Reflection #13 on Teaching this semester:

 In a beginning-of-the-year faculty development session, the speaker introduced us to Adverse Childhood Experiences. We did a strange and possibly intrusive but actually helpful exercise. The ACEs were listed on a sheet of paper, and we were to check off the ones we had. Then we crumpled the paper, threw it a box, and they were redistributed. We were then supposed to stand up for the number of ACEs the person whose crumpled paper we received. 

I did a similar experience in my class, trying to say, "There are other people here who have had similar experiences" as you. There were other questions about their struggles in the semester, again, trying to let them see, anonymously, that other students have similar experiences and they are not alone. OR UNIQUE, which many of them think they are. 

It was an attempt at solidarity and connection. Did it work? I don't know, because I didn't want to ask. I don't want to be intrusive. Thoughts on this?

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