Bringing the Headiness of History Down to Earth

Actually I mean “down-to-the-classroom”, and even more specifically, “down to the rug”. The rug, as you may be aware, is where many important lower school conversations take place. This week two historic occasions, the holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday and the Inauguration of the United States’s first African-American president, certainly were marked at school for students with big impact events: rearranging lunches to all gather and watch the inauguration on Tuesday and a warm, participatory school assembly on Wednesday. But back on the rug in the classroom is really where critical conversations took place this week and on many other days. The letter below is ostensibly from teacher Diane Thatcher to her families, but it is also a beautiful illustration of how we strive at LREI to engage young hearts and minds with principles like equality and justice. Please read on and notice how this teacher creates opportunities for students to think and consider by choosing books purposefully, by asking certain questions, and by creating a safe atmosphere for discussion.

Inspired by this,

Namita

Dear Families,With the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, we have begun to talk with the children about the life and work of this important man. We read the book, Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, which tells a clear, concise story of Dr. King’s life and his ideas about peace and equality.

Because we know that historical events are difficult for young children to grasp, we hoped to connect this information with the children’s own experiences. We started by talking about what is fair and unfair, and moved to discussions about stereotypes and exclusion (“feeling left out”). Children were asked to ponder questions such as: “What does it mean for something to be fair or equal?” “Why is it important for things to be fair?” “How does it feel to be left out?”The stereotypes that many young children have involve ideas of gender.We have already started having conversations about comments we’ve heard the children make such as: “This is a girl’s game,” or “Only boys like to go really fast.” Children have been debating these ideas, as we encourage them to consider that people’s interests are individual life choices that should not be affected by stereotypes. The following is a recent conversation we had as we read the book William’s Doll. We have substituted “boy” and “girl” for the students’ names.

Teacher: What type of toy do you think the boy in the story might want?
Boy: A race car, because I like them.
Girl: A dinosaur, because boys like dinosaurs.
Boy: Some boys don’t. I know some, like me!
Girl: But my brother likes them and he’s a boy.
Teacher: So maybe some boys like dinosaurs and some boys don’t. What the boy in this story wants is a doll. What do you think about that?
Boy: Hey! A doll’s something for a girl. Most dolls are girls so if they are girls, dolls are for girls.
Girl: The thing is, some boys like dolls that are boy dolls.
Boy: Some boys do like dolls that are boy dolls or girl dolls. And it doesn’t mean they’re too much like a girl. Dolls aren’t only for girls, because I like dolls.

Please take a moment to look at the many books we have in the classroom about male and female stereotypes, such as A Fire Engine for Ruthie, Oliver Button is a Sissy, and The Princess Knight.

Best,
Diane & Charles

 

 

LOWER SCHOOL NOTES & ATTACHMENTS
(click on the links below to view and print information from teachers and specialists.)

  • All grades: Please click here for the ‘at a glance’ calendar for the 2008-09 school year.

 

UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • Tomorrow, Friday, Jan 23, 8:45 am – Navigating Social/Emotional Development in Fourth Grade Parent meeting with Roberta Rubien, LS School Psychologist
  • Note: the January 24 Coffee House is canceled and will be rolled into the February 7 Coffee House
  • Monday, January 26, 8:30 am: LS POCOC Meeting
  • Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 pm: Bringing the Conversation Home (Charlton Street Library)
  • Thursday, January 29, 8:30 am: Bringing the Conversation Home(Sixth Avenue Cafeteria)
  • Thursday, February 5, 8:00am: Lesbian-Gay-Straight Alliance (LGSA) Meeting
  • For an up-to-date, searchable all school calendar, please visit www.lrei.org/calendar

 

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Director’s Drop-In: Phil will be available for drop-in conversations in his Sixth Avenue office from 8:45 am – 9:30 am on Friday, January 23rd; Friday, January 30th; Thursday, February 12th; Thursday, February 19th and Friday, March 6th. Drop in, ask a question, and hear about what is going on at LREI. Can’t make these times? Give a call or send an email, 212-477-5316.

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Shop News: Vehicles created by the Second Graders have rolled, flown, and floated into the Sixth Avenue lobby display case! Be sure to see them!

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Library News: On Thursday, January 15, both 4th grade classes bundled up for a trip to the New York Public Library on 42nd Street. Even though temperatures were low, spirits were high, since the destination was a question and answer session with esteemed children’s writer Cornelia Funke. Click here to read more, on the LS Library Blog!

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A reminder about birthday parties: As described in the Family Handbook, please “send all invitations through the mail. We ask that you do not distribute invitations at school.” Putting these in the children’s classroom pockets or cubbies can lead to hurt feelings. Some children misunderstand when they see the invitations for others, but do not see theirs (if a grown-up picks it without the child noticing). Some parents of young children prefer to let their child know only of events that they are able to attend based on their schedule. Thanks for following this custom.

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Food Drive Alert!
Dear Lower School Parents, next week we will be continuing our collection of cans and boxed foods to be donated to the St. John’s Food Pantry. Food pantries and soup kitchens around the city continue to report that they have more people expressing need and fewer supplies to share. Our collection can make a difference to hungry families in our area.

On Monday, January 26th, bins will be placed on each floor. You can put items directly into the bins. In addition, signs will be hung around the school listing the types of foods that are needed (FoodPantryList). The food pantry requests canned soups, vegetables, fruits, fish, chili, ravioli, and beans. Boxed items include pasta, rice, puddings, and jello. Please try to include your children in the decisions about what you will donate and in the purchasing of the food if possible. You might want to help them think about a healthy combination of foods or something that they would be happy to receive.

We will collect food throughout the week, and parents will take it to the pantry the following week.

Thanks for your help.

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A message from Chap, Director of Diversity and Community
Bring the Conversation Home: Strategies for addressing challenging diversity topics your child brings home, Socioeconomic Class Part II (PDF).

Join us for one or both of the following PA Diversity Discussions with Dr. Patricia Romney:

  • Wednesday January 28, 6:30-8:00 pm in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium
  • Thursday January 29, 8:45-10:45 AM in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria

Childcare will be provided for the evening event on the 28th, please sign up at the front desk by January 27th.

 

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This is a reminder to everyone regarding the LREI Community Quilt for the Big Auction. For all those who took a square of fabric to embroider, please return completed squares by February 1st to Liz Kurtzman ([ mailto:lizknyc@aol.com ]lizknyc@aol.com) or lower school front desk with her name on it.
For those who have a fabric square isn’t able to complete it, please return the blanks so someone else can. See attached PDF (BigAuctionQuilt.pdf) for more info.

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