Teaching Our Children About the Black Lives Matter Movement

When teaching elementary students about the Black Lives Matter Movement, I describe what my life was like as an African American little girl. For example, when I was in elementary school, I did not get to hear Martin Luther King, Jr. give his original, “I have a Dream” speech. My teachers would play the speech for my class every year so that we could picture this amazing vision for America. Dr. King dreamed that one day black people would be judged by the content of their character, rather than the color of their skin.

My Second Grade Experience

I was in second grade when Dr. King, a preacher and civil rights activist, was killed. I can remember where I was in Brooklyn, New York with my aunt when I heard the news on the TV. I walked over to the steps and I sat down and cried. I was seven years old. I was hurt and sad. You see, at that age I understood that Dr. King was trying to get everyone to understand that Black Lives Mattered. He supported non-violent protests against anyone who would not treat black and brown people equally and with civility. At that time, black people could not sit on the front of buses. They could not vote. They were treated like objects instead of human beings. Many people thought that black people were strong. They would do cruel things to them like harassing them during daily life or spiting on them while passing by. People would beat up Black people for no reason and say bad things about them and to them. Black people were bullied for a long time in America. Unfortunately, this still happens today.

What Black Lives Matters to Me

After I share my story, I explain that the Black Lives Matter Movement was started by three women in 2013 to fight the injustices of black people that may include death, police brutality, laws that are not fair that include housing, economic challenges, and lack of opportunities (see www.tolerance.org). Then the students discuss and write a reflection on how bullying is a form of abuse that all students can relate by asking these questions:

How do you feel when someone is mean to you?
How do you stop the other person and what would you do in the future?
Do you know any who participated in the Black Lives Matter Movement marches in the past year? What did you learn from this event??
What can I do to stop bullying at school?
What can I do to encourage kindness for all students?

Finally, the children reinforce their learning by (1) identifying what they learned about the Black Lives Matter Movement, (2) identify what worked or did not work to support their learning, (3) clarify how they will use this information with other school assignments, and (4) describe how they can use this information in their daily lives.

Added Resources

For more resources on educating children about the Black Lives Matter Movement, you can review the list of reading materials listed on my previous blog at https://genparenting.com/educators-reflection-on-george-floyds-death/#more-1478. Much success as you help your children understand the relevance of the Black Lives Matter Movement in all of our lives.

Hugs,

Yvette

How Our Kids Can Overcome COVID-19 Social Isolation

This winter is a first for being separated from large groups of people due to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that this soon should pass as more of our elders and community members are vaccinated from this debilitating and deadly virus. But, until we can play with others again, how do we stay connected with our friends, families, and keep our kids socialized? Here is a list of various activities that families have reported success with during these last few months:

Family-Based Projects

As more families are locked into small spaces, they are teaching their children to become entrepreneurs. Some of these kids are partners with others and starting a small business like designing and creating stickers, holiday decorations, and crafts. Others are building computers for producing games, movies, and other products. Still others are having their children learn to cook and bake interesting new recipes for the family. This spring many will be planting vegetable and flower gardens. Our kids can learn how to install sprinkler systems that conserve water. Others will learn how to build container gardens. Some will learn how to help their parents with various household repairs and construction projects. Families that bond together when completing these critical services are teaching their children effective house management skills that reinforce academic learning and teamwork.

Support the Community

Many families have expanded their community services by participating in environmental cleanup days, writing letters to the military and isolated community members, and fundraising for families that need food and other basic needs. Some families are helping with various fundraising activities by participating in virtual sporting events that raise funds while others are writing grants for community service organizations. The skills your children will gain will contribute to their future career development skills and compassion for those in need.

Host Virtual Reunions

Most families are seeing each other now more than ever through various virtual platforms. Many host regular holiday celebrations online in addition to ongoing monthly social hours or online family game nights. There are a multitude of online family games all can play in addition to regular games that can be fun online. For example, grandparents taught grandkids how to play Candyland and Chutes and Ladders online. The grandkids had the board game at their home and could watch their grandparents online as they demonstrated how to play the game. These activities will entertain kids for hours. Grandchildren can also play remotely with dolls, construct art projects, dictate stories that are kept in grandparents’ journals, and receive help with homework.

Plan Family Outings

Many plan regular family outings to local and state parks. The children can plan and fix the family menu. They can study a map and decide how the family will drive to their destination. The kids can research the various costs and activities that can be pursued at the park and create the daily budget. They can also organize a treasure hunt, a hike, or picture taking adventure. These events will be remembered for years.

Treasure these special times together as this added dedicated time with our kids and families will soon be a treasured time in our past as more folks are vaccinated and free to return to work, travel, and school.

Enjoy the journey!

Mary Ann

One Word Challenge

Recently, I’ve received a challenge to select one word to sum up how I’m feeling or to choose one word as my focus for the new year. This challenge was new to me and honestly, it’s a bit intriguing, too. Hmm…just one word, huh? When we reflect on 2020, there were many new words and phrases introduced, wasn’t there? Bear with me a bit while I list through some words that have frequently surfaced in news headlines or social media posts.

