Tell me more about your 'special box'...
Well I started developing the idea when I noticed that the curriculum unintentionally focuses on a handful of the intelligences outlined in Howard Gardner's 'Theory of Multiple Intelligences' and the idea of the 'Special Box' is to get children to demonstrate aspects of their Interpersonal and Intrapersonal intelligence. Subjects like PSHE also try to cover this.
For example a child who isn't comfortable contributing to Mathematics lessons because of anxiety might be more comfortable discussing something about themselves - such as a special memory they have or what hobbies they partake in for extracurricular activities.
Basically, the 'Special Box' might contain photographs of holidays with their family, items that mean something to them, a poem that they like to read etc. That way the child's classmates can get to know them a bit better and get an opportunity to understand them while the child through answering questions about their choices may get to know themselves better. The items a child chooses often tell themselves a lot about 'who they are'.
We've had items specifically reflecting their culture, items that reflect their passions and we've even had a really touching example of a child whose father was ill with cancer.
Initially I was apprehensive about what his box's contents may be so I discussed it with him before hand and he said that he really wanted to discuss it with the class. Death and cancer is not an easy thing to discuss at the best of times, let alone in a Primary environment. With his Mum's and the head's approval he got up in front of the class and talked about his father, that he had cancer and that if things do not get better, he'll have the photos of his happy memories with his Dad to remember him by for the rest of his life. The classes response to this was amazing and the child's bravery astounded me. Up until that point he was quite quiet, timid and reserved.
After that point he became a tad more extroverted and was included in activities a lot more by his peers because he had done a very brave thing and won all of their respect.
He was certainly a lot braver than me. I was quietly sobbing at the side of the room.
Things like that have to be done on a case by case basis but the experience to all of the children was invaluable. If adults cannot discuss death and cancer. . a child who does not understand it is going to have a lot more questions and worries.
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