#19: 20+ Actionable Ways to Integrate Kindness into your Curriculum Starting Monday (with Sheila Sjolseth)

Sheila Sjolseth brings to life acts of kindness and service projects that families and kids can do. In her daily adventures of serving with her young boys, she has witnessed the awesome things that happen when kids serve others. She started serving daily with her boys in 2012, when they were 3 and 5 years old. What started as a way to teach her kids empathy has transitioned to a way of life and a connection with thousands of others. Born and raised in small towns across Texas, the oldest of four girls, she felt a call early on to help others for her career. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from The University of Texas at Austin and her Masters of Education in Learning and Teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Moving across the US and the world several times over, Sheila has taught in a variety of settings from a classroom in small town Texas, to a psychiatric unit in Chicago, to the US Department of Education. Public school, private school, charter school, and in the community, Sheila has had the opportunity to teach and present in almost every type of setting. Along each step of the way, she worked with parents and students to improve parenting and learning skills. Known for her innovative teaching skills and ability to reach even the "hardest to reach" student, Sheila's professional background is rooted in applying best teaching practices while addressing the needs of the student. As an educator and professional with 20 years of experience in working with children and parents, she truly believes that teaching kids to be kind results in a happier family. As the President and Founder of Pennies of Time: Teach Kids to Serve, Sheila works with families and other community focused organizations to help families integrate kindness into daily habits. “Kindness as a lifestyle . . . not an item on a ‘todo’ list.” She is a 2015 Daily Point of Light Winner for contributions to family volunteerism and community service. Her goal: For families to choose to complete an act of kindness as often as they go to soccer practice or to the movies. "Let's elevate the meaningful activities that we do as a family and lessen the activities that isolate us from one another." Her upcoming book will be released in late 2018. Synopsis of Book: Join Sheila in a journey through a magical land visiting families struggling to be kind in an unkind world. Her book is a storybook parenting resource that helps parents see what they can do to foster kindness and compassion in their homes. From an engaging story-line, poignant real life stories, and practical tools families can use, Sheila guides parents from doable first steps to an inspiring future where our children are compassionate problem- solvers. Website: http://penniesoftime.com/ Pennies of Time-Kindness Academy: http://kindnessacademy.penniesoftime.com Social Media Profiles: https://www.instagram.com/penniesoftime/ https://www.facebook.com/PenniesofTime https://twitter.com/PenniesofTime https://www.pinterest.com/penniesoftime/ For more information visit smallactbigimpact.com