LGBT Rights: Exhibition 2014

I briefly mentioned in my non-exhaustive list of totally awesome things I can't believe I get paid to do that I had the opportunity to be a mentor for our G5 students' exhibition.  It was such a joy to partner with a group of passionate, creative, and thoughtful students for eight weeks.

The display board the students created to share their unit.

For those who may not be familiar with PYP, toward the end of a student's elementary career (typically G5 or G6, depending upon the school), they have an entire unit of student-driven inquiry.  In small groups, the children choose and research a topic about which they are passionate, with the goal of taking some sort of culminating action.  At our school, once the students have been grouped and chosen their topic, they are assigned a knowledgeable mentor to guide them through the process.  Enter Ms. H!  Thanks to my buddy BB who teaches G5, I was assigned a group of four bright and bubbly students who were inquiring about LGBT rights.

One side of the brochure the students made and handed out...

...and the other side!

We had a really amazing unit together.  They conducted interviews via Skype and email with friends and family members of mine who identify as LGBT; we discussed tolerance and acceptance; they took incredible action.  After sending a survey out to their peers, they were shocked by how little their own classmates knew and understood about what it means to be LGBT.  In their responses, some students even said that if a friend came out to them, they would stop being friends.  I pointed out that this group had their work cut out for them, and their action was in their own community.  In addition to their presentation on Exhibition Night to their parents and throughout the week to other classes, my students reached out to teachers and grade levels to share their learning.

Presenting to G3 students during Exhibition.

 

One of the things that made me most proud was their attitude.  While they were passionate and driven and cared deeply about their chosen issue, they recognized that it is not possible to change everyone's minds overnight.  Their goal was to educate, and help people to create their own informed opinions.  They were sensitive, thoughtful, and warm.  I learned so much from them.  (I can't figure out how to caption a video, so now, go watch the trailer they made!)

While I have always seen myself as an early childhood educator, every time I work with older students, I warm to them a bit more.  After this summer, I will have done some sort of formal work with every grade level and age group from infancy to high school.  I'm learning that they're not that scary (even though a lot of them are significantly taller than me) and they're incredibly interesting and fun to talk to, learn with, and teach.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to teach every elementary grade next year as well as support middle and upper school drama; deciding what grade I want to teach full time can wait at least another year!

Me with my kiddos!

Last but certainly not least - a BIG thank you to all those who supported this project, particularly the friends who agreed to be interviewed by my students or reached out with resources to share with them!  So, so grateful for your support.

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Currently reading:  same as yesterday!
Current high:  weekend in Seoul with my girls coming up
Current low:  can't shake a cold I've had for four weeks now...

It only takes a spark...

Quick but exciting follow-up on my previous post about teaching sexism.  After the great conversation we started in 3C, a few of the students reflected on it in their journals the following day, and Ms. W also made space for me to share the issue with our female empowerment exploratory, Girls on the Run.  Since then I've had a few great affirming moments, opened some more thoughtful discussions, and felt really good about the progress my students are making on this issue - and that I as their teacher am making in addressing it with them.  I could share the story of a kindergarten girl telling me, "You are so strong!" and being able to tell her that is the best compliment she could give me; I could tell you how GP, a boy from 3B, came over and got me when one of his peers said girls didn't like spicy food because they were too weak; I could relate to you the wonderful and meaningful moments I have shared discussing gender and feminism with colleagues and parents.

But here's the most exciting part.  My friend KM teaches PE at our school, primarily to grades 1 and 3.  Among other things, we bonded over our shared belief in serving as positive role models for the girls in grade 3 who otherwise have no female teachers.  Yesterday during faculty meeting, she came and shared a story with me.  She was telling my kids about how she ran a race against a high school PE class and beat them all.  One student raised his hand and asked her, "Are you a boy?"  KM wisely took advantage of the opportunity to open a conversation about sex, gender, and ability in the world of sports and physical fitness.  As she did so, KM told me that several students exclaimed, "We know about this!  We talked about this with Ms. H!"  She said they went on to have an interesting and productive discussion.

I was absolutely overjoyed.  With just one tiny spark - RL standing up and saying it wasn't fair for her to be excluded based on her gender - conversations are springing up organically all across grade 3 and the Village School.  Teachers and students are owning those moments and opening one another's minds.  My children have been listening, internalizing, processing, and moving forward in their understandings.  I am just so proud of them :) More to come soon, I am sure!

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Currently reading:  Anne of Green Gables and Journey to an 800 Number
Current high:  the kindergarten play is looking SO CUTE
Current low:  it's lunchtime and the caffeine still hasn't kicked in ;)