We need to open up the conversation about "what counts" when it comes to student's writing and sharing. We should be nurturing their needs and stories in bringing their outside worlds into the classroom through their writing and other mediums.

This quote made me think of the book "The Vulnerable Heart of Literacy: Centering Trauma as Powerful Pedagogy" by Elizabeth Dutro.In the book Dutro speaks of teachers inviting students to participate (in sharing their traumas), but it is never a requirement. Therefore, I think it is important to note that Uriah and Desi decided to not tell stories of when their homes were disrupted, and that is absolutely okay.

I think it is important to do this in your classroom, regardless of grade level. Inviting students to feel comfortable to bring their lived experiences into the classroom can only create a stronger interest and connection to what you are doing in class.