The One Question I Won't Be Asking My Students

It's time to head back to school! We are all busy as bees planning, organizing, and decorating this time of year. Lining up all the "getting to know you" and "my summer vacation" activities are always fun! 

The one question I won't be asking my students this year is "Where did you go this summer?" And I will tread lightly when asking about summer vacations and fishing for grandiose adventures. 

Many of my students didn't go anywhere. Instead, they spent long days at home while parents were working. Maybe they had siblings there, or maybe they were alone. Their parents probably asked them to do extra chores... and there is NOTHING wrong with that. But, students probably won't want to share that story... BORING! And they were probably very BORED during those days. They may have worked, or took care of siblings for no allowance. 

Some of my students may have gone hungry during the day without the stability of school lunches. Many students depend on the school breakfast and lunch program for their meals. They may not have seen any friends and become lonely over the summer. Some of my students may have had very little stimulation or social interaction over the summer. 

This year as my students come back to school, I will not assume that my students have had great adventures, traveled to far off places, attended summer camps, or spent time with extended family and friends. There may have even been some traumatic events such as divorce, family illness, or death in the family. 

Instead, I will focus on the little things. Maybe ask questions like: 

• did you read this summer? 
• did you learn anything new this summer?

Open questions give students the freedom to tell what they want to: 

• what's new? 
• how are you doing? 
• were there any changes in your life over the summer? 

I would like my students to talk about: 

• time spent outdoors.
• new things they may have tried.
• people that they spent time with.
• major life changes. 
• hobbies and interests.
• favorite music and tv shows. 

These things tell me a lot about a student. 

Choosing "Would you rather" activities and "favorite things" kind of activities are far better choices for students to get to know each other and can spark much discussion about similarities and differences. 

I sympathize with these students as my summers were not always filled with travel and enriching activities. I took care of my younger siblings, made lunches, and did extra chores. But we also got to play outside most of the days, worked with grandparents in the garden, and went to the lake. In my eyes, these things were great fun, and I still reminisce fondly. 

Let's make the most of the little things with our students this school year. Let's not let them feel bad if they didn't go to the beach or the big waterpark. Shouldn't we all be focusing on the little things anyway? Have a great school year y'all!