The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
One of my Ss drowned in a boating accident my first yr teaching in Alaska and we also lost kids to suicide on a much too frequent basis so there were many very tough, heartbreaking talks. #bfc530
Good morning everyone. The most difficult conversation that I often have to have with my ELs is when they have excessive absences due to going to work. The struggle between wanting to be in school and financial family obligations is real for so many. #bfc530
I haven't had that many opportunities for tough conversations so the toughest I've had so far is why one of our friends keeps getting removed from our classroom / doesn't spend the whole day with us #bfc530
I struggled to speak without showing my political bias when Doug Ford or Donald Trump come up in class. Or the recent CAQ win in the Québec election.
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I was once a Careers Adviser for my school. Guiding Grade 12 students and helping them traverse the journey from final year school student to post-school life was always a privilege and a challenge.
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Challenging discussions often seem to focus on behaviour-related issues. One key is to make sure a child’s sense of dignity and self-image remain positive and intact. I always need to remind myself to be able to look beyond the behaviour and see the child who needs me. #bfc530
Just last week I broke down crying in front of my Ss about a sad situation in my family- I hadn't planned on it but once it happened, they responded with kindness and empathy. A few kept a watchful eye on me all day- warmed my heart #bfc530
Challenging S-conversations usually begin with: "Why?" Often include: do I have to meet this requirement? or do I have to take this class? Help connect the dots for Ss. #bfc530
Not being funny, but many of my 6th grade S’s took it hard when Trump was elected. They didn’t understand how the election process worked and overestimated the rhetoric of campaign promises #bfc530
I don't have a hard time discussing events with my Ss even if they involve violence, etc. The hardest convos are the one-on-ones when a S discloses tough life situations and there's nothing I can do to fix it beyond offering support. #bfc530
Most challenging conversation with students ... I teach middle school so there are many convos about their awkwardness and how they cope with it #bfc530 I am one of those “embrace your awkwardness” type people so we do a lot of “we are not ok and that is ok” talks
The death of a student’s parent was tough to talk about with my first graders one year. I was also teaching 2nd grade on 9/11 and talking about that was tough. #bfc530
Gm. Reminding them that their situations though dire, are temporary. Discussing how s subsidize their own oppression by co signing on the worst stereotypes of themselves is hard. Talking their greatness back into existence and the discussion around that /difficult too . #BFC530
Good morning everyone. The most difficult conversation that I often have to have with my ELs is when they have excessive absences due to going to work. The struggle between wanting to be in school and financial family obligations is real for so many. #bfc530
This is a tough one. One year I had two students lose their fathers. I let them know I was there if they wanted to talk. One did, the other didn’t. It was so hard for them, but they were both very brave. #bfc530
Conversations this year have been much harder than in the past. Students dealing with sexual abuse, neglectful parents, loneliness, and legal troubles. It seems to come from everywhere, current, former, and students I've never had.
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Hello #bfc530 Checking in from MA. We have many smaller important conversations - about targeted shootings in religious places and schools, or by police involving people of color, or even about being inclusive at holiday time. No one conversation, but many important ones.
The toughest conversations have been with my high schoolers who are having a tough time maintining their mental health. So many students walk around with anxiety, depression, and lack of self-worth. Everyday we need to make someone else feel they are beautiful! #bfc530
I'm sorry it's such a heavy year and I hope it isn't a trend in your population. It's difficult to see such trauma, and in our community it's clearly rising. #bfc530
One of the hardest conversations I ever had in the classroom (and in life) was when an 8th grader told me he couldn’t get an 88 on his test because it would mean 88 lashes with a belt from his father who demanded all A’s. I thought he was kidding; (1/2) #bfc530
We have a conversation daily with my 10th grade boys about the neighborhood and how to change it. We talk about desperation and not putting yourself in a tight spot. The hardest part is when they say there is no way to change it. #bfc530
Good morning #Bfc530! Chris Jones, HS Principal in MA here. Happy to have the chance to hop on.
Most difficult is between addressing racism (when I taught in the inner city) and the lack of strong, positive family bonds.
