Roots of Empathy Green Blanket Vol. 5 Issue 3

Research shows that children’s social and emotional competency in Grade 3 (age 8) is a far greater predictor of their Grade 9 (age 14) academic achievement than their Grade 3 academic achievement.

Next up:

European expansion

This fall Roots of Empathy will touch down for the first time in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The Irish launches have been funded partly through a European Union peace initiative. Plans are in place for 1,000 children to participate. The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are also working together on a joint research initiative tied to the Roots of Empathy program. In Scotland, we are partnering with Action for Children Scotland as the lead agency. Programs will soon begin in Glasgow. Roots of Empathy has been active on the Isle Man since 2008.

TIME and Fox feature Roots of Empathy

The Roots of Empathy organization is receiving unprecedented international media coverage. On May 24, TIME magazine ran an article on Roots of Empathy, which is also available online. Meanwhile, Fox News (Fox & Friends) has interviewed Mary Gordon on the topic of bullying. Both media opportunities grew out of a new book about empathy called Born for Love, by Maia Szalavitz and Dr. Bruce Perry, which features Roots of Empathy extensively.

Notable quote

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
- Aristotle

Why is our newsletter called Green Blanket?

In Roots of Empathy classrooms, children gather around a green blanket where the loving relationship between a parent and baby is the lever for learning. The green blanket is where learning and sharing takes place - and we want this newsletter to be a place for learning and sharing too! If you have comments about the newsletter at any time, please email us.

News From the Green Blanket

A decade of empathy in British Columbia

A decade of "tiny teachers" was celebrated at the Vancouver Baby Celebration.

This June, a multitude of babies and children were fêted as "British Columbia's youngest teachers" at A Decade of Empathy, the Vancouver Roots of Empathy baby celebration. The event, captured on the front page of the Vancouver Sun, was held to mark the tenth anniversary of Roots of Empathy in British Columbia. Roots of Empathy fell on hard times in the province... read more >>

Advancing excellence in Ontario

This April, Roots of Empathy held its first joint professional development and training gathering for 80 local program coordinators (known as Key Point People or KPPs) and Mentors in Ontario – an event that may serve as a model for similar gatherings in other parts of Canada. read more >>

A tribute to Jackie Farquhar

On July 22, Jackie Farquhar, a dedicated Roots of Empathy Key Point Person (local program coordinator) for the Vancouver School Board (VSB), passed away due to complications following a recent surgery. Jackie contributed much to the success of Roots of Empathy in Vancouver over the past four years and was extremely dedicated to promoting children’s well-being and mental health. She joined the VSB in 1995 and most recently served as part of the Social Responsibility and Diversity team in the Learning Services division. She will be greatly missed.

Roots of Empathy books and resources

A new children’s book by Mary Gordon is now available for purchase! Both insightful and touching, Daniel’s Day gives parents and children the chance to reflect on the emotional life of the five-year-old protagonist, and connect with his vulnerability, heartbreak, frustration, joyfulness and tenderness during one day in his life. read more >>

New French training DVD

Roots of Empathy is celebrating the completion of its first French-language Instructor training DVD, a two-year project in partnership with the Centre franco-ontarien des ressources pédagogiques and generously funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The DVD features Roots of Empathy at three grade levels, and will ultimately result in better training options for francophone Instructors across Canada. Roots of Empathy currently reaches thousands of French and French immersion students each year in nine Canadian provinces.

Shine a Light

ROE supporter Anja Lavigne

Anja Lavigne and her family have all participated in Roots of Empathy – her two daughters received the program in school, her son was once a “tiny teacher” who volunteered with his mother in a Roots of Empathy classroom, and she herself has also been a Roots of Empathy Instructor. That’s why Lavigne, a former early childhood educator and parenting worker, felt it was important to contribute to Roots of Empathy’s 2009 holiday fundraising campaign. read more >>

Mary's Message

When the United Nations celebrated International Literacy Day on September 8th, emotional literacy took its place in the spotlight alongside reading and writing. This is groundbreaking and warms my heart. read more >>

Roots of Empathy | Subscribe | Donate | Privacy

Roots of Empathy • 250 Ferrand Dr., Suite 800 • Toronto ON M3C 3G8 CANADA

T: 416-944-3001 • F:416-944-9295 • mail@rootsofempathy.org • www.rootsofempathy.org

Roots of Empathy is a Registered Trademark • Charitable Registration #89643 4818 RR0001