Toothpaste Activity

A student called me a “f__ b__” when he struggled. There was also some physical aggression toward me. This has happened multiple times in my 24 years of teaching special education, some years more than others.

At this time, during the pandemic, when my emotional state seems more fragile, I projected these same words toward a colleague. I don’t believe that at all about this other teacher, but I was called out on it by a paraprofessional, who within 20 minutes of my word vomit, went to my colleague and my principal. She is 21…and will learn over time that as unprofessional as I was, that understanding that teachers make mistakes as well may require some maturity.

I am quite fortunate that my Principal knows me well enough to know this was not in my character. I had apologized to both the paraprofessional and insulted teacher. My thought process over the next day or so was that I am a horrible person and don’t deserve the honor I so recently received- a nomination for Iowa’s Teacher of the Year.

All of this lead me to use the toothpaste activity. This was an activity I had done several years before, but not with this particular student. Materials include a small plate or in this case a Dixie cup, a small toothpaste, and paper. Step by step directions.

1. What are we going to do with this? (holding the toothpaste) Await answers/guesses.
2. Explain that we are going to pretend that the tube of toothpaste is our brain. Where is our brain? What covers it? it is covered by a skull, hair.
3. What kinds of things are in our brain? (write all the thoughts, and make sure that good and bad thoughts are in everyone’s brains).
4. Ask how these thoughts come out of our brain. (talk, actions).
5. Have the student squeeze out the toothpaste as we say the items from our list, both good and bad thoughts. As the good thoughts are listed, say, “wow, that is so nice. I bet that made someone feel good.” It name calling or mean things come out, label those and note that that might make someone not want to be friends.
6. After the toothpaste is out of the tube, say “OK now put all those thoughts back away.” If the student asks how do I do that?, act aloof and say, ‘you go ahead and figure that out’.
7. After several minutes, talk about the good things and the bad things. Debrief the activity.
8. Put the toothpaste in a baggie as a reminder for review and have the student teach someone else the toothpaste activity!