"What did you do over break?”

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Sounds like such an innocent question, right? It seems like it's a great way to reflect on vacation and have students share.
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But there's a student who might be waiting for the ground to swallow them when you ask this.
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A teacher once told me that every year, knowing her mother was sick and her family could not afford trips, she would calculate when it would be her turn to share about her break. As the moment got close, she would raise her hand, rush to the bathroom, and stay there until she knew her turn had passed.
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​And it was not just her.​
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When I shared this story (with permission), another teacher reached out with her own memory. She remembered how some amusement parks tied a string in your hair to show you had paid the entrance fee. So she cut a piece of string, put it in her hair, and made it look like she had gone somewhere too.
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It is a delicate balance. We want to raise kids who are resilient and kids who are sensitive. We want them to focus on what they have, not only what they do not have. And I am not negating that.
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​3 suggestions of what you can do that go with that balance.​
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1. Give students a journal / do now prompt that asks them about their break in a private written way instead of in a way that opens the door to comparison. (From the teacher who told me the story from earlier). Offer a choice of prompts for them to choose from.
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2. Ask them to share if there was something over break that happened or that they saw that reminded them of something from the school year. Before doing this, clearly state your expectations such as how long each student has (and perhaps a visual timer) and accepted responses.
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3. And this third one, thank you Aidele Vigler who shared: Share something meaningful or fun that YOU did on your break (that is free!), like playing a new game or family you got to see, before asking them about their break. This sets the tone. And as students share, be intentional with your reactions. Notice the meaningful moments.
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Mushkie
@evergrowingeducator
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