Teaching Religious School – Student Identity Struggle?

Hi everyone,

I just began teaching religious school at my synagogue. Upper elementary aged kids.

Last night was our first class and we were all sharing what our favorite things about being Jewish were.

I had one student who, when I asked what he liked about being Jewish, kind of crossed his arms and said “I don’t like being Jewish”.

I didn’t make a fuss about it in class because he’s also a bit of a troublemaker, so I chalked his answer up to an attention thing/desire to be contrary.

But obviously, as a Jewish educator, I want to foster a feeling of self-acceptance and self-love for my Jewish students.

How can I address this attitude without provoking him to alienate himself even more from his identity?