Tomorrow we head back to school. I’m thinking carefully about how to welcome kids back, what to say, what questions to ask. I am trying to be more mindful about the assumptions that I make. Too often, we assume breaks were good for kids. And I want to make sure not to do that.

I used to not worry about it. I used to welcome kids back and ask, “Did you have a good break?” Assuming the answer was yes. I had class meetings where we played games to share all the things we did over break. Assuming they all had fun things to share. But that was before.

Then my own life changed quite a bit and breaks became times of anxiety and hours where I thought of what everyone else was getting to do. And I started having to come up ahead of time with how I was going to answer the dreaded question of, “How was your break?”

So now. I am aware and mindful of how my words can welcome ALL kids back into our learning space, no matter what their breaks were like. So instead of games where we share what we did over break, we will play games where we can reconnect and sit in community together in fun.

Instead of asking kids, “How was your break?” Or “Did you have a good break?” I will greet them with, “I am so glad to see you.” And “I really missed you.” And ask them, “Is there anything that you want me to know?”

By making these shifts, I hope I can create the space that all of my students need. And, also, create the kid of community that I am so ready to step back into myself. I’m sending love today to everyone who is getting ready to head back. In whatever form you are heading back in.