This is a new Mini In-Class Activity and Reflection that I added to my course SSW 201 Family Relationships this year. This activity happens early in the course on Week 2 and is part of students getting to know one another and to build a cohesive classroom community. It also gives students an opportunity to practice their interpersonal speaking and listening skills.

Many students found it difficult to write their reflections without retelling their own family story or that of their partner. For me this is a Student Exemplar because this student really understood the instructions and stuck to the What, So What, Now What format.

Assignment Instructions

Mini In-Class Activity #1: Storytelling Your Family

  1. BEFORE: Think about a story from your family that illustrates a value that is important in your family (this could be your current family, family of origin, or extended family).
  1. DURING: In class on Week #2 get into pairs and tell each other your family story. Listeners, at the end ask 1 or 2 questions about the story you just heard.
  1. AFTER: Submit a short reflection on Brightspace in the Assignments area based on “What, So What, Now What”.

WHAT: What did you experience/notice/observe / learn /experience.

  • What did you do? Did you tell a story? About what (in 1-2 sentences). Did you listen? What did you notice? What stood out for you? What values did you tell or learn about?

SO WHAT: How did it impact you, how does it align with your own experiences, what did you like, not like, what resonated with you, how did you feel, what does this mean for you and your learning?

  • Why does the activity matter?
  • Why was it important?

NOW WHAT: Now what are you going to do with this new learning, where can you take this experience and use it in future, how can this be used for the related task?

  • How will you take what you learned into your work with families?
  • How might it change how you understand or interact with families?
  • How might it change how you consider your own family? 

Due: Sunday, September 17th. Approximately 300-500 words.

Feature Image: by S O C I A L . C U T from Unsplash.com