It’s part of a program called Capturing Kids’ Hearts. It is a program designed to help schools build safe, productive environments by prioritizing meaningful relationships between teachers and students. Founded by Flip Flippen, the program operates on the core belief that “if you have a child’s heart, you have their mind.”
Schneider said using the program has changed her classroom. “I use it diligently every year. It focuses on meaningful relationship building. Nothing else happens until you have that foundation. You have to build a relationship and let them know you care about your students and that they are loved.”
Middle School Principal Addie Rose is seeing it work in her building already. Sixth grade teachers Lindsay Hoaglund and Hannah Joerin have a line of students waiting to get into their classrooms as teachers take the time to greet every student by name at the door. It’s a scene repeated in the building with different teachers.
“With Capturing Kids Hearts, you create shared responsibility for the classroom and a culture and environment we want at TK Middle School,” said Rose. “We create agreements in each class and students can take ownership of their actions and behaviors.”
Signing the social classroom contract and being greeted at the door are part of the cornerstone of Capturing Kids’ Heart, a program first implemented at TK in 2005. This year, teachers and staff received a refresher course in the program during staff training days before school started. Superintendent Rob Pouch said the training for all staff was time well spent.
“In direct alignment with our strategic plan goal of investing in our staff, I am so thankful all our staff was able to participate in Capturing Kids Hearts training, which focuses on the importance of building relationships and creating an inviting environment for all students. As we welcome students back, we look forward to embracing the power of relationships,” said Pouch.
Staff were reminded of how important it is to build relationships, work together, problem solve and have cooperation, communication and respect. One staff activity required teams to stand in a circle and count how many times they could hit a garbage bag filled with “positive” inflated balloons and keep it off the ground. Not too hard - but then there was a twist. A small water balloon was added to the bag - it was called “negativity” - and even one small negativity balloon made keeping the entire bag up much harder.
They were reminded how ignored behavior becomes accepted behavior and that sets the culture of the building and that it takes three affirmations to negate the impact of one put-down. Staff were reminded of the importance of their job and “what you do matters!”
High School art teacher Barb Maring remembers the training she took more than 20 years ago. “This year was a good refresher to remind us of things we already know and do. It also reminded us why we do it,” she said.
Mary Chapman said as a special education paraprofessional she said she also uses much of what she learned through Capturing Kids’ Hearts. “It’s important that we see students and make real connections with them. We have to make sure they know we are here to help them have what they need to be successful.”
District Resource Officer Tony Stein said the program is a reminder of the importance of relationships. “You have to build intentional relationships and to do that you have to break down barriers that might be in place. We have to let students know we wouldn’t do this job if we didn’t want to help them and see them be successful. It is building trust and building relationships.”
Schneider said she has been using Capturing Kids’ Hearts in her classroom for several years. “I always gush about Capturing Kids’ Hearts because it really works. It makes a difference,” said Schneider.