Here's what's on the menu: sketchbookery AND notes from students transcribed exactly as written:
(remember THIS from last week?)
I wish my teacher knew…
I am afraid to speak in front of the whole class.
I might have AdHd.
I am a second hand smoker.
I play videogames everyday on my free time.
I was born in Long Beach in the paremetic truck and I was 5 lb and I stayed in the hospital for 1 month because I was too cold.
I have a stepdad who went to jail.
I almost died as a baby.
I am worried about my brother.
My brother got operated.
I got my period in 4th grade.
I sometimes feel alone.
I do chores after alot of impatient shouting.
I hate to talk to strangers.
I have a good life on the outside and a bad life on the inside.
I want to stay with her at her house.
We should have more parties.
Break. My. Heart.
Very sensitive thoughts. Sometimes, it makes a person feel better, when they put their thoughts into other people’s hands. Sharing can lighten the load. Teaching them to write down their inner most secrets, can be a step toward journaling and healing. I send out hugs, to them.?
oh, now doesn’t that just make you want to give each and every one of them a hug?
These are so sweet, so touching and in some cases, so hilarious (yes, I only do chores after a lot of impatient shouting (at myself) as well!). And yes, we all want to stay at Miss Moss’ house and have more (art) parties! But oh my, don’t you just want to give them all a hug? I know I do.
Love this follow up! xox
Truly insightful things on your students’ minds. We all have a story with bumps and bruises and joy and laughter mixed in. I sometimes wonder when I’m driving what is going on in the lives of those around me driving to places unknown in their cars. But children are both so literal and so tuned in that we have to remember where they are at in their lives. Not old enough to drive themselves.
I love your sketchbookery “plein air of the mind,” Mary Ann! Most of what I paint is from my mind.
And since I love children, I laughed and cried at what they wrote. Let’s face it, we are just grown-up children who have had to go through some of the things your students are experiencing! Thanks for sharing.
OMG – heartbreaking – what a great exercise for these kids – but what now?
You can tell these kids want to open up & talk to someone…so revealing.
heartwrenching!
Their thoughts and lives are so much more complicated than I think most adults could possibly know.
“I want to stay with her at her house.” This one in particular really gets to me for some reason. Maybe because it’s listed after some really big stuff. They’ve got a lot going on.
I love this idea. It brought tears though. I think there should be an “I wish my students knew” version as well. I work as aide sub in my kids school and I would love to pass this on to the teachers if they don’t already know of it. Thanks for sharing.
This is so great. The opportunity to say (also anonymous) what lives in your head or heart is always helpful. Listening to children is so very important!
Genial!
Now we know why we should handle kids with care, eh??
Wonderful Mary Ann. Isn’t it amazing what we never know about others. It will be a every year event for your kiddos!