It’s important to really know where our students are coming from. When we take the time to get to know our students they know that we care for them. When they feel cared for, they feel safe and this is the ideal environment for learning.
Seeing a child’s family tree can help us really understand the child’s history. While teaching, sensitive issues can come up and if we understand the world of the child we are better able to protect the child from painful circumstances.
For example, if during a bike safety orientation you noticed that Katie looked sad, you may just think she was having a bad day. However, if at the beginning of the year you had sent home the family tree craft you would learn that her mother was killed by a wreck-less driver while biking.
So, before the orientation you would know that it would help Katie feel supported and cared for if you sat next to her. We may learn some information from previous teachers, but there may be more information we can find out to help the student. Many teachers don’t view teaching as just teaching academics, we truly have the opportunity to help children through achievements and the difficult circumstances of life.
This is an assignment I’d recommend we keep confidential. I also recommend not grading it. We have the opportunity to find out valuable information that will help us better understand and help the child and his/her family. Putting the family tree inside the child’s confidential file (in a locked file cabinet) and later putting the family tree inside the end of the year Memory Book (which I first discussed in the Star Student Bulletin Board article), is a way for the child to look back and remember how he/she felt supported and understood by his/her classroom teacher.
It’s also important to keep the child’s family information strictly confidential and not discuss it with teachers, other parents or students. Even if we feel like we need to de-stress or the person needs to know, it’s not a good idea to discuss this information. We were trusted with confidential information for the purpose of helping the child. Most of the time, telling anyone else won’t do them any good and may end up hurting the child or parent because their trust was broken.
When I worked as a school counselor (before I was a kindergarten & 2nd grade teacher) I knew how to keep confidentiality really well. Over the years, I’ve found that some teachers can do this and others aren’t so hot at it. When we hear talk in the teachers’ lounge it’s a good idea to just walk away. Doing this can keep our conscious clear and out of trouble. We’ve got too much to do anyway.
During parent/teacher conferences I found that it was helpful to keep the family tree in the student’s file. Before the meeting, I reviewed the family tree. Doing this helped me remember how the family may have been feeling. This helped me feel more prepared between meetings. I was able to clear my mind and remember the details concerning the next family before they walked in the door.
This is a project that would work well for homework because sensitive issue may/or may not be brought up. Some families enjoy this project and want to share it with everyone. They may not feel really sensitive about anything at all. Others enjoy it, even though it may bring up sensitive issues and find that it’s a healing and bonding experience with their child. Some don’t enjoy it, but complete it anyway.
There’s always a possibility that you won’t get it back. I do not recommend marking the child’s grade down if you don’t get it back. I’d just use it as an indicator that there may be some pain there or there’s just too much going on right now to deal with it.
Alright, we all know that some people love the holidays and just can’t wait until Thanksgiving dinner. Others dread it like the plague. The family tree can be like that. Maybe during 2nd grade Joey loved making his family tree, but after his uncle died during 3rd grade he didn’t enjoy it.
Just like the holidays, family trees bring up family stuff. It’s best if we know what’s going on, so we know how to help the kids.
Create a short note to parents and send the project home for homework. I’d encourage the children to ask their parents for photographs, but if they aren’t able to get a photograph the student can draw a picture of the family member.
The template can also be used to create a couple of other crafts.