Make Today a Bucket Filling Day!

Staff and students alike benefited from a visit from children’s author and teacher, Carol McCloud. Mrs. McCloud wrote the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids. Although she wrote the book for children, its message can be implemented by adults as well.

During a Thursday morning collaboration time, the elementary teachers from both schools were treated to a workshop by Mrs. McCloud. She shared the importance of building relationships with students and how it affects student learning; if a child knows that his/her teacher truly cares, trust is built. The tone is set for the child to concentrate on learning. Bucket filling consists of constantly, but genuinely, being kind to others. Teachers can fill a student’s bucket each morning by cheerfully greeting students by name and taking time to connect with each one. This will allow teachers to notice when a student comes to school needing some bucket filling prior to beginning learning activities. Many things can “empty a bucket,” from a death in the family, to running late and skipping breakfast, to being bumped while getting off the bus. When time is taken to ensure that all kids have a full bucket, the climate for student learning is set.

Assemblies were held at both schools for the students. Using her book as a guide, Mrs. McCloud walked the students through “bucket filling” and “bucket dipping.” She shared that everyone in the whole world has an invisible bucket, one that holds our feelings and emotions. Bucket filling can be as simple as a smile or saying “thanks.” Bucket dipping can be bumping into someone and not saying “sorry.” To illustrate this point, she used five student volunteers. First, they reenacted a “bucket dipping day” in which the choices that classmates made were those of “bullies or being mean” and emptied a bucket; then using the same scenario, it became a bucket filling day, and each student made the choice to be kind and nice to their classmate. This was a very simple, yet effective way, to demonstrate bucket filling and bucket dipping. When our bucket is full, we are happy; when it is empty, we are sad. Mrs. McCloud asked the students, “If we could see each others’ buckets, do you think we would be nicer?” A unanimous “yes” was the response.

A natural at bucket filling, Lake Spokane Elementary first grade teacher Mrs. Melodie Miner incorporated bucket filling immediately into her writing curriculum. After the assembly, Mrs. Miner asked her class who at school was important and filled their buckets each day? (Of course they all said, “You!”) But she encouraged them to think outside the classroom. Their immediate and overwhelming response was their principal, Mr. Kevin Simpson. As both a bucket filling and writing learning activity, the students made cards for Mr. Simpson. First, the students drew a picture. Then, they wrote sentences about the picture. One student wrote, “Dear Mr. Simpson, You make me happy when I’m sad.” Another wrote, “Dear Mr. Simpson, You’re the best principal in the whole wide world!” Other sentiments included: “I love you greeting me every morning and saying ‘goodbye’ at night;” “I like it that you play at recess;” “I’m glad we’re friends;” and “You make me happy.” When the cards were complete, they were anonymously placed in his mailbox. Being a clever man, Mr. Simspon figured out who had filled his bucket so that it overflowed. A group hug ensued. And that is how buckets are filled!!!