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...