Where do we go from here?

I’m sure I’m not the only one thinking about what I’m going to say to my students tomorrow. This has been such a wild and confusing roller coaster for everyone. From the pandemic changing many things we took fro granted, including school, to racial unrest this summer, a contentious election and now an attempt coup…it’s been a lot to process for teachers and students.

I sometimes don’t know how to speak to my students about these subjects. I remember I was a relatively new teacher when Trayvon Martin died, and I did not discuss it with my class because I didn’t know what to say. As a more experienced teacher, I feel like I can speak about difficult topics with my students. But…how can I broach the subject with them when I haven’t fully processed the day’s events myself?

I also sometimes worry what bringing up a difficult subject might teach me about a student. WIll I learn that so and so is an unabashed racist? Will I find out this other student believes right wing conspiracy theories? Sometimes…I don’t want to know. I think what I will do tomorrow is invite the conversation and ask how the kids are handling it. If it derails our planned lesson…well, lessons are fluid and it can always be made up another day.

Stay safe, everyone.