Promoting Equitable Literacy through a Community Book Club

Emmanuel Fairley-Pittman, Grade 5, NBCT

Quayisha Clarke, Grade 2, NBCT

Grew School

The Challenge

• Equitable literacy is a focus of the district and our school.
• Daily work with complex texts
• #tododeti
• For students, book club helps instill a love of reading (because they see versions of themselves and/or their friends) while bridging the home to school literacy connection.
• For teachers, book club enables teachers to learn from and with their families and deepen family relationships through literacy.
• For our community, book club empowers all, families, students and teachers to share parts of themselves and grow as readers and people in a safe place.

The Challenge

Based on data from our:

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School Climate Survey

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Student Climate & Culture Survey (Classroom Teacher Level)

What We Tried

With students and families, Grew faculty and staff read various texts throughout the school year to discuss topics and issues relevant to our school community and its members.

While reading, participants meet for discussions and reflect on themes presented, and how that impacts/manifests itself in the Grew school community.

What We’ve Tried

Yearlong Book List

What We’ve Tried

Calendar of Events

What We’ve Tried

Book Discussion Protocols

What We’ve Tried

Letter Home + Class Dojo

We Expected…

What Happened…

• a lot of interest from students, staff and families
• difficult and courageous conversations based on the events and themes of each book
• FUNderstanding

• families and students were (are) excited about book club!
• students read the books and make connections during the school day
• Staff members included their children in the reading of the books
• kids loved the in-person meetings
• families gave feedback for how to improve book club and offered to help in other ways
• we read different books than what was originally planned
• we found food for each in-person meeting
• we had the author of the first book join us for our final meeting
• omicron…enough said

Early impact

Students see themselves as changemakers and advocates. They understand the things that are in their control and the things that are not.

They think deeply about complex texts and are empowered to share their thoughts and opinions.

More empathy between students and adults--stronger relationships all around.

“For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it."

-Amanda Gorman

What we learned (are learning)...

1. Reminders! Reminders! Reminders!
2. Community voice is key! #tododeti
3. Flexibility
4. Families would like support and opportunities to discuss the social-emotional development of their child, with their child. (The books help us do that.)

Next steps...

• Keep up the momentum
• Creative and flexibility with meeting locations
• Increase involvement with and around the community
• Developing book list for next year
• Younger grade companion books
• Explicit connections to the curriculum

See you At Our Next meeting on…..

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March 8

(@ the hyde park library?)