School and Community Winter 2023

BY: KAYLA GILMORE E ach year, the second Friday in March has been designated as Missouri School Read-In Day with the goal of increasing awareness of the importance of reading. This year, on March 10, teachers can make reading a priority in their classroom, but we can still focus on one more goal: introducing authors of color to our students. Below are a few options that you can use in your classroom to give a fresh perspective to literacy. Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Give Read-In Day a New Perspective

Parker’s mom brings her to the museum, Parker sees that portrait and immediately feels empowered that she can climb just as high. Black may not be in the rainbows of the sky, but Angela Joy’s award-winning book shows where else black is in our world, and how beautiful of a color it can be. Black is a Rainbow Color gives words to the cultures that people may not be able to see, but feel. For a nonfiction text, look for v and Dr. Tamara Pizzoli. It follows Yolanda’s true story of how her Virginia school reacted to the Brown vs. Board ruling and how education should be fair for all. Even before Rosa Parks’ famous refusal to give up her seat, there was Claudette Colvin, who still lives today. Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste gives a voice to her heroic actions to stand up for herself and what was right while helping students learn the history of the Civil Rights Era. Grades 4 - 8 Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes brings the ghost of Emmett Till to meet twelve year old Jerome after a police officer mistook his fake weapon for a real one, leading to his death. Layering history with the actions of today, this book is a haunting story about the injustice people faced in the past and are still battling today. A beautiful book with a heavy meaning, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water gives slaves a voice. Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson bring out the ugly truth about America’s history in a simple but heartbreaking tale of loss and resilience. For students looking for a graphic novel, New Kid by Jerry Craft follows Jordan, who finds he is the only student of color in his new school. Students who are feeling torn about their identities will be able to connect easily with him through the simple, yet powerful artwork

Your Name is a Song by JamilahThompkins-Bigelow is about a little girl whose teachers have trouble pronouncing her name. When she goes home frustrated, her mother explains how her name is grounded in history and culture, changing her mind and bringing a sense of pride instead of shame. When Tameika decides to try out for the role of Snow White in her school’s musical, the other students tell her that she doesn’t quite fit the part. Ashley Franklin’s Not Quite SnowWhite is a good match to pair with Disney’s recent live action version of The Little Mermaid , showing how skin color doesn’t matter when it comes to being yourself. The Day You Begin is a great resource for students who are feeling a little shy or disconnected and encourages students to be brave and reach out to others. It is also available in Spanish and has its own episode in the Netflix show titled Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! If you’re looking for a great example of onomatopoeia, take a look at Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter. This book goes through the different noises that can be heard as apartment dwellers go to sleep and is a perfect way to get students engaged as they provide the noises. A huge recent award winner, Samara Cole Doyon’s Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration helps students feel comfortable with who they are, no matter their color or background. It celebrates students for their personalities, and encourages all students to show each other love, despite their differences. Along the same lines is You Matter . The charming pictures in this book by Christian Robinson showcase people frommany different cultures, giving students a look at what other people look like, and how we all have value. Parker and Jessica Curry’s story Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment highlights how important it is for young girls to have a role model that looks like them. When

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