Among Friends

[CAcableGirl2]

What a moving exercise for back to school.  It makes you realize that everyone has some sort of baggage and what some young children are dealing with.  If  you have had an ideal childhood and nothing but good memories, it's a good lesson to remind us that not all children today are so lucky.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/teachers-back-to-school-baggage-activity-spreads-...

[on the bay]

@CAcableGirl2 -

That brings tears but it is beautiful.

I bet they will remember that lesson and their teacher all of their lives.

Thanks for this!

[godi]

Beautiful. 

[Mactective]

I grew up in a very abusive and neglectful home.  I had a teacher - Mrs. Taylor - that was my salvation.  She not only taught me life skills like how to cook and sew, she taught me how to manage life.  She was a breast cancer survivor and her kindness and wisdom literally saved my life.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't use a skill she taught me or remember something she said. 

It's a good reminder to all of us.  You have no idea what someone else is going through.  And more importantly, you don't know what a smile, a kind word or a small gesture of caring can mean.  It might be the very thing that helps that person make it through a very difficult time in their life.  And hopefully, someone will be there for you in that moment as well. 

[Financialgrl]

Many years ago I worked in the school system and did a lot of temp work for their Student Services Department - with the social workers/psychologists.  They would perform home visits and then set up special services familes may need.   The social workers would leave a home visit and dictate what they'd seen/heard while there and they'd bring back the tapes and we would have to transcribe them.   Lots of kids that witnessed or received physical abuse, kids witnessing their parent's suicide, etc.

I remember when I left that rotation thinking about my own life and how lucky we were.  I was the oldest of four and I never remember my parents even arguing.  I, and my sibs had as perfect a childhood as probably possible.  My parents dated for a few years and got married later in life (26 and 27 years old) and my mother died when I was 18.  My father lived till he was 84 and he often made references to her often.  He'd always say "I remember when your mother was alive, we'd . . .or she'd say . . .  "   

[ECBG]

@CAcableGirl2 As a foemer HS teacher I read that article this morning and loved it.  Of cource, some of the "clowns" would have had to throw their paper at someone.  

We did an excercise somewhat similar with old music CD's and their cases.

I have also let them cut words that describe them, their environment, problems, and challenges.  The outside of the bag was decorated with colors to show the face they showed the world.