A teacher of third-graders at Doull Elementary School in Denver, Colo., has introduced a new type of lesson plan that went viral not only in the United States but around the world.
Kyle Schwartz, namesake of the Comedy Central's animated television series "South Park" character, introduced a lesson plan called "I Wish My Teacher Knew" in an attempt to establish trust between her and her third graders.
With the "I Wish My Teacher Knew" lesson plan, students write a thought for their teacher, revealing something they would like her to know about them.
The teacher of three years said many of her students are from underprivileged families. Noting that 92 percent of their students qualify for free and reduced lunch, Schwartz told ABC News that she struggled to understand the reality of her students' lives and how to best support them.
"I just felt like there was something I didn't know about my students," Schwartz said.
Through the "I Wish My Teacher Knew" lesson plan, Schwarz allowed her students to determine if they would like to answer anonymously but she has found out that most students are willing to include their name and enjoy sharing with the class.
Schwarz said most of her students want their classmates to know their confessions even when what they are sharing is sensitive in nature.
"Some notes are heart-breaking like the first #iwishmyteacherknew tweet which read, 'I wish my teacher knew I don't have pencils at home to do my homework,'" Schwartz said.
Meanwhile, while third graders are enjoying writing "I Wish My Teacher Knew" notes in Schwartz class in Denver, Colo., an Orange elementary school teacher is getting support from her fellow educators after being suspended over the "get well" letters written by her third-grade students to former death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, NJ reported.