This month in the Children’s House classrooms, there were many conversations around ability. Teachers read books to help students understand how their bodies function and to appreciate their bodies for what they can do. When children learn what their bodies are able to do - and what they are not - they also begin to develop respect for their bodies.
The children read books that show a wide range of differences among human bodies. They learned that people have different abilities and that some people have disabilities. These conversations helped children understand that disabilities require all of us to think and act in ways that ensure everyone is included.
As we head into the holidays and spend time with our families and loved ones, this can be a wonderful opportunity to continue these conversations at home. Some helpful books include All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys, My Brain Is Magic by Prasha Sooful and Geeta Ladi, Signs of Friendship by Annie Silvestro and Ziyue Chen, We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, and Eduardo Trejos, and Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor, among others.
When we return in January, we will continue our conversations about bodies, with a focus on body image. We will explore questions such as: What is beauty? How do we define it? In what ways are bodies powerful and strong? How do our bodies tell stories about who we are and where we come from? Some books that support these discussions include Every Body by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas; Big by Vashti Harrison; Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho; Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand; Lovely by Jess Hong; and I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown.
#IAmLMS #LMSBelonging #LMSDiversity
