.)   www.corwin.com  800 233 9932.

Hart, Sura and Hodson, Victoria.  Respectful Parent, Respectful Kids.  Puddledancer Press, 2006. Helping parents to move beyond discipline to creating an environment of mutual respect (adult.)  www.nonviolentcommunication.com  877 367 2894.

Greenland, Susan. The Mindful Child.  Atria Books, 2010.  Help children to manage stress and become happier, kinder, and more compassionate.   www.simonandschuster.com  

Jennings, Patricia.  Mindfulness for Teachers.  Norton Publishing. 2015.  Blending of resources and interventions for children (P-12.)  www.wwnorton.com 800 233 4830.

Killoran, Tosca.  Take Care.  ED-ucation Publishing, 2014.  Inspires children to understand compassion. (Ages 4-9.)  www.ed-ucation.ca 

Kohler-Evans, Patricia and Dowd Barnes, Candice.  Civility, Compassion, and Courage in Schools Today.  Rowman and Littlefield Publishing, 2015.  Promoting social and emotional needs in students.  (grades P-12.)  www.rowmanlittlefield.com  717 794 3800.

Levine, David.  Teaching Empathy.  Solution Tree, 2009.  Prosocial skills of empathy and compassion.  (P-12).  www.solution-tree.com  800 733 6786

Orszag Vestuto, Rhoda and Larsen, Doris.  Kids Can Share.  Teaching and Learning Company, 2003.  Lessons on kindness, compassion, and responsibility (grades P-2.)  www.teachinglearning.com 800 852 1234.

Rosenberg, Marshall.  Teaching Children Compassionately.  Puddledancer Press, 2004.  Teaching children by using compassionate and cooperative approaches (grades P-12)  www.nonviolentcommunication.com   877 367 2894.

Stuecker. Ric.  Inspiring Leadership in Teens.  Research Press, 2010.  Comprehensive approach to student leadership (grades 6 -12.)  www.researchpress.com  800 519 2707.

Tozer, B.C.  The Four C’s of Successful Teaching: Consistency, Contingency, Compassion, and Courage.  Sounds From The Edge Publishing, 2013.  A guideline to helping students learn the cornerstones of success.  www.soundsfromtheedge.com    814 267 3027  or  7234 840 4092.

Werner, Sheri.  In Safe Hands: Bully Prevention and Compassion for All.  R and L Education, 2012.  Practical resources for teaching compassion and reducing bullying.  www.rowman.com  800 462 6420.

Young, Bettie Wolf, Joanne, et al.  Teaching Kids To Care.  Hampton Roads Publishing, 2015.  Book for parents and how to integrate compassion into the home (grades P-12.)  www.hamptonroadspub.com 800 766 8009.

NURTURING COMPASSION WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS REV 2/29/24