Pandemic.

Unprecedented. Over-abundance of caution. Social Distancing. Mask. Work from home. Toilet paper shortage. Hand sanitizer. Essential worker. COVID-19. Hoax. Chinese-virus. Vaccine.Public Health.

Frontline doctors and nurses. PPE. Flatten the curve. Quarantine. Stay at home. Shelter in place, lockdown, curfew, mental health, social bubble.

Distance Learning.

Learning Pod, hybrid learning, blended learning. Asynchronous and synchronous learning. Opportunity gap. Zoom, Zoom fatigue. Google Meet. WebEx. Google Classroom, hotspot.

Racial Injustice.

Justice for George Floyd. Justice for Breonna Taylor. Black lives matter. Protests, Rioters. Central Park birdwatcher. Karen.

Politics.

Census 2020, Elections, Voter fraud, Electoral College, Stimulus checks. Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Kamala Harris. First female, black, Asian American Vice President of the USA.

And yet, despite all that surrounds us, the human spirit continues to rise above adversity. Consider these powerful human descriptors and attributes:

Generosity

Yearning

Motivation

Integrity

Joyful

Courage

Zealous

Hopeful

Determination

Inspired

Blessed

And so, dear Reader, I pose the one word challenge to you: what is one word that sums up how you are feeling? Or one word that will be your focus for the new year? What is one word that you might add to my list?

Wishing you a wonderful new year,

Jaime

Student Grading Considerations with COVID-19 School Modifications

COVID-19 pandemic surges continue to keep schools closed or programs modified. How will K-12 teachers support students, when they have limited time to work with them in class or through distance learning programs? What standardized testing programs have been altered or eliminated this year and how will it impact many college acceptances?

Winter Conference Tips

Here are some tips to discuss with teachers at your upcoming winter conferences:

Clarify with the teacher or principal how teachers will grade students during the pandemic if the school is providing distance learning, hybrid learning, or modified on-site learning to ensure an accurate evaluation.
Have your children organize and collect their class work to ensure it is documented and reviewed by a teacher if there is a disagreement about a specific class grade.
Confirm with teachers or the school’s principal specific assignments that must be returned to school on specified dates if there are regular collections of work from home.
Have your children confirm how they can submit online assignments by email or through an online portfolio. Each teacher and school may have different requirements that may include how:
- your child can resolve any grading discrepancies
- the school or teacher will accommodate for documented learning disabilities.
- the school will test for specific learning challenges
- your child can receive tutorial support
Ask the teacher or the principal what standardized testing will occur during this school year and how you can help your children prepare for any testing.
- If your child must take online tests for entry into competitive high schools or colleges, ask how will the tests be administered.
- Learn if there are any accommodations for documented learning disabilities.
Ask the school’s principal how your children can secure college counseling support services due to limited pandemic student services activities.
- Verify how your children can apply for financial aid packages.
- Confirm how your children can participate in competitive high school or college visits.
- Check how the school is providing leadership programs, study skill preparation, and standardized testing preparation during the pandemic.
Contact each competitive high school or college your children are applying to for any modified requirements due to the pandemic.
- Ask about adjustments are being made for students who are not participating in state and national standardized testing.
- Determine how the schools are accommodating for documented special education needs.
- Identify how your children can document traditional school leadership activities on school entrance applications when schools’ leadership and sports programs have been suspended or limited.
Help you children relax and support them with lots of encouragement during this very challenging time as there are so many unanswered questions as schools struggle to equitably work with all students.

May your winter conferences ensure your children’s academic successes!

Mary Ann with Yvette

Inclusion Collaborative Warmline

Established in 2006, the Inclusion Collaborative Warmline is a free resource that provides both phone and email support for families, teachers, and community agencies. Services are provided in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. The services are managed by the Inclusion Collaborative, a department at the Santa Clara County Office of Education. This excellent resource is staffed by former teachers and parents of children with disabilities. The Warmline personnel understand both sides of parenting and education issues.

Inclusion Collaborative Warmline services include:

E-Packets of information with internet links on topics, such as specific disabilities, behavior, friendship, adaptations, language, social stories, ability awareness, community inclusion, camps, and more.
Many visual supports, such as sensory break cards, feelings charts, visual schedules, and visual solutions for social conflict and over 300 social stories are available. Social stories can be individually designed and customized for the child and/or the situation.
Social media, including the Inclusion Collaborative Pinterest page, the Inclusion Collaborative Facebook page, and the Inclusion Collaborative YouTube channel with additional resources at inclusioncollaborative.org.
Examples of Warmline supports are at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PtYIaLEL0U&list=PL4Ffky1G0tHLKfzZxcERBn4NCs6OWV2xf&index=4.

Much success as you support your children’s social development knowledge and skills when using these valuable resources.

Happy new year!

Mary Ann with Kathy Wahl, Director III of the Inclusion Collaborative