Mental Health Writing

Note to self:  blog more often.

Note to reader: take the time to click each image and seriously LOOK.

So here's the deal.    This year is hard.   Last year was hard.    I don't know if or when it will ever get back to normal.

For the past few weeks, I've been noticing mental health struggles all around me.  Colleagues.   Friends.  Students.   You name it.

A few weeks ago, a student (not mine) had set up a table in the hallway with a box and blank index cards.   This student asked the student body to simply vent on the cards and it would be completely anonymous.   This was for an art project.

In class, we have been talking a lot about the power of PHYSICALLY writing.   Pen to paper.   Pencil to paper.   Whatever.   We've read several articles, we've discussed, etc.    Today the plan was to have the kids write out anything they needed to and then we would destroy it.   Today, I had already planned this activity:

But then...

Halfway through my planning period, I had to head out to a meeting.   On the way to the meeting I saw this (images below).... the art student had finished their venting project!

When I stopped to take a "quick look" I felt myself tearing up.   I saw so many "ugly" words.   Ugly... but honest.   I rushed off to my meeting and then spent more time with the creation afterward.   Click each image... take the time...

After my meeting, I decided to add the images above to our ppt for the day and explained the assignment.   Just write.   Let it out.   You might not be able to let it go.... but at least start the process.   I don't know why .... but I decided to see how long each class wrote for.   I also encouraged students to go see the creation themselves.  

My intensive (lowest level readers and writers) classes took 7 minutes and 4 minutes.

However, my "regular" support classes took much longer.    In my period 3/5 students took 17 minutes to write.    My period 6 students took 11 minutes.    They all wrote so furiously fast.   Watching them write, let alone watching them DESTROY was quite the experience.  

Afterward, I asked students to tell me how they FELT .... here are some of the responses.   Please, fellow educators, PLEASE, take time to make these connections and have these moments.   It's important now more than ever.  Mental health matters.