Last week, my daughter and her friends started their own read-aloud book groups via Kids Messenger; they read Alex Gino's George and Rita Williams-Garcia's One Crazy Summer -- books they all have, books they've read together before. Since we started sheltering in place on March 13, my son has had several substantial comic book reading sessions. Today, a friend of mine asked for book recommendations for her high school kids to read while we "Stay Home. Stay Safe" here in Portland, Oregon.
Reading Is Resistance is offering a new series of easy-to-use,book-focused learning experiences for kids who are at home right now, sheltering. We are calling these Shelter in Place 2020: We Read _____. The first in the series will be Shelter in Place 2020: We Read Jazz Baby.
With the inundation of creativity and sharing that is happening online, what is unique about our Shelter in Place series? It is being framed by the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards (an anti-bias framework for teaching and learning) and will be curated by a host of wonderfully smart, interesting, and creative P.S.U. students who are taking my Social Justice in K12 Education and Anti-Bias Education courses. Students helping students. Connecting the generations!
We are connecting and finding escape through books. We are activated and emboldened. We take furious notes in the margins, plot changes, and chalk sidewalks with our thoughts. We draw ourselves with wings; we meet virtually to plan revolution; we vow to change and grow.
In solidarity, we read.
-Zapoura
Comments