Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Name of Conference Name of Presenter Date

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Johnny has 3 apples. If Amélie takes 2 apples, How will Johnny feel ?

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy What is Roots of Empathy? Breaking the intergenerational cycle of violence and poor parenting. Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effects in reducing levels of aggression among school children by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Our Mission Our mission is to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Our History Mary Gordon is the Founder, President and the inspiration behind Roots of Empathy.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Our Reach Working in partnerships, the Roots of Empathy program reaches elementary children from Kindergarten to Grade 8. In Canada, the program is delivered in English and French and reaches rural, urban, and remote communities including Aboriginal communities. Roots of Empathy is also delivered internationally in New Zealand, Isle of Man, the United States, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Germany.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Our Goals To foster the development of empathy To develop emotional literacy To reduce levels of bullying, aggression and violence, and promote children’s pro-social behaviours To increase knowledge of human development, learning and infant safety To prepare students for responsible citizenship and responsive parenting

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Our Teachers… A trained Roots of Empathy Instructor and neighbourhood parent and infant visit the classroom over the school year. These interactions and the accredited curriculum build children’s social and emotional competence.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Shared Cultural Values “These programs transcend race, color, and family in our centre. They have brought us all so much closer and truly reflect the values of our Nation.” -Wet’suwet’en First Nation

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Program Elements Based on the school year Infant and parent Visit classroom once a month (9 Family Visits) Instructor makes 27 classroom visits; including Family Visits Curriculum Manuals; 4 age ranges: Kindergarten, Primary (grades 1-3), Junior (grades 4- 6) and Senior (grades 7-8)

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy How the Program Works Each Theme has a: Pre-Family Visit (preparation/ prediction) Family Visit (observation/ experiential learning) Post-Family Visit (reflection/critical thinking/problem solving)

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Emotional Literacy Social and Emotional Competence The ability to identify and regulate their own emotions (recognize, understand, cope with, express) Key to successful relationships and conflict resolution Empathy is a component of social and emotional competence

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Emotional Literacy Try not to get mad at a baby because he might learn to be mean when he grows up. Observation of and labelling baby’s emotions Reflecting and identifying own emotions Understanding the emotions of others (empathy) Comfort in discussing emotions

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Compared to comparison groups, Roots of Empathy children demonstrated: –Increased social and emotional knowledge –Increased prosocial behaviour with peers –Decreased aggression with peers Lasting results: –Follow-up study showed decrease in aggression and increase in prosocial behaviours maintained after three years Research Results

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Pepler & Craig (2001): Peers are present in 85% of bullying episodes on the playground and in class 1 in 7 children are bullied Bullying – Roots of Empathy Engages the Bystander & Onlooker

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Bullying – Roots of Empathy Engages the Bystander & the Onlooker

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Public Health Nurses/ Social Workers Police Officers Child Welfare/Youth and Family workers Early Childhood Educators School-based instructors:  Psychologists  Guidance counselors  Speech pathologists  Special education assistants  Principals/Vice-Principals  Unassigned classroom teachers* Who can become a Roots of Empathy Instructor? * The Roots of Empathy program may not be delivered by a teacher in his/her own classroom.

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Teacher’s Commitment Attend an introductory Roots of Empathy principal/teacher presentation Welcome and support the Roots of Empathy Instructor and family Maintain regular communication with the Roots of Empathy Instructor Participate actively in all lessons and assist when needed “[The class] is becoming more aware of their feelings and the feelings of others. The program is a wonderful way of creating a caring environment in your classroom and a great way to get the community involved in our school.” ~ Roots of Empathy Classroom Teacher

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Principal’s Commitment Attend an introductory Roots of Empathy principal/teacher presentation Strong understanding and support of the program Finding an enthusiastic classroom teacher to host the program Welcome and support for Roots of Empathy family Occasional use of office equipment/supplies Willing to be involved in media events or coverage, evaluation or research “[Roots of Empathy] teaches the kids to be able to label how they’re feeling and to then start to think how someone else might feel or to help a person” ~ Roots of Empathy Principal

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Recognition Mary Gordon and Canadian Governor- General Michaëlle Jean Mary Gordon and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Roots of Empathy – the book Changing the World Child by Child “Roots of Empathy is a simple, brilliant and powerful example of how developing children’s empathy can be a priority, and can be accomplished with amazing results. The heart is the way to the mind, but they have to be explicitly linked. Roots of Empathy is a model of social and academic inclusion.” From the foreword by Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy Changing the World Child by Child

Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy International Advisory Board Dr. Gwynne Dyer - Author, Journalist, Filmmaker Lecturer of International Affairs and Historian Dr. Bruce Perry - Senior Fellow, The Child Trauma Academy, Houston Author, Lecturer, Researcher Professor Sir Albert Aynsley-Green KT – Former Children’s Commissioner of England MA, D Phil, Dhc, DCL, MD, Duniv, FRCP, FRCP (Edin) FRCPCH, FFPH, Fmed Sci

Board of Directors Scott Clark – Director & Treasurer President, C.S. Clark Consulting Mary Gordon – Director Founder/President – Roots of Empathy Mary Alice MacNeil – Director Family Mediator and ADR Consultant Mario Nigro – Director Partner, Toronto Office, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Sarah Polley – Director Actor, Director, Social Activist Scott Rutherford – Chair Founding Partner, Rutherford Development Strategies Principal, Mobius Executive Leadership, Lecturer, Rotman School of Business, U of T Lyle Viereck – Director Director, Aboriginal Relations & Negotiations, BC Hydro Copyright 2012 Roots of Empathy

For more information: “name and title” 250 Ferrand Drive, Suite 800 Toronto, ON CANADA M3C 3G8 t: f: e: w: Charitable Number RR0001