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Using Gracious Space in the Classroom

5/30/2014

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It's hard for me to believe that it's been a year since my first introduction to Gracious Space.  We are coming up to the end of Fall semester.

Every other Friday, I take my 35 9th students into the multi-purpose room and we sit in a large circle.  We have our guidelines and I make sure to have the 4 elements of Gracious Space seating in the center of our circle.

We have had many topics: bullying; does being 9th grade feel like you thought it would; do you do your homework and what grades do you think you will earn (that was a tough one); what is an experience that you have gone through and what have your learned about yourself; and just last week..."what's your story"-which by the way fits perfectly in to personal statements to college....( I do have to make this fit into our curriculum.)

I am always amazed how the students treat each other in the circle....It is so much more respectful in the circle than it is in class.  I have 25 boys and 10 girls....9th graders!!!!

We have been working on sharing our stories and dreams throughout the first semester.  I am continually shocked on how hard it is for students to value their own stories or just find one.

During each Gracious Space session I have one of our Security men come in to share....He is fantastic!  He totally gets what the Gracious Space is and he gives up his lunch to be with us.

I have had the Vice Principal, my peer who teaches the other freshman class, and one of guidance techs join and participate with us, all as equals.  The adults are usually in tears and are shocked and moved by everything that happens in the circle.  I am hoping that they become advocates for us and share the power of the circle.

Every time I get one of your announcements about a workshop...I send out a little prayer.  Please one day, let the money and time happen, so I get a team to one of your workshops.

I hope you are well and that all of your Gracious Space experiences, keep you charged and invigorated.

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    Author

    Erin Lopes

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