Promote self-acceptance in the classroom.
Inspire your students to embrace education in a positive way by focusing on their state of being in the classroom first. Students who are alienated from school cannot learn in the classroom, and they will look elsewhere for an education, even if the end result is a detriment to their well-being. As the movie "Freedom Writers" suggests, teaching needs to start with accepting who your students are and creating an environment that promotes self-acceptance.
Walk the Line
Line students up in two lines on either side of the classroom, facing each other. Read a series of questions and instruct students that if the answer is yes, they should step forward. If the answer is no, they should stay where they are. Questions could vary from movies they've enjoyed, to family traditions, or opinions they have on controversial issues. It is imperative that students complete this activity in silence and avoid any judgmental statements about their peers.
Toast for Change
Prepare the classroom before students arrive by moving all the desks to the perimeter of the room. As students arrive, present them with a plastic champagne flute with sparkling apple juice, but ask students not to drink until you've instructed them to do so. Have students sit in a circle in the middle of the room and initiate the activity by making a toast to something you'd like to change about yourself. Have each student do the same thing in succession around the circle, and once every student has had a chance to share, instruct everyone to raise their glasses and drink to change.
Representations of Self
Give students an assignment to create a representation of themselves. Allow students to interpret the assignment as they see fit; representations may take the form of a physical model, written prose or poetry, photography or a video. The representation should have three parts: I was, I am and I will be.
Legacy Project
Explain to students that whether they know it or not, during their time at this school they will leave a legacy. The choice about the kind of legacy they leave is entirely up to them. As a group, have the class identify something they'd like to see improved in the school, and work throughout the year to make the change.
