This is the time of year when I always share a family story…
When I was 12-years-old, my great-grandfather gave me Avon face powder for a holiday gift. Needless to say, I was disappointed by this gift. Instead of lecturing me about being ungrateful, or exchanging the powder for a different gift, my mother agreed that this was not a great gift for a girl my age. She suggested that perhaps there was a woman somewhere, that might not be getting gifts for the holidays, who would appreciate this gift.
This was before the internet, Giving Trees, etc., and it took many phone calls for my mother to find an agency that was collecting gifts for needy families. We ended up “adopting” a family for the holidays. Our whole family picked out gifts for this family. This was a tradition we continued throughout my childhood, and a tradition I continued with my own children, and now my grandchildren.
With the internet, Toys for Tots, Giving Trees… There are so many ways for children to become authentically engaged in the spirit of the holidays. Children can be given examples of ways to make the holidays special for others, can choose to engage in these activities/organizations, or come up with new authentic ideas.
It doesn’t need to cost a lot, or anything, to make someone else happy during the holidays. A handmade card, delivered to someone you know, or don’t know, can make a difference to someone else during the holiday season. And what a great lesson for your students to learn.
Happy December! Happy Authentic Teaching!
The Educational Journey 