The second graders have been focusing on kindness this month. We're reading picture books that shine the light on kindness in different ways. We started out in a familiar setting, the school setting by reading Each Kindness and I'm New Here. You can see how the students responded in this post. The next week, we narrowed our focus to the individual level by focusing on human interactions and seeing (not looking) at those around us. We read Why Am I Me?, We're All Wonders, and Be a Friend. You can see how the students responded to these books on this post.
I read the dedication with the students because it is not only empowering, it also helps set the stage for the book.
You know a book is timely and important when students give you the "me too" signal when reading this page. It made me sad, but also thankful that there are books that can help start necessary conversations like this one.
The young girl wants to make the world a better place and her parents help her do this by inviting her to witness their world, "Come with me," they say. They go out into their urban neighborhood and interact with others, in simple but powerful ways like greeting those they meet along the way -- building that global community one smile at a time. They also take her shopping at their local grocery, where she sees that she is part of a multicultural pluralistic society where each person is seen as an individual.
Ultimately the girl is ready to head out on her own, which her parents allow, not letting fear get in their way. When the young boy from across the hall wants to know where she is heading she invites him along, knowing that two people working together can do even more. She offers the familiar refrain of Come With Me reminding readers that sometimes we are invited and sometimes we invite others.
Each act of kindness ripples out making the world a better place (to take a line from Each Kindness).
I won't spoil the ending, but it is perfect and empowering and filled with hope. Holly McGhee and Pascal Lemaître's book is a seamless and beautiful thing.
I asked my students what they were doing or wanted to do to make our community/world a better place. I invited them to draw their hands around the world (which we forgot to color) because it symbolizes that invitation - to reach out to help. Here are some of their responses:
Next we read It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Hillary Clinton's Clinton's spare and empowering text is perfectly paired with Marla Frazee's art, both invite children to envision themselves as valuable members and builders of the village.
The book starts off encouraging children to see themselves as important members of the village.
This spread below got a good laugh at the idea of there being instructions, but also allowed for a conversation about life being a journey and making mistakes being part of that journey.
I can't stress how much I value the message in these next pages. Its important for children to know and see that all members of our community contribute and are valued.
My students loved the finished playground (great analogy). The final sentence is a clarion call to ensure the village is worthy of all children. The students and I talked about the things that are necessary in a village/community. After our discussion, they built communities, each adding their own building block of what they felt was important.
I am tempted to read one more book, Kadir Nelson's If You Plant a Seed, which I would have included but it had been checked out! Add it to your lesson if you have it.
