#LDchat Archive
Understood holds this weekly Twitter chat that aims to keep the momentum going and raise awareness of learning and attention issues. Follow along with hashtag #LDCHAT and follow users @understoodchats & @understoodorg. Experts will be available to answer your questions and concerns and share resources from Understood.org.
Wednesday August 3, 2016
Welcome to today’s LD Chat! This is Dan with the Understood team.
Welcome! It's much easier if you use a tool like tchat
I'm here for my first Twitter chat too! I should be in my classroom but this sounded too good to miss!
Welcome, Alicia! So glad to have you.
We’re happy to be cohosting today’s chat with , author of Bloom Your Room: Creating Cultures of .
Good day, a pleasure to meet you all.
We’ll be talking with about the importance of .
We also have more giveaways today, including a special Bloom Your Room graphics package and back-to-school prize packs!
Hi! Peter here. , PhD. ? That's me! I wrote a book: Screwed up somehow but not stupid, life with a .
Keep an eye on your DMs after this chat to see if you've won.
I anticpated that question
Hi all! Happy to join in today 😄
Hi Angela! Great to have you!
Here from VA! hi everyone!
Hi Kristin! Thanks for joining today.
Hi Heather! Thanks for joining!
We’ll use a Q1, Q2… format for questions. Please use the A1, A2… format for answers.
Stacey Shoecraft Kinesthetic Learning Mt. Pleasant, SC
And be sure to use in your tweets to spread the word about our campaign!
Thanks for joining, Stacey!
Hey Stacey! U all Stacey is amazing, get to know her and her movement ideas for
Empathy is so important for teachers and other students to understand what are!
Q1. What’s the difference between and sympathy?
I teach our students that empathy is a "being with" experience, what do you all think?
A1. Empathy is like putting yourself in someone else's shoes
A1: Sympathy is a "feeling for" experience.
A1 Empathy is feeling with someone; sympathy is feeling for someone
A1 - Empathy is trying to feel how someone else feels, while sympathy is just feeling pity for them, or sorry for them
A1: Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone or a situation they are in. A very helpless feeling.
A1. Sympathy is feeling compassion but empathy is putting yourself in their shoes, imo.
A1 We seem to all be saying the same thing in different words
put yourself in the other 's shoes ...
A1: Sympathy is feeling compassion, sorrow, or pity for the hardships of another, while empathy is putting yourself in their shoes.
"Empathy is trying to feel how someone else feels."
A1 I think sympathy is a lot easier, perhaps esp. for some of us in the autism ballpark
should be a cornerstone of every classroom, but it is especially important for those students with learning issues
A1 Sympathy is feeling 4 someone's situation, Empathy is feeling and understanding another's feelings about their own situation
A1: We try to give kids the words + actions to experience empathy.
I'm here - sorry to be a little late!
A. I would rather someone feel empathy than sympathy, even when I was 7...I didn't want people to feel sorry for me.
A1: “Samuel is sad he broke his arm, so he can’t play, let’s go sit with him and 'be with him' with our full hearts.”
A1. Perhaps empathy is a deeper feeling than sympathy?
We just started, Lyn! So glad you could make it.
A1 You can give reasons why you should feel sympathy - e.g "he's poor", but not with empathy
A1. Sympathy is comforting someone in a bad situation. Empathy is really trying to understand their emotions.
A1: Empathy is feeling/actions of kindness & compassion towards others regardless the situation
Curiously my Mom died this year and the "sympathy" helped us heal, before that I felt just as you are saying.
I don't think one is deeper than the other; they are in different pools
A1. So does compassion fall within the expression of empathy or sympathy?
& I feel empathy is a constant feeling or behavior
I think compassion is part of sympathy.
, I agree w/ you, I felt the same way when my mom passed. However, I was reflecting on how others saw me then.
Q2. Why is such an important social-emotional skill? How can parents and teachers help kids develop it?
I am not sure what you mean by "being with".
A2 Empathy is the basis of so much! It helps with communication, understanding etc.
A1 when talking w/ my kids I ask, how would you feel if this were happening to you. Empathy.
A2 Other than by example, I have no idea how to teach it
I mean bringing your whole personhood to the table, really being there and feeling next to or with someone.
A2 - This one is hard to explain. It is important because it leads to understanding, which leads to peace and friendship
OK, then, if the kids understand that, I think that's a good way to put it
I would say compassion is the expression of sympathy
A2. It really is a life skill & needs to be taught because humans, especially kids, are normally centered on themselves.
A2 I think a LOT of the problems of NVLDers and others is due to "Why do you feel that way?" problems - which is empathy
A2 - I try to teach this by having them think out another situation, and determine how they would feel and react in that situation.
A2: Here are a few ideas: Be nurturant Be present Show you care Teach compassion Model kindness and caring Be nurturant
true - for my son w/ Autism is the way to go!
