Karen Loewe is an educator who thinks outside of the box and goes above and beyond for her students. What she teaches them goes beyond the pages of textbooks.
More than just expounding on the lesson material daily, Loewe also makes sure to pass on important life lessons to inspire the kids to do better and be better.
Her most impactful idea yet is called “The Baggage Activity.”
It’s been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook.
In her own words on a Facebook post, the teacher explained how it works:
“I asked the kids what it meant to have baggage and they mostly said it was hurtful stuff you carry around on your shoulders. I asked them to write down on a piece of paper what was bothering them, what was heavy on their heart, what was hurting them, etc.”
She continued:
“No names were to be on a paper. They wadded the paper up, and threw it across the room.”
It’s not easy getting seventh and eighth graders to dig deep and come to terms with reality, especially hurtful circumstances.
But anonymity allowed them to somehow let go of the burdens they’ve been carrying all this time.
Instead of asking each student to read what was on their own paper, Loewe instructed them to pick up any of their classmates’ wadded-up paper and read it out loud.
Eventually, some stepped up and began talking about their baggage.
“I’m here to tell you, I have never been so moved to tears as what these kids opened up and about and shared with the class. Things like suicide, parents in prison, drugs in their family, being left by their parents, death, cancer, losing pets, and on and on.”
It was a tough activity that brought most of her students to tears. The teacher even described it as an “emotionally draining day”.
The activity may have invoked quite a lot of feelings but it did remind everyone in the room of just how important it is to judge less, love more, and forgive faster.
The bag of baggage that hangs by the door of Loewe’s classroom serves as a reminder for her students not to let the past define them and to keep moving forward no matter how difficult. Opening up about one’s struggles is never easy, especially at a young age and around one’s peers.
The incredible idea was a great way for her students to release their pent-up emotions. Her seventh and eighth graders were truly brave for participating and opening up.
“This bag hangs by my door to remind them that we all have baggage. We will leave it at the door. As they left I told them, they are not alone, they are loved, and we have each other’s back. I am honored to be their teacher.”
This starts my 22nd year of teaching middle school. Yesterday was quite possibly one of the most impactful days I have…
Posted by Karen Wunderlich Loewe on Friday, August 23, 2019
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