How Was Your Summer? Fostering Critical Conversations with Students

With so many aspects of the world collapsing and changing around us this summer, the entire globe has had to face a different, new reality. It can be easy to overlook how much the global pandemic and Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests have affected our future generations, but the impact of these changes will continue to play out for many years to come.With so many drastic changes occurring in such a short time, America's young people and students need attention. Many children and youth are grieving the loss of normalcy but do not have the tools to process their grief. This guide is intended to help students learn coping skills for processing the events of 2020. The skills taught here will continue to serve them throughout their lives. It is essential for every parent and teacher to help child(ren) learn to identify and express their emotions while also cultivating a safe space and instilling principles of confidence and justice. Conversations about these issues need to take place in the classroom and in the comfort of our homes. These familiar spaces are where students need to learn the necessary coping skills for dealing with stress and/or changes, and these coping skills will continue serving our children as they strive to help create a better future. Although topics such as grief, race, and emotions can be daunting, this book provides a place to start and will act as a guide to help you navigate these difficult topics.This proactive guide by Jenny Delacruz will help teachers and parents teach K-12 students the coping skills necessary to cultivate a strong identity and sense of compassion. How Was Your Summer: Fostering Critical Conversations with Students is the best resource for educators and parents who want to engage in critical conversations with students. The guide includes 30 'Reflection Time' activities and exercises intended to be completed in 15-minute increments once a week. The topics in this guide include: Writing/drawing prompts to inspire the future generation to become anti-racism advocates and elevate the BLM movementActivities to foster trust and communityExercises for reducing anxiety and cultivating mindfulness amidst the COVID-19 confusion.