The Bucket Story
Each year, teachers at Stratton read the picture book Have You Filled a Bucket Today
by Carol McCloud. This book uses the metaphor of “filling someone’s bucket” when
you speak kindly, help, or offer support to another person. Likewise, it’s very sad for
someone to have an empty bucket, and a bucket can be emptied when harsh words are
used or unkind deeds are done.
As part of our positive behavior program, students and teachers can fill out a “purple
slip” when they see someone filling a bucket- saying or doing something special for
someone. The slip gets placed in a bucket in the office, and each week a purple slip is
drawn from each grade level and the staff buckets. The student’s name and the
LIFESKILL that was used is announced during morning announcements and the
students and staff member get their picture taken for the Bucket Bulletin Board in
the hallway.
So when you hear a student say “I filled someone’s bucket today,” you’ll know they did
an extra special deed that day.