Sometimes children have problems that they can’t talk to their parents about.
Sometimes their parents are unable to help or they just don’t feel comfortable talking to them about it.
Julia Brown has been teaching middle students for the last 15 years, so she knows this better than anyone.
That’s why she created the “I need” box.
It’s a special box that she leaves in her classroom.
She leaves pencils and notecards near the box and children can write things on the card that they need but are too afraid to ask her or anyone else directly.
The student writes their name on the card and places it in the box.
Brown will make good on their request before the week is over.
“I just want to let my students know I’m there to help them with anything they need,” she told Love What Matters.
Sometimes students ask for help with a lesson they’ve already completed, school supplies their family can’t afford, an issue with a friend, help in another class, a hug, a family situation, wanting to change seats, or what to do about bullies.
Brown says the box has been an overwhelming success.
“The first week, two boys let me know about a bullying situation. We got it taken care of,” Brown explained in a Facebook post. “The next week I changed the format a little and starting having EVERY student put a card in the box every day.”
That’s when she started getting a flood of requests.
“They didn’t have to write on it, but every student visits the box daily. Since then, I’ve had a plethora of ‘needs’ submitted. They range from specific supply needs, seat changes, special handshakes when entering class, after-school help, bullying situations, and even daily hugs,” Brown said.
But something happened that Brown wasn’t expecting.
The “I need” box encouraged children to start coming to Brown face-to-face with their problems.
Now her students don’t even need the box because they know that their teacher cares and that she has their backs.
“What’s even better is students are starting to come to me directly with issues/challenges they are having bypassing the box completely,” Brown said. “I’ve been teaching middle school for 15 years, and I can honestly say this is the best thing I’ve ever done to reach my kids this early in the school year.”
Brown hopes that other teachers will place “I need” boxes in their classrooms too.
Now that her Facebook post has gone viral it’s likely that others will. You can see her original post below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
https://www.facebook.com/JuliaBrownFitness/photos/a.434546683546907/718700295131543/?type=3&theater
