During a recent visit to King Kekaulike High School on Maui, our team member Brian Mannas coached teachers in using the First Five to build connection and reflection in their classrooms. After his visit, one of those teachers, Ms. Sadie Mossman, shared a heartwarming story that shows how small moments can lead to big change.
Last year, Ms. Mossman used a First Five positivity activity focused on screen time awareness. She asked her students to check their phone usage and challenged them to see how long they could go without looking at their phones and if they could reduce their screen time over the course of a week. Many students were surprised by how much time they spent on their phones, but one student decided to take the challenge seriously.
About two weeks later, that student came to Ms. Mossman to say thank you. She had set a goal to limit her screen time to one hour per day. By doing so, she discovered she had more time for her schoolwork, more time with friends, and most importantly, more time in the evenings to talk and connect with her mom. Before the challenge, she would often go straight to her room and scroll on social media. Over those two weeks, the conversations and shared moments with her mom became something special, and she told Ms. Mossman that the activity had made a real, positive impact on her life.
Ms. Mossman reflected that this story reminds her, and all of us, that sometimes the little things we do in our classrooms create the biggest ripple effects. We may not always hear about them, but they’re happening.
Stories like this reaffirm why we focus on connection, reflection, and growth in our teaching. If you have a story like this to share, we’d love to hear it. Simply reply to our daily email, and your experience might inspire educators around the world.
– Edtomorrow Team