ksizzle

Like this. And it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful to hear a soliloquy I loved so much already, and have it come to life in a way it never, ever, did before. I feel like I grasp his motivations, his twists and turns, no longer on an academic level but on a visceral, instinctive one. Because he’s presenting his mental and emotional journey in a way that speaks honestly, like a real person.

Hey artists, C. Spike Trotman, founder of Iron Circus Comics, just posted an invaluable thread on depicting different types of black hair. I’d do the thing where you screencap the whole thread and post it but it’s just too long (which is great because it’s a whole lot of useful information!) Give her a follow while you’re there.

Do Now:

Students write independent responses to the following questions: "What does Self-Care mean to me? What are some things I do in order to take good care of myself?"

Direct Instruction:

Teacher explains that self-care is a broad concept. The Self is a complicated thing made of many parts, and they all require care. A healthy self is healthy in mind, body, and social relationships. Your inside matters as much as your outside, whether others can see it or not it, and all of it requires effort to maintain. A daily exercise routine is good, but if you're neglecting your schoolwork or your friendships then you're not fully practicing self-care.

Finally, stress is a key indicator that should never be ignored. Like when a machine is running too hot, if you ever feel overwhelmed by your feelings of stress then you should listen to that feeling. Do you need better self-care practices so you can handle a reasonable amount of stress? Are you asking too much of yourself? Do you need help?

Guided Activity:

Walk students through the questions on the Self-Care Assessment until you are confident that they will know how to engage with every item. In particular, read the first paragraph out loud to make sure everyone understands how to approach this activity. You can show them your own completed assessment (or one from another class, anonymized) as an exemplar. (See below the cut)

Students then have the rest of the period to slowly work their way through a self assessment.

Higher Order Learning:

After completing the assessment, students write a short reflection on the following questions: "What changes can I make, starting today, in order to practice better self-care? What can I do in one week to make sure I am still on track? One month?" This reflection is the only thing they need to turn in to receive credit for this assignment. They will not be required to share their self-assessments with anyone in order to receive credit. However, they are encouraged to informally share their responses with anyone they choose at their own volition.

and for all of yall that are still figuring it out or aren't getting the support you deserve:

Straight and cis people will say that they are allies, but you will NEVER measure up to my dentist.

Me: "Hey, is it ok if I can change my name on my info from [DEADNAME] to Sai?"

Random woman that I wasn't even talking to in the chair next to me: "Honey, if that's the name you had at birth, [DEADNAME] is your only name."

My dentist, very slowly turning her rolley chair towards the woman: "Shush."

Random woman: "Excuse me?"

Destist: *closes privacy curtain while staring bullets at the lady*

Me: *pissing myself laughing*

My dentist while changing my name in my info (reminder that English is not her first language, she immigrated from Russia): "There, Sai, you have pretty boy teeth. Smile and make all girls swoon."