A third-grade teacher at a Denver elementary school decided to try to get to know her students better — most of whom come from low-income families — and gave them a writing assignment in which she hoped they would reveal something about themselves. Kyle Schwartz called the activity “I wish my teacher knew” — and she wound up learning more than she thought.
According to this story by ABC News, Schwartz, who teachers at Doull Elementary School, said:
“Ninety-two percent of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch. As a new teacher, I struggled to understand the reality of my students’ lives and how to best support them. I just felt like there was something I didn’t know about my students.”
She allowed students to write anonymously but found that most wanted to include their name and even share it with the class. She said:
“Some notes are heartbreaking like the first #iwishmyteacherknew tweet which read, ‘I wish my teacher knew I don’t have pencils at home to do my homework.’ I care deeply about each and every one of my students and I don’t want any of them to have to suffer the consequences of living in poverty, which is my main motivation for teaching.”
Schwartz posted some of the students’ work on Twitter under the hashtag #IWishMyTeacherKnew, and she urged other teachers to do the same thing. Here are some of the tweets posted by Schwartz as well as others.
Teacher sparks eye-opening conversation via #IWishMyTeacherKnew notes: http://t.co/lybaaKAXOd pic.twitter.com/X3LCEECxtB pic.twitter.com/3s0B3ESkA5
— Lili (@llamasliliana) April 16, 2015
Grade school teacher sparks conversation with students through #IWishMyTeacherKnew notes: http://t.co/Uub7n9KPcS pic.twitter.com/heJ0u0Cas4
— ABC News (@ABC) April 16, 2015
#IWishMyTeacherKnew #autism means I'm learning. I don't do things on purpose to hurt others. I just don't understand pic.twitter.com/pq5idyk8rR
— Rachelle (@Rachelle77) April 17, 2015
Teachers are everyday heroes: "#iWishMyTeacherKnew I don't have friends to play with me" http://t.co/2c0h0bkNoc via @ABC #AllKidsNeed @UFT
— Brian Gibbons (@BrianUFT) April 16, 2015
"I wish my teacher knew..."
— Rebecca Shoniker (@RebeccaShoniker) April 14, 2015
Middle school ST responses.
WOW! Heartfelt, honest, powerful.#iwishmyteacherknew pic.twitter.com/x6munGKHiT
@doodlinmunkyboy Lame jokes are the best! I got #iwishmyteacherknew I love school. Guess it's elem vs high school pic.twitter.com/a1he3hAdwU
— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 7, 2015
#iwishmyteacherknew That she is not terrible, even though people say she is. @DrMaryHoward @teresagross625 pic.twitter.com/ySHJ3mpGpS
— Cassie Norsworthy (@mrsnorsworthy) April 5, 2015
#Iwishmyteacherknew that I want her to notice me @kylemschwartz @jennagormley13 @JasonElsom pic.twitter.com/3c1gPx3uHu
— Cassie Norsworthy (@mrsnorsworthy) April 2, 2015
@kylemschwartz "I haven't seen my real mom in over two years and that makes me sad" (3rd grade boy) #iwishmyteacherknew
— Heather Mello (@Hmello813) April 1, 2015
#IWishMyTeacherKnew. I hope this student knows that adults want this for them too. via @kylemschwartz pic.twitter.com/rIeVNUobed
— Torrie Jay White (@Torriejay) April 17, 2015
Lots questions about #iwishmyteacherknew and how to support. Check out @DonorsChoose Teachers desperate for resources http://t.co/XzSw3K6So2
— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 17, 2015