by Shelley Bennett
At the beginning of every period, my class answers an attendance question. Sometimes it is connected to the day’s lesson, but most of the time it’s something random, like “what is your favorite after school snack?”
Some people might say that our attendance questions are a waste of time, but I disagree. Taking a few minutes at the beginning of class helps me get to know my students, their likes and dislikes, similarities and differences, and most importantly, to connect with them every day and establish a relationship.
Today our attendance question was: What do you miss about being a kid? The answers were heartwarming, and in some cases heartbreaking.
From missing the magic of Christmas morning to not having to make my own food, this was a question where everyone had something to say.
One student said they missed having an imagination, where they could play dress up and pretend to be someone else in their made-up world.
Another admitted that they miss “not being bored” which speaks to a simpler time where every little event was something new and exciting.
Having grandparents was one answer that hit home for me. As a kid, I was so proud to have six living grandparents who loved and doted on me. Now I realize how fortunate I was and often wish I could pick up the phone to break some exciting news to them or ask for help with a recipe.
One of the most popular answers was not having a schedule. As a parent, I can sympathize with them. Between sports and extracurriculars, homework, and work, sometimes family time is pushed into a few moments of the day. It is often rushed and unbalanced.
Something more serious is not worrying about money and not planning my future. I can totally relate. I remember knowing that I wanted to go to college but not knowing how I was going to pay for it. It was this mysterious topic that nobody wanted to talk about and I wasn’t sure how to ask my mom and dad about it either.
During attendance question time, I am often asked for my response. Today I agreed that not having responsibilities or paying bills were the most obvious answers. But I also told them that if they have their own kids, they’ll get some of these things back as they witness it through their eyes.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
