Through literature and guided exploration, the second grade students have been investigating what an identity is and how theirs is shaped by external influences as well as personal choices. Our hope is that each student will come to a deeper understanding of themselves and be proud of who they are, comfortable enough to share their identities, and therefore become less judgmental of themselves or others. This affirming identity development is a particular focus in the early elementary grades, the goal being to provide students with a positive grounding in who they are and engendering a sense of belonging.
The second grade emphasis on identity is a partnership between Kat Svetlik, during library classes, and Shane Finch, during technology classes. With Kat, students first explored stories that have strong characters revealing their identities in different ways to the audience, sparking discussions about what an “identity” is. These books include The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, emphasizing the importance of sharing what makes us special, and Looking Like Me by Walter Dean Myers, a spoken-word poem that shows how our identities take different forms when considered from various perspectives.
