In the following clip brené brown describes the concept of trust and the marble jar.
Marble jar activity.
The trust marble jar is a powerful metaphor and tool used to teach how psychological safety is built slowly over time and based on small actions.
Studies show it is the very small moments where trust is built.
Here are some ideas.
For every marble that is in a jar people have earned your trust for that marble.
Come up with a class reward such as shoes off extra recess each lunch with the teacher etc.
For preschoolers just getting up for the day could earn your child a few marbles.
Every time you see a whole class.
A behavior marble jar is all about positive reinforcement so marbles go in and don t come back out until the end of the day.
The goal is to fill the marble jar.
Examples out loud put a marble in the jar.
Each time students exhibit a desired behavior the teacher places a marble in the jar.
With the marble jar teachers can frequently and easily reward desired behavior.
Use marbles to support the behaviors that need the most attention.
With the class come up with specific behaviors that would earn marbles.
It should never be used as a compliance tool to call out shame or humiliate students or to take marbles out as punishment.
What do your friends do to earn marbles in your marble jar.
Your boss asks you how your mom s chemotherapy is going.
Once the jar is filled the class earns a group reward.
Some examples of small acts moments that build trust include showing up at a loved one s funeral and asking for help from friends.
Trust is like a marble jar.
Not the big moments the small moments.
This helps symbolize that we all start off each day with a fresh start and a positive outlook.
Explain to the class that this is your class marble jar.
Working quietly being good for a sub learning a new routine individual good behavior such as helping another student lining up quietly doing a good job with clean up being on task being ready to begin solving a class problem just because they are such a great group of kids.
When the class is caught making a marble jar choice the class gets a marble.