5 Questions I’m Not Going To Ask My Students About Their Winter Break

Source: 5 Questions I’m Not Going To Ask My Students About Their Winter Break

One of the things I looked forward to when I went back to school after winter break was chatting with my students about their holidays. However, as I learned more about students living with trauma or poverty, I began to see these conversations through a different lens. Which of my students may not have engaged in conversations about gifts because they did not receive them? Who might have stayed silent when their peers were whining about the end of winter break because they actually felt happier (or more secure) at school? As teachers, we need to ensure that when we speak to our students about the winter break, we do so without isolating our most vulnerable students.

With that in mind, here are five questions I won’t be asking my students when we go back to school after winter break, and some suggestions on what to ask instead.

1.

Of course, children who have received gifts want to talk about them with their peers and their teacher. Not asking this question doesn’t mean not letting anyone talk about gifts if one of their classmates can’t attend, it’s more about creating a space where all students feel safe and valued when they return after winter break to go to school.

Asking you about winter break is generally respectful of all your students. Students who have had wonderful winter holidays can share their stories about gifts, family and adventure. Students who missed some of these can focus on other areas. Perhaps most importantly, as a teacher, it gives me the opportunity to share something beautiful that happened during my winter break, and maybe something challenging that happened as well. In this way, I show my students that it’s okay if vacations and breaks aren’t perfect and that it’s worth talking about with others.

2.

While this question will be a beautiful opportunity for some of your students to share not only the spirit of giftgiving but gift giving, for others it is a minefield. Some may not have been able to afford gifts for their families. Others may not have family to give gifts to. And others may have family but didn’t want to give them gifts for various reasons.

Again, the point is to never stop students from sharing happy memories. The experiences of these students are important and should be respected. Instead, it’s about creating a space where the experiences of all students are respected and all students feel safe. I also like this question because it encourages all students to focus on something positive in their lives. The lives of some of our students at home may break our hearts, but as teachers it is part of our job to give them the resilience they need to overcome some of these obstacles. Being able to see positive things in life is a very valuable life skill!

3.

This used to be one of my favorite questions because I was fascinated by how different the students’ answers were. Some students had ham, some had turkey, others couldn’t imagine celebrating the season without their grandmother’s stuffed mussels, macaroni and cheese, or jelly salad recipe. It was so much fun hearing about everyone’s special traditions, but I also think back to students who didn’t attend because they were there for them was not a big holiday meal.

I know, I know it’s cheesy. But I love this question. It helps students focus on being back and looking forward to what we’re going to do next. Although I’ve only ever wished for a few more days of naps and time with my family, I was also excited to see my students again. This question lets our students know that we look forward to seeing them and to continuing to learn and creating a safe space for them in our classrooms. This is important for all of our students, not just our students dealing with trauma.

4.

Although the most common answers I’ve gotten to this question in the past have been “sleep” and “play video games.” I still think it may have put some students in an awkward position. We know that some of our students go home with food insecurity, family conflicts and numerous other stressors. For these students, going back to school after the winter break is perhaps the best thing that could have happened to them.

This is another nice question to make the end of the winter break positive. For students who struggled in the first few months of school, this could be an opportunity for a fresh start. Share your goal with the class and, if necessary, let them know how they can help you achieve that goal. Then you can ask how you can help them achieve their goals.

5.

I asked that too, and I wish I hadn’t. The answers were often similar, “have to come back to school” or “bored”. I still see the question differently now that I’m thinking more about the students who may have had a rough time over the winter break. When they’ve weathered a challenging break and are preparing mentally and emotionally to be back in class, the last thing they need is a question that asks them to pick the worst part of that difficult time.

This question always makes a great writing prompt. Have all your students answer the prompt and make sure everyone knows the answers will not be shared with the class. While students always have the option to write things like “No” or “Nice to see you!” It still leaves one more opportunity for a student who may need to contact you.

How will you welcome your students back after the winter break? Let us know in the comments.

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