Equity & Inclusion Newsletter
February 2021 - Edition 6
February Read Aloud Video
While Black history is history that belongs in each month, this newsletter is dedicated to the honoring of Black History Month in February. The book selected to share in the video below is one of many incredible texts that focus on Black brilliance. It "spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy," as well as liberation and civic engagement, all of which need to be lifted up in the teaching and learning of Black history (Workman Publishing, 2020).
In this video, 5 fifth-grade students from LMES and Ms.Gaffney, their 5th grade Writing teacher, volunteered as guest readers to share the book The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer. This book is recommended by the publisher for ages 5-99!
Note: This read aloud is being shared with the permission of Workman Publishing.
Read
For children: this link will bring you to an extensive virtual library of children's books honoring Black lives by school librarians!
Source: Coshandra Dillard, 2019
Photo source: Loyola Marymount University
Watch
"Fred Gray opened his law practice in Montgomery, Alabama in 1954 with the mission of "destroying everything segregated I could find." One year later, this rookie lawyer represented his friend Rosa Parks and Dr. King in the Montgomery Bus protests. That led to a career of landmark cases defeating segregation throughout Alabama...Gray also describes his representation of Claudette Colvin, the 15-year-old who was arrested on a Montgomery bus nine months before Rosa Parks; his securing an acquittal of Dr. King by an all-white jury in Montgomery of criminal charges of tax evasion...and many other historically significant matters."
Source: OLLI - The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College
Listen
Source: Spotify & NPR, 2020
Recent Work: Elementary Spotlight
This series is grounded in the question “who is a mathematician?” It involved reflection on, and building of, positive math identity. It also included building awareness and recognition of implicit bias, cultivating math mindset, and emphasizing the importance of representation in mathematics. Importantly, we focused on expanding understanding of who mathematicians are and how they impact the world.
Here is an overview of the series:
What Are Students’ Conceptions of Who a Mathematician Is?
Math Identity
Deepening Our Conceptions of Who Mathematicians Are
Anika studied Dr. Patricia Bath!
Jayden studied Kelvin Doe!
Ava studied Margaret Hamilton!
Virtual Opportunities during Black History Month:
- Changing the World One Word at A Time: Conversation and Live Drawing with Jerry Craft with the ADL (author of New Kid!), Feb 11
- National Museum of African American History & Culture events
- Association for African American Life & History 2021 Black History Month Virtual Events
- Library of Congress African American History Month events
- Smithsonian calendar of events
- Newsela's Collection: Black History is Our History (Region 15 has subscription)
Contact & Social Media
Instagram: @r15equity_inclusion
Email: equity_inclusion@region15.org
Website: region15.org/globalcitizenship
Twitter: @r15equity