compliment machine

some more on compliments from the book, positive discipline in the classroom:

"Explain to students that it can feel awkward to give and receive compliments when they aren't used to it. Use the analogy of leaning to ride a bike. Ask students how many of them would have never learned to ride if they had stopped because it was awkward at first... Spend some time on how to receive a compliment."

"By focusing on the specifics of what someone does, the person being complimented will get a better idea of what the other person likes... Junior high school students, who seem to find appreciation and acknowledgment more appropriate than compliment, often feel that giving complements is embarrassing"

The authors suggest that the first part of classroom meetings is spent in complementing and appreciating. they mention that in a complimenting circle, students have the opportunity to "give, get, or pass." i love this concept. i can choose to give a compliment to another, i can choose to pass my turn, or i can state that i need to receive a compliment. if i choose to get, i have another choice. i can tell the group what i need to hear and someone can volunteer to tell it to me or members of the group who would like to give me a compliment can raise their hand and i can choose someone.

i am really drawn to this step in teaching children to state what it is that they need. imagine a world where we all stated our needs. ahhh... sounds refreshing doesn't it. verses always having to guess and assume...