For April, our Character Education theme is: Communities Support Change
During the month of April we recognize a type of disability called Autism. Last month, during March, we recognized all disabilities during Disability Awareness Month.
What is a disability?
A disability is a physical, mental, or emotional condition that limits how a person can move or sense the world or do daily activities. Some disabilities are obvious, like stuttering, needing a wheelchair or a guide dog. Other disabilities, like autism, hearing loss or social anxiety, are not as visible but can be just as life changing.
In this month’s book, All the Way to the Top we are going to meet Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins. Jennifer was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around.
Cerebral palsy or CP is damage to the part of the brain that controls movement. The damage from CP happens either before a baby is born or during birth. So you can’t catch CP like you would catch a cold! Not everyone with CP has the same disability. Some people with CP can’t move at all while others may have barely noticeable disabilities, like weakness on one side of their body. Jennifer is not only an author but an activist. Jennifer never wanted her wheelchair to slow her down, but the world around her was built in a way that made it hard for people with disabilities to do even simple things like go to school or eat lunch in the cafeteria. When the Americans with Disabilities Act was proposed to Congress to make public spaces accessible to everyone, Jennifer joined activists in Washington DC for what became known as the Capital Crawl. At the steps of the Capitol Building, without her wheelchair, she climbed all the way to the top! Here is a read aloud of the book:
For this month’s Character Education Project students will have an opportunity to draw and write about a time they stuck up for someone.
Our song of the month, Fight Song by Rachel Platten:
For March, our Character Education theme is: Communities support diversity and activism
March we recognize Women’s History Month, National Disability Awareness Month and Ramadan.
Our book of the month is The World Needs More Purple People.
What is a purple person? How do you become one?
Great question. I mean, really great! Because purple people always ask really great questions. They bring their family, friends, and communities together, and they speak up for what’s right. They are kind and hardworking, and they love to laugh (especially at Grandpa’s funny noises)! A purple person is an everyday superhero!
Here is a read aloud of the book:
Do you know any purple people in your life? Who came to mind after hearing what a purple person is?
For this month’s Character Education Project students will be interviewed a classmate. They recorded their answers and completed a Purple Person Profile. We will hung them up in the hallway so others can learn about people in your purple school!
Our song of the month is: Scars To Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara
For February, our Character Education theme is: Communities support each other in challenging times
During the month of February we recognize Black History Month. Here is a video to help us learn more:
In our book of the month for February, we are going to go on a journey where our main characters use their imagination to dream big and have fun on what they thought was a boring day. Our book of the month is The Year We Learned to Fly:
For January, our Character Education theme is: Communities Inspire Each Other
During the month of January we recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We recognize this holiday every year on the third Monday of January. This year it is observed on January 16th. Here is a video to help us learn more:
For the month of January our book is Harlem Grown. Here is a read aloud of the book:
Harlem Grown is an actual community garden, located in Harlem, New York City. Learn more here:
For December, our Character Education theme is Communities Support Everyone’s Name.
We recognize many holidays during the month of December. The holidays we recognize are: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
Our book of the month, Your Name is a song is all about acceptance. What does it mean to accept others?
Acceptance is understanding and celebrating the ways that each person is different and unique. That means that people have a right to their own feelings, thoughts and opinions. When you accept people for who they are, you let go of your want to change them.
When we are accepting we:
Spend time with people who are different than us
Include everyone
Being kind and respectful
Learn about other people and ask questions to get to know them better
Make others feel valuable and loved regardless of their differences
Listen to a read aloud of the book of the month:
This month we will learn how important it is to pronounce someone’s name correctly! After reading the book we will also learn that people should not be shy to ask others to call them by their name and correct them when they get it wrong.
A person’s name is the greatest connection to their own identity and individuality. Some might say it is the most important word in the world to that person. When we use peoples names and say them correctly it is a sign of respect and a way of recognizing them. Let’s all make an effort to get to know each other and make sure we are saying everyone’s names correctly! All of our names are like songs!
For November, our theme is Communities Support All Cultures and Holidays.
We recognize 4 holidays during the month of November: Diwali, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Native American Heritage Month.
What is Native American Heritage Month?
Native American Heritage Month honors the indigenous people living in the United States before the arrival of the Europeans. In November, the United States honors and celebrates the customs and legacy of Native Americans. Here is a video you can watch to help you learn more: Native American Heritage Month.
Our book of the month, Classified Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, is about a Native American woman who broke barriers. Mary Golda Ross designed classified airplanes and spacecraft as Lockheed Aircraft Corporation’s first female engineer. We are going to find out how her passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work. Listen to our book of the month here:
We also recognize Veterans Day during November. Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11. It’s a holiday honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, on the anniversary of the end of World War I. It is important for us to show our gratitude to Veterans on Veterans Day by saying thank you for your service, doing a kind act for them such as cooking a meal or making a card. We are so lucky to have two Veterans at CLE that we can recognize and thank for their service, Mr. Sharkey and Mr. Krump.
For October our theme is Communities build a better world. During the month of October we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month.
What is Hispanic Heritage Month?
Heritage is something that is inherited or passed down from previous generations. It also involves ethnic, cultural and national identity. Heritage Month celebrates the contributions that Latino and Hispanic Americans have made to the United States. It’s a month to honor and recognize the history, culture, traditions and contributions made by people who trace their Roots back to Mexico, Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Here is a video to learn more:
Our book of the month is: Just Help by Sonia Sotomayor. In a story inspired by her own family’s desire to help others, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor takes young readers on a journey through a neighborhood where kids and adults, activists and bus drivers, friends and strangers all help one another to build a better world for themselves and their community. Here is a read aloud of the book:
Our song of the month for October is: Count On Me by Bruno Mars:
For September, our Character Education theme is Communities Spring Into Action.
During September we recognize certain events such as Labor Day, September 11th and Start with Hello Week.
Twenty one years ago on the morning of September 11, 2001 a tragic thing happened to the United States of America. Two airplanes were taken over by bad people and crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City killing nearly 3,000 people and destroying the skyscrapers. The tragic day has become known as 9/11.
On September 11th it is important that we remember the lives of those who were killed on that day and honor the heroes who saved many.
Our book of the month for September is Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman. This is the inspiring true story of the John J. Harvey—a retired New York City fireboat reinstated on September 11, 2001. We are going to hear the amazing story of the Fireboat and how these ordinary community members sprang into action and saved so many lives! Listen to a read aloud of the book:
Many of the heroes we heard about are known as first responders. First responders are people with special training who typically respond first to an emergency. Examples of first responders are paramedics, EMT’s, firefighters, police officers, doctors and nurses. Make sure to thank a first responder today!
During the month of May we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Memorial Day.
We also introduced this month’s theme: “Communities Connect with One Another” and introduced the book of the month: Eye’s that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho.
Here is our book of the month:
This month our book is about acceptance and paying respect to ourselves and others. Speaking of respect, isn’t that what we do on Memorial Day, pay our respects? Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. This year we honor those who were lost on May 30th.
Here’s a video about Memorial Day so we can understand it better:
