Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School

“A blueprint for teaching specific skills that promote empathy and support a compassionate school environment.”—Professional Shelf, School Library Journal

“An easy read that can be used as a roadmap for schools developing a character-building curriculum to cultivate positive relationships with students and staff, leading to a culture of kindness and empathy.”—School Administrator magazine

“The vast majority of students we talk to agree that bullying is bad and kindness is cool. But they often lack basic strategies to show compassion to their classmates. This book offers dozens of practical, hands-on lesson plans educators can use to teach students how to be kind (and why that matters so much). The lessons encourage students to stand up for what is right, and give them the tools to do it. If you want to ‘Create a Culture of Kindness in [your] Middle School,’ this book is for you.”—Dr. Justin W. Patchin and Dr. Sameer Hinduja, codirectors of the Cyberbullying Research Center and authors of Words Wound 

“This book is exactly what educators need, now more than ever: A blueprint for providing kids with the skills not only to prevent bullying, but to fundamentally change their schools and their world. With Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School, Naomi Drew and Christa Tinari have added a timely and valuable resource to the literature on empathy, respect, school climate, and bullying prevention.”—Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy

“Create a Culture of Kindness begins as if you are having a conversation with the wisest and most supportive teachers you have ever spoken to. This is worth the price alone, but you will soon see that the lessons also reflect wisdom and deep respect for children’s competence and potential. This book gives you the tools needed to create an organized, respectful classroom filled with students who are more mindful and therefore more ready to engage in learning and positive relationships. Its lessons on compassion, in particular, should be mandatory in every middle school.”—Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D., Rutgers University and author of Assessing Social, Emotional, and Character Development and Emotionally Intelligent Parenting

“Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School is the single most impactful book I’ve seen on transforming a culture of bullying into one that reliably promotes kindness. It is essential reading for every middle school educator and for every parent of a middle school student. It takes intention, courage, and powerful protocols to create a school culture that empowers students to flourish, both emotionally and academically. Naomi Drew and Christa Tinari deliver the goods in this practical, wise, and inspiring guide.”—Marilee Adams, Ph.D., best-selling author of Teaching That Changes Lives: 12 Mindset Tools for Igniting the Love of Learning

“Create a Culture of Kindness in Middle School brilliantly covers all the bases, with a hands-on approach to building important skills like compassion, empathy, listening, anger management, coping tools, personal responsibility, and respect for diversity. This timely and important manual includes practical activities, questions, and resources to engage students and help them recognize their interconnectedness, their capacity to change deeply held beliefs, and the potential they each have to make a difference—all while helping to preserve civility, respect, and common decency in our world.”—Jane Bluestein, Ph.D., author of Creating Emotionally Safe Schools and The Win-Win Classroom