Worst Thing Ever

WRITING PROMPT:

What's the worst/meanest thing you've ever done or said to someone?  How did it make you feel in that moment?  How does it make you feel looking back?

They also had the option to write about something mean that had been done or said to them.

Students took a few minutes to write about this prompt.  They wanted to know if they had to put their name on it, if I was going to collect it, if it had to be school appropriate.  The answer was no to all three questions.  This is not an attempt to pry into their private lives and see who's the worst.  This is a chance for them to reflect, privately, on some things that they may regret.

Student shared stories about yelling at their parents, telling them they hated them.  I shared a story from a former student.  He had told his grandfather that he hated him and that was the last time he ever spoke to him.  He died the next day.  This student will never get forgiveness from his grand father.  But I told him then, and I told these students now, that it is okay to forgive yourself.  You can learn from your mistakes and try not to repeat them and move on with your life.

Their challenge this week is to apologize.  Maybe not for this WORST THING EVER, maybe that's too big and too impossible, but for something.  If you bump into someone, say you're sorry.  If you accidentally knock something out of someone's hand, apologize.  If you catch yourself making insensitive comments, take the time to correct yourself.