Equity and Access Newsletter
Elementary Edition - March 2017
Women's History Month
Engaging-Relevant-Personal
Malala Yousafzai
Kettler, Sara. "Malala Yousafzai." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Feb. 2017. <http://www.biography.com/people/malala-yousafzai-21362253>.
Did You Know...
- Women from 1848-1920 did not have the same civil and political status as men, some of which were the right to vote in the United States, equal access to education and the right to own property.
- The U.S. women’s suffrage movement had its roots in the abolition movement with great women like Sojourner Truth. Many of these women were members of the American Anti-Slavery Society led by William Lloyd Garrison. The Abolitionist Society provided a platform for women to speak on behalf of slavery and women's rights.
- Susan B. Anthony, along with 15 other women voted illegally in the presidential election of 1872 in Rochester, New York. The women were later convicted of violating the 14th Amendment.
- The women’s rights movement launched its own fashion craze. Along with the women's rights movement came a radical new look in women's fashion. In 1851, in Geneva, New York, Elizabeth Smith Miller debuted a knee-length skirt with pantaloons gathered at the knee. This new look was shocking to some who did not know women had legs. We have come a long way! Bloomers (pants) became synonymous with the women's rights movement and gave women the freedom to wear what they like to wear.
Pruitt, Sarah. "7 Things You Might Not Know About the Women's Suffrage Movement." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 12 Jan. 2016. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
Book of the Month
Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World by Cynthia Chin-Lee
Amelia to Zora highlights the incredible stories of twenty-six women. Among the heroines readers can explore are:
- Amelia Earhart the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean
- Zora Neal Hurston, a writer, and an anthropologist
My three favorite women are:
- Amelia Earhart who was determined to be a pilot
- Helen Keller overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf and became a great educator
- Oprah Winfrey, a billionaire talk show host, philanthropist, publisher, and an actress
All of these women were women of courage and determination who had to work hard to achieve their goals. How might their stories inspire your students?
Amelia to Zora is available in elementary school libraries. The book also includes detailed collages and illustrations from various events in the women's lives.
Grades: K-5
What's In Your Tool Box...
What Do I Say to Students About Immigration Orders?
In many classrooms across the United States, students are anxious and fearful due to the executive orders concerning the border wall with Mexico and the ban on citizens from Muslim countries.
Our students have many questions and are looking for their teachers to be ready to talk about these topics. Many students are directly involved in the outcome of these events and are physically and emotionally affected. I would like to share some of the recommendations from Teaching Tolerance that might help answer the question "What do I Say to Students About Immigration Orders?"
- "Your voice (and those of others) matters."
- "I’m here for you."
Students of all ages need to know that you are an ally. As an educator, you are one of the first people to notice the trauma the student is suffering.
- "Here are the facts."
Make sure you share the facts. Present the class with accurate, reliable information from reliable sources.
- "A lot is happening, and it is OK to be confused."
Sometimes as educators we don’t have all the answers, and that is okay. We want the best for our students and families, yet we may not have the solution to these complex issues. It is important that we do not make promises we can not keep.
Teaching Tolerance
For More information:
What Do I Say to Students About Immigration Orders?
"What Do I Say to Students About Immigration Orders?" What Do I Say to Students About Immigration Orders? | Teaching Tolerance - Diversity, Equity, and Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <http://www.tolerance.org/blog/what-do-i-say-students-about-immigration-orders>.