Reflection, Perspective-Taking, and Social Justice: Stories of Empathy and Kindness in the Early Childhood Classroom

Encourage Kindness and Empathy in Young Children

How can we support children and teachers' continued growth as kind, caring, compassionate people who work towards equity in this world? At School for Friends in Washington, DC, educators Makai Kellogg, Magy Youssef, and Sabina Zeffler and mentor Jacky Howell have worked to nurture and strengthen children's dispositions for empathy and kindness, anchored by Quaker values, the guiding principles of the Black Lives Matter movement, and mindfulness practice, with a lens of social justice and equity. The authors weave real stories and reflections as they trace the learning journey of children in their program from toddlers through the time they leave for kindergarten.

• Magy's story of Frank the Fish opens up the world of toddlers who not only learn how to care for their classroom pet but also naturally build and display empathy as they come to understand disability.
  
• Makai highlights empathy as the first and foundational Black Lives Matter guiding principle. Using children's literature, her students develop a deeper perspective into social-emotional learning beyond "being nice."
  
• In her work with the oldest preschoolers, Sabina shares in her story of the many ways she focuses on perspective taking with her group, including stories of buddy play, heartful listening, holding space, and cognitive flexibility.
  
• The three educators with mentor Jacky reflect on their experiences together as they exercise the empathy and perspective-taking we ask children to practice.

This inspirational book brings readers inside the school to aid them in their own personal and professional reflections on practices and ways of being with children in this shared journey towards a better world.

About the Author

Jacky Howell currently works as a consultant, coach, and mentor to a variety of schools in the DC-Metropolitan area, including School for Friends. She has over 35 years of experience as a classroom teacher. She holds a master of arts in human development from Pacific Oaks College where Elizabeth Jones was her mentor. Jacky currently leads professional development sessions both online and in person on a variety of topics and has traveled extensively to give both keynote addresses and sessions. Howell's long career in the early childhood field as educator, author, administrator and trainer allows her to provide thoughtful analysis and anecdotes.

Makai Kellogg is an anti-bias and antiracist early childhood educator and Equity and Diversity Coordinator at School for Friends in Washington, DC. She is an advisory board member for the DC Area Educators for Social Justice and is part of the leadership team for the Anti-Bias Early Childhood Educator Working Group. Makai writes and shares resources on her blog, Makai's Early Childhood Equity Endeavors. Sabina Zeffler was born in Calcutta, India, where she spent her early childhood, before moving to Bremen, Germany, and later, Washington, DC.

Magy Youssef was a lead teacher of the youngest toddler group at School for Friends. She has a degree in early childhood education and has worked in different capacities at School for Friends for over a decade. Magy is an expert in designing warm, caring, and inspiring toddler classrooms that have served as a model for other early childhood educators. Her focus continues to be working with the children on their social-emotional needs and teaching empathy and kindness.

Sabina Zeffler is the Education Coordinator at School for Friends and spent many years as the lead teacher of a mixed-age preschool classroom. With a background in occupational therapy, Sabina collaborates with families and educators to support all children's needs and promote inclusion. Sabina also facilitates presentations to the school and broader community on topics such as mindfulness, communication, sensory integration, and friendship.