I can’t be the only one who feels like we are living in a real-world version of “this or that,” constantly pushed to choose a side or define which group we belong to. This kind of polarity trains us to see our peers as “others.” When we start “othering” people, especially in classrooms, it negatively impacts the culture of the space and discourages honest communication, whether the topic is academic or personal.
Giving students permission to agree or disagree about simple things like food or fun preferences helps them build a foundation for forming opinions and expressing them respectfully. When we encourage follow-up questions like, “Tell me why you like that” or “Why don’t you,” students begin to see that opinions are shaped by lived and learned experiences, not right or wrong answers.
With The First Five, we do notice what we have or don’t have in common, but we also intentionally make space to encourage, celebrate, and appreciate what makes each person unique. Differences are no longer seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. That feels like a future worth investing in, even if it’s only a few minutes at a time.
-Edtomorrow Team