That sounds like a monumental task to help Ss see that at this developmental phase. I hope you get to see how your work plays out for some Ss and feel its positive effects. #bfc530
(2/2) he came in the next day w/ welts all over his body. I dropped everything and walked him to the nurse. After filing a report, all hands were on deck and he had the support of an entire staff. He’s 24 today; an awesome teacher & family wellness advocate / volunteer. #bfc530
Running late 🙄😜. Actually, not - but got caught up reading an article. Hardest conversations I had were after the presidential election. Lots of kids scared to come back to school-they needed to know that we would keep them safe. #BFC530
Guilt and shame eat many people up. Especially children who do not know how to cope with emotions yet. The guilt/shame often comes from bullying. In school AND at home. All kids need to be told repeatedly to be proud of their flaws and strengths. And to love themselves #bfc530
A student was embarrassed to tell me he couldn’t find his car(bought with his own money) because his mom stole it to go on a bender and couldn’t remember where she left it. He was equally upset because he was taking care of transporting and feeding his younger siblings #BFC530
With kids, its important to remember to criticize the action. Not the actor. The action may be bad. But the actor is always good.Their self worth does not go up or down ever based off their mistakes (or bad behavior). We are all of equal worth. And everyone can improve
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As a teacher, I felt guilt and shame for not acting immediately on it. I ended up going to see a therapist and eventually came to terms with I can’t be the white knight to everyone, but can try to do my best. #bfc530
This is why I follow #bfc530 threads. I can never make it at 5:30 but, the convos are worth reading through. Such a much needed topic & full of compassionate wats to handle various topics w/Ss. Thanks to you all.
The most challenging are those that feature something 1- that I can’t empathize with bc I haven’t lived it, or 2- deal with want. Being a parent has changed me so much; if it’s want, I try to help. But no matter what, I try to let love lead the way. #bfc530
Very powerful question this morning, #bfc530 — thank you. I’m hoping everyone reading will take a thing or two away. That, and remember to take care of yourself. Your students need you. #bfc530
It hunk it is important for kids to feel safe enough to ask the awkward questions ... maybe even more important is to be the teacher that answers the question without it being asked. #bfc530
Our district has a nurse come in who does lessons that cover much of the uncomfortable conversations ... lots of giggles but they handle it much better than I #bfc530
Being able to recognize what you can do and what you can pass on to the guidance counselor ... we also need to remember that we are NOT judges ... can’t pass judgement on the kids based on our belief structure. #bfc530
LOL. Ss should know awkwardness comes at many ages. Like when my 60-something year old body is in yoga class with people half my age and they move into a pose with ease and I'm like, what?! @pureedgeinc#bfc530
LOL. Ss should know awkwardness comes at many ages. Like when my 60-something year old body is in yoga class with people half my age and they move into a pose with ease and I'm like, what?! @DennisDill@pureedgeinc#bfc530
Most challenging conversation with students ... I teach middle school so there are many convos about their awkwardness and how they cope with it #bfc530 I am one of those “embrace your awkwardness” type people so we do a lot of “we are not ok and that is ok” talks
Great following along today in the breakfast chat. Thanks for a thought-provoking Monday kick-off!
Be sure to practice good digital literacy and know who you’re engaging with on twitter. Not everyone is as they seem.
Have a great day!!! #bfc530#UnfollowPhrauds ✌️
So far this year, it was how to change your reputation. It came about organically, and I was not prepared with the answer I have now. I should probably bring it up today thinking about it. Why let a conversation die out when there’s something good to add? #bfc530
Ten years ago, I told my students that I had cancer in both of my kidneys and that I'd be missing a significant amount of school. I broke down and cried. The students, my school family, and my home family were amazingly supportive. I hope I never have to do that again. #bfc530
Last night, the Morrison government voted against Labor’s proposal to increase jail time for serious corporate criminals, and increase fines for big companies who do wrong.
Had a HS student accidentally shoot himself while playing with a gun. It was very difficult because he apart of one of the Black History month project between 5 schools via the Internet in 1994 in my class. Dedicated it to his memory. #bfc530
