I can’t be the only one who has seen students say and do some pretty awkward things in the hallways and classrooms. You know, those moments when things get weird and everyone kind of freezes, including them?
When we were kids, these moments and interactions were unavoidable. We learned from them because we couldn’t hide behind a screen or hit the delete button. We were forced to try again. With this generation, many of our students call it quits the moment things feel uncomfortable or embarrassing and end up retreating back online where they feel safe.
When students avoid these interactions, they miss out on the practice it takes to build confidence and the resilience needed for trial and error. We all want students to find safety in the real world and to do that we have to let them grow piece by piece, even if it’s through those tiny, awkward, and beautiful moments of real connection.
That’s where The First Five steps in. Whether it’s a check-in, an interaction at the door, or finding something they have in common with a classmate, these moments help students dust off the social skills they’ve tucked away and start putting the pieces together.
-Edtomorrow Team