The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Every classroom read The Day You Begin as our One School, One Book selection for the 2018-2019 school year.
There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.
Jacqueline Woodson's newest book, The Day You Begin, shows students that even if you feel different from everyone else around you, you are not alone.
After we read and discussed this book students individually answered a survey about their preferences and then worked with a partner to compare their answers. Many students were surprised to see how many things they had in common with their classmates! Students then recorded their similarities and difference in a Venn Diagram.
Jacqueline Woodson's newest book, The Day You Begin, shows students that even if you feel different from everyone else around you, you are not alone.
After we read and discussed this book students individually answered a survey about their preferences and then worked with a partner to compare their answers. Many students were surprised to see how many things they had in common with their classmates! Students then recorded their similarities and difference in a Venn Diagram.
Most People by Michael Leannah
Every classroom read Most People as our One School, One Book selection for the 2017-2018 school year.
The world can be a scary place. Anxious adults want children to be aware of dangers, but shouldn’t kids be aware of kindness too?
Michael Leannah wrote Most People as an antidote to the scary words and images kids hear and see every day. Jennifer Morris’s emotive, diverting characters provide the perfect complement to Leannah’s words, leading us through the crowded streets of an urban day in the company of two pairs of siblings (one of color). We see what they see: the hulking dude with tattoos and chains assisting an elderly lady onto the bus; the Goth teenager with piercings and purple Mohawk returning a lost wallet to its owner; and the myriad interactions of daily existence, most of them well intended. Most People is a courageous, constructive response to the dystopian world of the news media. (tilburyhouse.com)
Michael Leannah wrote Most People as an antidote to the scary words and images kids hear and see every day. Jennifer Morris’s emotive, diverting characters provide the perfect complement to Leannah’s words, leading us through the crowded streets of an urban day in the company of two pairs of siblings (one of color). We see what they see: the hulking dude with tattoos and chains assisting an elderly lady onto the bus; the Goth teenager with piercings and purple Mohawk returning a lost wallet to its owner; and the myriad interactions of daily existence, most of them well intended. Most People is a courageous, constructive response to the dystopian world of the news media. (tilburyhouse.com)
Too Fly Not to Fly by Briana McLean and Desmond Owusu
Every classroom read Too Fly Not to Fly as our One School, One Book selection for the 2016-2017 school year.
This alphabet book uses beautiful photographs to explore issues impacting the lives of young people today.
"Too Fly Not To Fly serves as a learning tool for ages Pre-K-3rd grade to critically examine issues impacting their lives, through the lens of the black child. With corresponding discussion questions for each letter of the alphabet, this reflective resource promotes discussion skills for children . Too Fly Not To Fly playfully explores colorism, gender binaries, food deserts, mental health and more!" (tooflynottofly).
"Too Fly Not To Fly serves as a learning tool for ages Pre-K-3rd grade to critically examine issues impacting their lives, through the lens of the black child. With corresponding discussion questions for each letter of the alphabet, this reflective resource promotes discussion skills for children . Too Fly Not To Fly playfully explores colorism, gender binaries, food deserts, mental health and more!" (tooflynottofly).
Red by Michael Hall
Every classroom read Red as our One School, One Book selection for the 2015-2016 school year.
Red Project
Every class at Willard School began our anti-bias work in the 2015-2016 school year by reading Red by Michael Hall. Red (crayon) has a bright red label, but he is actually blue. Lots of crayons try to help Red, but he just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries! He realizes that he's a wonderful blue! Red finds the courage to be true to his inner crayon.
After we read and discussed the book together, each student created a crayon revealing something about themselves that might not be apparent from their outer "wrapper". |
Acting Courageously at Every Grade Level
Each grade level explored the themes of courage and acting courageously by launching discussions with a picture book. Kindergarten classes read The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss, first grade read Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, second grade - My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits, grade 3 -The Araboolies of Liberty Street by Sam Swope, grade 4 - Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson, and grade 5 read Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss. Classes came to an agreed upon definition of courage and responded to their grade level text in writing and/or art.
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Vocabulary
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We created a continuum of vocabulary words to help children participate in discussions around bias. The words in bold print are the new words introduced. The other words are review words from the previous grades.
Kindergarten - ally, skin color, fair, peace Grade 1- ally, skin color, fair, peace, family Grade 2 - ally, skin color, fair, peace, family, culture, just, discrimination, prejudice, race Grade 3 - ally, skin color, fair, peace, family, culture, just, discrimination, prejudice, race, stereotype, American, nationality, ethnic groups, heritage/mixed heritage Grade 4 -ally, skin color, fair, peace, family, culture, just, discrimination, prejudice, race, stereotype, American, nationality, ethnic groups, heritage/mixed heritage, racism (and other -isms) Grade 5 -ally, skin color, fair, peace, family, culture, just, discrimination, prejudice, race, stereotype, American, nationality, ethnic groups, heritage/mixed heritage, racism (and other -isms), gender roles, privilege |
Peace Project
In the Spring we explore the concept of peace inside ourselves and in our surroundings as a whole school. Each grade reads a text about peace and creates a whole-class project using writing and/or art. Some of the titles read across the school are The Peace Book, If Peace Is..., Anh's Anger, and Wangari's Trees of Peace.