Appreciating Each Other, Diversity, and Gatitude

In January, Amy Larsen and I traveled to Austin, Texas to attend a workshop on the power of gratitude in schools. The workshop was organized by the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education. Presenter and Keynote Speaker, Giacomo Bono, author of Making Grateful Kids, shared his valuable research with conference attendees and worked with us to integrate gratitude and kindness into our classrooms.
Amy and I spent two days learning about the interconnectedness between gratitude and trust and the importance of teaching this to children. As Lower School students delve into Black History Month this February, I keep returning to what I learned at this conference: learning about diversity allows us to appreciate the character strengths in others and that in order to understand others, we must be able to look inward and outward at the same time; not always an easy task for young learners.

Working with Ciera Young, Coordinator of Equity and Inclusion at Ellis, classes in the Lower School have been hard at work learning about and appreciating differences and commonalities this month:

  • In pre-kindergarten, students celebrate each student through “Girl of the Week.” Students share information about themselves and the class makes connections using sign language if they have something in common.
  • Kindergarten is reading and discussing stories about how everyone experiences the same feelings on the inside even if we look different on the outside.
  • Grade 1 has collected a record-breaking $1,800 for their Kids Campaign to End Hunger through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank while learning about food insecurity and community needs. Additionally, Upper School students will visit kindergarten and grade 1 to read and host diversity themed activities this month.
  • Grade 2 celebrates uniqueness by participating in random acts of kindness as well as learning about the relationship between Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese and the importance of standing up for a friend.
  • Grade 3 is learning about the importances of the Underground Railroad and the heroic acts of Harriet Tubman.
  • Grade 4 is reading literature by African American authors and is discussing influential African Americans and their contributions to the world during their morning meeting time.

This Friday we will gather as a Lower School community to participate in the first African American Read-In at Ellis. The purpose of the Read-In is to document readers making the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities. Second grade teacher, Denise LaRosa, will read her book Empty Shoes, a story about what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes while at the same time becoming comfortable with yourself. Students will then pair up with their buddy classes to read more books written and illustrated by African American authors and illustrators. Our hope to is create more opportunities for Read-In celebrations throughout the school year.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Ellis Parent Association, the Lower School now has books for a social emotional resource library. Some book themes in this library include: community needs, microaggressions, diversity and cultural competencies, social skills, friendship, and families. Ellis faculty will be able to use these books in their classrooms to further enrich students’ experiences.
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