The memoir most likely offers a first-hand narrative of life in 1963, a pivotal year in American history that saw the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. Students may have a deeper understanding of the historical social, political, and cultural context by reading this book.
pickChild of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963 by Sharon Robinson provides a genuine description of what it's like to be a teenage activist. This novel follows Jackie Robinson's daughter, Sharon, as she navigates pervasive anti-Black prejudice in America as a preteen. Jackie Robinson broke color barriers in baseball.
“We live in the North, I think. There are no Jim Crow laws here. But I remember how terrible I felt at Hoyt Elementary School when kids who didn‘t know me asked stupid and hurtful questions like: ‘Do you bathe?‘ and ‘Why is your skin brown but the palm of your hands white?“
“This movement is not merely a demand for eating places... but a demand for respect... We will meet the capacity to inflict suffering with the capacity to endure suffering... We will wear [segregation] down by our capacity to suffer.“
I would use “Freedom Riders“ with older elementary students to expose them to and teach them about the history of not only the Civil Rights movement as a whole, but all the the smaller movements that comprised it. Telling this moving story of two men, one Black and one White, standing together in solidarity for what is right would be a very powerful and unique experience for students to understand the perspective of those who may not be like them.
pick“Freedom Riders“ is a book that talks about the story of two young men traveling to Alabama as Freedom Riders to fight against racism. This book talks about the history and struggle of the Civil Rights movement, the differences in White and Black America, and how to move forward as a country. This book uses black and white pictures, timelines, maps, and roster biographies to support the very detailed information provided in the text.
pickEver since I first heard about Rosa Parks (in a Doctor Who episode) I wanted to learn more about her. This biography has been on my wishlist ever since. Great thing I finally read it, because there's so much to tell about Rosa. That she has been politically active for year before and after. That without her there would be no Martin Luther King. That she kept on fighting for what's right. I am so, so impressed by her.
Tell me that you're a feminist without telling me 😁
New grade level this year means (almost) all new books! The only one that I've taught before is Night, but there are twelve new ones that I have to learn starting with The Rock and The River.
Has anyone taught this one before?
pickMy Xmas presents this year included the first one I opened… a book written and illustrated by my niece Lila. She is 9. She got lots of books for Xmas and could be found reading in her Harry Potter garb most days over the holidays. Mum and dad gave me the gorgeous painting called Tequila, tapas and tea. My sisters gave me ballet stuff. Rheanna, a gift voucher for classes and Kaylee, a leotard and a voucher for a dance shop which I promptly spent.
