‘I wish my teacher knew…’
What do young changemakers in school think when asked to finish the following sentence: ‘I wish my teacher knew…’? We asked some teachers at various #ChangemakerEd schools across the country to find out.
Storytelling is a powerful tool that can enhance student-skills associated with executive function, cognitive empathy and emotion regulation, including: active listening, self-reflection, emotional awareness, creative problem-solving, and non-violent forms of communication. Storytelling exercises such as ‘I wish my teacher knew…’ also provide a safe way for students to build a collaborative learning environment with their teachers.
At Ashoka’s Youth Venture and Start Empathy, we passionately believe storytelling is a vehicle that can give movement and exercise to critical changemaker skills: Empathy, Collaboration, Leadership, Creative Problem-solving.
The answers shared by these brave students are extraordinary, and offer the education space important perspectives from students navigating a world in constant change and disruption. Special thanks to the following Changemaker Schools for sharing their students’ authentic and powerful voices: Making Community Connections Charter School, Rose Avenue, Spring Mill, Natrona Schools, Khalsa Montessori, Opal School, and Mabin School. More to come soon!
Some common themes expressed by students include…
Mental and physical health challenges that affect students’ abilities to perform
Fear, silence, and stigma with being bullied
Lack of trust with adults who talk down to students and underestimate a young person’s capabilities to innovate or spark internal/community change
Even if they don’t act like it, students hear and see how adults talk about them
Young people and children possess an organic will to connect their passions with helping others in the world
As you head #BacktoSchool, try this exercise out, and share with us your student voices with the hashtag #ChangemakerEd and #BacktoSchool!
Student Voices
The only constant in today’s world is change. Explore how visionary educators, parents, and teachers are reimagining education today, for a better tomorrow. Join the movement and connect with the #ChangemakerEd network: www.startempathy.org
NOTE: This exercise was inspired by Kyle Shwartz from http://iwishmyteacherknewbook.com.
