Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy is an evidence based classroom programme that has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression and bullying among school children while raising social emotional competence and increasing empathy.
This programme is being run in our three Year Four classes (8 year old students). The instructors are Judy Mulder and Sarah Ward. Our philosophy is that if we teach the programme at this level, we are setting the students up to be effective role models in our senior school.
The programme has been operating at Pinehill School since 2008.
We have nine themes throughout the year.- Meet the Baby
- Crying
- Caring and Planning for baby
- Emotions
- Sleep
- Safety
- Communicating
- Who Am I?
- Farewell and Good Wishes
- Celebration
Each theme consists of a pre-visit, a family visit and a post visit. There are 27 lessons in total. In the family visit our tiny teacher (our baby) and its Mum visit the classroom as honorary class members. The family visit 10 times between February and December, for 45 minutes, every 3-4 weeks. The students share in the milestones of the baby's development. Through this face to face engagement they become more understanding of the needs of others. This culminates with a celebration for the last visit in which the family is presented with a photo album. The lesson is centred around the green blanket. Through toys, music and observation the children celebrate the milestones of the baby.
The goals of the programme are :- To foster the development of Empathy (to put yourself in someone else's shoes)
- To develop emotional literacy
- To reduce the levels of bullying, aggression and violence
- To foster pro-social behaviours
- To increase knowledge of human development, learning and infant safety
- To prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting.
- Meet the Baby
- Crying
- Caring and Planning for baby
- Emotions
- Sleep
- Safety
- Communicating
- Who Am I?
- Farewell and Good Wishes
- Celebration
- To foster the development of Empathy (to put yourself in someone else's shoes)
- To develop emotional literacy
- To reduce the levels of bullying, aggression and violence
- To foster pro-social behaviours
- To increase knowledge of human development, learning and infant safety
- To prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting.
Roots of Empathy Roll of Honour 2019 Baby Matvey and Kseniya Meshkova (Room 9 William Albertsma) Instructor: Sarah Ward Baby Cohen and Victoria Everett (Room 10 Chloe Barrett) Instructor: Judy Mulder Baby Blake and Rachel Beedell (Room 11 Nicole Hillier) Instructor: Judy Mulder 2018 Baby Jaelen and Jamaine Grant (Room 10 Natalie McAllum) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Sam and Ashley Shearer (Room 14 William Albertsma) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Eli and Sarah Diekema (Room 9 Emma Lyon) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4
2017 Baby Finn and Victoria Everett (Room 11 Ashleigh Maaka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Juliet and Lindsay Newman (Room 14 William Albertsma) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Ryella and Pamela Enstrom (Room 9 Emma Lyon) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 2016 Baby Victoria and Kseniya Meshkova (Room 6 Ashleigh Maaka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Skylah and Bel Sweetman (Room 21 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Hamish and Briar Richardson (Room 19 Yvonne Hook) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 2015 Baby Alice and Kate Webber (Room 19 Yvonne Hook) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 Baby Danielle and Andrea/Richard Stanaway (Room 21 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Joseph and Laetitia Belando (Room 14 Karen Seth) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 2014 Baby Olivia and Rachael McKewen (Room 19 Yvonne Hook) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 Baby Hugo and Louise Manson (Room 23 Kathy Penberthy) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Lusia and Christina Kelemete (Room 16 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 2013 Baby Phoebe and Jo Coughlan (Room 23 Kathy Penberthy) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Zoe and Natalie Wilson (Room 16 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Kelsey and Tamsyn Angell (Room 6 Yvonne Hook) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 2012 Baby Toby and Amy Brown (Room 18 Holly Moore) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 Baby Adam and Candice Dollie (Room 23 Kathy Penberthy) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Aaliyah and Vanessa Mulholland (Room 16 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 2011 Baby Zachary and Amanda Murray (Room 13 Kathy Penberthy) Instructor Judy Mulder Y4 Baby Macsen and Tania Steen (Room 16 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Dianne Walker Y4 Baby Kowhai and Tracey Witana (Room 18 Holly Moore) Instructor Sarah Ward Y4 2010 Baby Indy and Dionne Webster (Room 13 Kathy Penberthy) Instructor Sarah Ward, Y4 2009 Baby Maia and Maraea Rameka (Room 16 Jo Hanley) Instructor Sarah Ward, Y4 2008 Baby Bryn and Georgie Hammond (Room 17 Maraea Rameka) Instructor Dianne Walker, Y5/6
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