Instructions
- Writing the situations
- Each student anonymously writes a specific situation that causes them tension, anxiety, fear, sadness, or frustration at school.
- Situations should be detailed. Instead of “I feel stressed in math class,” they should write “I feel anxious when I have to go to the board in math class while everyone watches me solve a problem.”
- Students can include both social situations (e.g., “I feel bad when I hear that someone was talking behind my back”) and personal challenges (e.g., “I get really nervous before a math test.”).
- If appropriate, the facilitator may expand the scope to include experiences from extracurricular activities, family life, or even emotions felt during a hike.
- No names should be included to ensure anonymity.
- Collecting the responses
- The facilitator gathers all the written notes.
- Silent acknowledgment circle (Standard version)
- Students sit or stand in a circle, lowering their heads and closing their eyes.
- The facilitator randomly selects and reads aloud one situation at a time.
- After reading, the facilitator asks those who have felt similarly to open their eyes and lift their heads.
- Students look around and make eye contact with others who share similar feelings.
- After a few moments, they lower their heads and close their eyes again.
- The process repeats for each note.
Alternative version: night reflection in the forest
- This version is conducted in the evening or at night in a forest setting.
- During the day, students write down their situations, and the facilitator collects them.
- After dark, the group gathers in a circle in a designated spot, each wearing a headlamp or holding a flashlight.
- The process remains the same—students close their eyes as the facilitator reads each situation aloud.
- If a student relates to the situation, they not only open their eyes but also turn on their flashlight and point it toward the sky.
- The darkness provides a sense of safety, making it easier for some students to participate.
- Those who feel too shy to open their eyes can still see the glow of flashlights around them, reinforcing the idea that they are not alone in their experiences.