Celebrating the Holidays with VLA Students

Classroom teachers have an opportunity that we VLA teachers do not normally have. Classroom teachers can celebrate all of the holidays with their students, offering fun and games along with treats and prizes. One of my co-workers mentioned offering her VLA students "treats" for holidays, and I was intrigued. She had given Halloween treat points for any student who submitted work on October 31.

I put this idea into action with my own students for Thanksgiving. Just before Thanksgiving I sent my students an email asking them to think of five things for which they were thankful. I told them that they could not just list five family members. Their list needed to be thoughtful. For those students who were willing to send their lists, I would add five bonus points to one of their units.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive many emails from my students. My younger students mentioned things like family, pets, and food to eat. My high school students offered some insight into their world with their lists. Their lists contained items like faith, friends, their own babies, and families who were supporting them as they stayed home with their babies while trying to finish high school on VLA.

I thought that this would be a reflective exercise for my students. It turned out to be an eye-opener for me instead. It made me pause and consider the unique circumstances that were behind each of the student names on my class list. Sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day work of VLA that we forget the huge impact that this program is making on our students. I had several students who were young mothers using VLA to graduate and give their babies a better life. I had one incarcerated teen talking about the importance of family.

I used my student's Thanksgiving lists as an opportunity to send a more personalized email to those who responded. I expressed my appreciation for their lists and their hard work. It was a chance to encourage them individually.

As Christmas approaches, I encourage you to try something similar with your own students. You may be surprised at your students' thoughtful responses which just might give you a better glimpse into their world.