‘I Wish My Teacher Knew’ Assignment Reveals Third-Grade Students’ Heartbreaking Secrets

Colorado third-grade teacher Kyle Schwartz wanted to get to know her students better. So, she drummed up an assignment that had them answer the prompt, "I wish my teacher knew...".

What Schwartz received was a such a display of honesty, some of it comical — and some of it heartbreaking.

"I let students determine if they would like to answer anonymously," the teacher at Denver's Doull Elementary told ABC News this week. "I have found that most students are not only willing to include their name, but also enjoy sharing with the class. Even when what my students are sharing is sensitive in nature, most students want their classmates to know."

Here's a look at some of the assignments Schwartz posted on Twitter:

#iwishmyteacherknew that I want to go to college #edchat pic.twitter.com/pal9Y4L846

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 7, 2015

#iwishmyteacherknew sometimes my reading log isn't signed because my mom is not around a lot #edchat pic.twitter.com/mUsm4zRdKc

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz)

April 6, 2015

#iwishmyteacherknew Vietnamese because then she can say words I forget pic.twitter.com/lEFdKxe136

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 6, 2015

#iwishmyteacherknew how much I miss my dad since he got deported #edchat #ImmigrationReform pic.twitter.com/yUK0FCwwiO

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 6, 2015

#iwishmyteacherknew I don't have a friend to play with me. Honest answers from kids #edchat pic.twitter.com/5H0EPgRzPQ

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 6, 2015

#iwishmyteacherknew That she is not terrible, even though people say she is. @DrMaryHoward @teresagross625 pic.twitter.com/ySHJ3mpGpS

— Cassie Norsworthy (@mrsnorsworthy)

April 5, 2015

#iwishmyteacherknew she gives too much homework #edchat pic.twitter.com/YrIeUMK4ZK

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) April 9, 2015

Had my students write "I wish my teacher knew___" It's a reality check. #edchat #fellowschat pic.twitter.com/8vFUZqQnu0

— Kyle Schwartz (@kylemschwartz) March 28, 2015

The project has drawn so much attention that other educators have glommed onto the #iwishmyteacherknew project on Twitter as well.

"I think it caught on so fast because teachers are highly collaborative and freely share and explore resources," Schwartz told ABC. "In the end, all teachers want to support their students, and #iwishmyteacherknew is a simple and powerful way to do that.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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Front page image via Shutterstock.