Teaching Tolerance magazine

One of the best resources I have had for It's OK to be Different is Teaching Tolerance, published by The Southern Poverty Law Center. There are lessons suggested by teachers of all grade levels, articles about current issues in education, resource lists of new literature promoting respect for differences in your classroom and, the magazine is FREE! It is published 4 times a year and I devour every issue for information and ideas. From the latest magazine, I took this quote from Alice Walker:
"I think we have to own the fears that we have for each other, and then, in some practical way, some daily way, figure out how to see people differently than the way we were brought up to."

It's OK to...

Today I started delivering the It's OK program in 2 classes at Tower Hill School. We talked about how we are all alike in many ways but we are also different and we can celebrate those differences. After reading a book about the topic, the kids drew pictures of what they thought it was OK to be or do. Then I helped them complete the phrase, It's OK to... Some of the responses were: It's OK to go to bed (not a 9:30 AM), It's OK to have a funny daddy, It's OK that Mrs. Gaunt wears glasses and It's OK to play with a friend who is in a wheelchair. We're on our way! Thanks kids.

Dedicated Teacher

Today I was fortunate to run into a colleague whom I worked with years ago, Maureen Costello Dupree. She and I did collaborative teaching before anyone thought that might be a good idea. She became interested in the Understanding Disabilities program immediately and together we started this section of It's OK to be Different at NutSwamp School in Middletown. I am thrilled to know that after so many years (at least 30), Maureen is still actively presenting the program to students and parents in her 2nd grade classes.
Maureen has always been interested in promoting respect and understanding for people with disabilities. Her passion for teaching is what I always and still admre. Thanks, Maureen, for not giving up! I look forward to ideas and experiences coming from your classroom.

Back to School
Next week I will be teaching the Understanding Disabilities segment of It's OK to a kindergarten class and the Be a Buddy - Not a Bully program to one pre-K class and two 4 year old classes. I look forward to bringing my experiences with the children to this blog with the hope that it will assist parents and teachers with issues that may arise and be an opportunity to share information and ideas.
Last week I read that over 160,000 children nationwide missed school because they were afraid of bullying. An educator mentioned that the key way to stop bullying is to implement measures that improve the entire school community. I concur. All of the It's OK programs promote understanding and respect and that is reflected throughout the school.