A Person is Valuable Who....

I had a free period and ran into some of my fav students in the hall and asked them what they were doing next, and they said that all the 8th graders were having a class on bullying etc.

I joined the class, and joined one of the groups where one of the students was absent. The first thing that we did as a group was think about what kind of characteristics are valuable in a person, literally, "A person who is__________ is valuable" (値打ちがある人は＿＿＿＿＿人）

We each had to write on our paper, and then share as a group. The first thing I wrote was "each person is valuable just for being a person, so everyone." then I continued to write things like "A person who thinks about others first" "a person who can love someone who has been awful to them" and stuff like that. Then we share as a group, and my students tell me "Sensei, you say such cool things!" (先生はかっこいことばっかり言うね！）Then one of the girls asks me, "Sensei, are you a Christian??" Turns out she is too! ;)

Then all the groups write the top five from their group on the board. I am up at the chalkboard, and turn around to see half the class huddled over my paper reading my answers! We had a really really good conversation, and their favorite answer ended up being that "each person is valuable." ;D

This was probably my favorite hour at school so far. So blessed!!

I get to go to an alternative school for kids with social issues who refuse to go to regular school in Nov. I am working on a lesson for "How much?" "Its 500 yen" etc, but am hoping to transition to a clip from Amazing Grace about the slave trade and get to ask "How much is a person worth?" I can't only teach these kids a few English phrases and not address any of their heart issues... I'm just in the brainstorming phase right now though, so if you have any ideas let me know!

Some of my students from my main junior high haven't been coming to school for the past year or two, but I might get to go visit them in their homes soon... we'll see what happens!