Janet Connor and Shelley Vermilya, WCUUSD Humanity & Justice Scholar-in-Residence
A Reading to End Racism Day was organized at Berlin Elementary on Wednesday morning, May 21st,
for grades K-6, starting with a school assembly, and then breaking into
class groups, each with its own Reading to End Racism volunteer. All 8 volunteers felt warmly welcomed by the principal, the District Humanity and Justice Scholar-in-Residence,
the teachers, and students.
A wide array of books and poems were read
and discussed. Pictured above and below is the resource table set up at the entry
to the school and volunteers gathering
before the event.
Volunteers Rachel Walker Cogbill, Lynn Rockwell, and Susan Wilson
One teacher said of the book Your Name Is a Song (by
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow), "Oh, this gives me ideas for starting next
year!" Several of the lessons included not only readings by
volunteers, but also online readings by the authors. The oldest
students got to try their hands at reading poems aloud along with their
discussions. We imagine some of the students had something to say when
their parents later asked, "What did you do in school today?"
It is amazing the number of people a good book can reach, all in the
course of one day! We are so glad to support the work of teachers and
parents in teaching their children fairness, kindness, inclusion,
walking in someone else's shoes, and some of the history of our country
and other countries by sharing these books.
Volunteers with their books, waiting eagerly to read in the classrooms!