A2: What we observe is that children + teachers need the actual words and actions
empathy to me is the MOST IMPORTANT behavior skill I teach my Ss
A2: As an example, in Bloom, we provide them w mantra cards
A2. It's important bc it helps us work w/ one another. Students can play out scenarios when they can act in such way.
Kids learn empathy by parents and other models such as teachers....Their environment should supportive of empathy.
A2. Morning meeting in classrooms is a great way to develop and nurture social-emotional skills.
A2 I don't think empathy is about how YOU would feel in their shoes; it's about how THEY feel in their shoes.
A2: within our schools & life we have to celebrate our strengths, but build each other up with challenges we face
A2 I would not feel the same way as (e.g.) my wife in her shoes. This is a big issue
A2. I believe is 'taught' by example and experience. It is a characteristic that needs to be fostered and developed
A2. When we talk about procedures, incorporate this as well. It is just as important and creates the classroom community.
A2: Such a great question! I actually *learn* empathy from my kids all the time. Innocence easily becomes empathy
- yes, we involved my ASD son in community service - we do it as a family but let him drive
Could you describe more about mantra cards?
I have not heard of mantra cards. Where could I look for those?
A2 Some of empathy comes from reading people's nonverbal cues. I stink at this
Hi , will probably disappear unexpectedly. Kerri from Winnipeg. 25, ADHD/learning issues, blogger, coach.
A2 - when teaching "real" or authentic interaction with peers the "in their shoes" approach can help spark understanding/empathy
What type of community service did you do with your family?
A2 Maybe "how does he look? How does he sound?" type questions would help
A3. Children's literature can be a great way to teach skills.
Q3: How would you describe a "culture of ," and what are some ways parents & teachers can cultivate it?
A2: Children know when you really bring yourself to the relationship, authentic yes thanks for that!
I use social stories when teaching kindness or handling difficult situations. I just draw & make them w my kids
Empathy is I think, in part, being able to understand why someone may think/react differently than you might yourself.
- collected toiletries for the homeless, cleaned up an ice rink
A3. After watching the Kid President video, what did he mention that would involve sympathy or empathy?
A2 How about stories where different people react very differently in same situation?
Oh yes! Please allow me to send you a few, we have some in
A3. Culture of kindness can start with compliments in morning or afternoon meeting at school
A3. At home, I would demonstrate kindness by living like Jesus. In the classroom, I would show kindness to students.
It's also important to be able to keep up w/ fast paced social world.
A3 - Kind words, Low speaking tones, talking about how actions make us feel, acknowledging students presence
A3 One think my son's school did is have a "hurrah board" which recognized kind acts
A3. Parents can foster culture of kindness by asking about something kind that their child did that day or was done to them
I have seen emotion word wheels somewhere that might help children find the emotional word match.
A2 I think empathy is learned by example--by watching others practice empathy and learning somewhat organically.
A3 Recognize not just academic merit or athletic merit but kindess merit
I would love that! Thank you 😄
A2 learning empty doesn't work well if forced--teachable moments happen and should be looked for though!
A3. Also, allowing student choice and supporting decisions students make, gently guiding
I want to make a "hurrah board"!
Acknowledge the good. https://t.co/muvkfvXMbo
Q3: How would you describe a "culture of ," and what are some ways parents & teachers can cultivate it?
Last question coming up...
A3 You can also recognize kindness (or its lack) in your colleagues.
Q4. What’s the relationship between and ?
These talks should go back to 60 minutes!
A3 - point out behavior that already falls into this category & encourage it
A4 You can be kind without feeling empathy.
A3 - Sons middle school had a club, Got them thinking about being purposefully kind.
A4- I think that empathy can lead to kindness, when they understand why others do the things that they do, its not just that weird 1
I can't say enough how much we need to offer the new words, thoughts and behaviors to kids#startschoolstrong
A4 You can learn to say "thank you" even if you don't feel empathy for the person. You can fake kindness :-)
A4 kindness is the stepping stone to empathy
they truly r 1 in the same. But w both there has to be action in order for kindness/empathy to be effective
A4. If it feels kind, go for it! I think they are too different things too. You can have empathy but not go out of your way
Yes and and have great ideas, freebies and classroom stuff
A4. Kindness is shown by caring to put yourself in another's shoe which is empathy!
A4 But sometimes, what seems unkind can be empathic.
One hopes they compliment each other,& they do if adults focus on the positive of both. https://t.co/9Hksh3CcD0
Q4. What’s the relationship between and ?
A4. Empathy and kindness are intertwined. You cannot have one without the other
., why did you create Bloom Your Room, and what are you hoping it will do for teachers, students and schools?
Stepping stone to kindness! I love that!
RT : A4 kindness is the stepping stone to empathy
are you referring to tough love?
A4: We observe w our students that when we model genuine kindness, they learn empathy
I don't like that term, but sometimes people need to be told hard things
Empathy is great. I remember as a kid not knowing about LD and just thinking that others were not very smart. I was a bad assumption
RT : Yes and have great ideas, freebies and classroom stuff -> Thank u
