Teachers Karen Currie and Kevin Davis organized a special assembly and read-in for Lakewood third through fifth-grade students on Feb. 5 in celebration of Black History Month and to reflect on the literary contributions of African-American authors.
“Our main goal was to continue to celebrate the amazingly diverse Lakewood community and promote literacy,” Davis said.
The school hosted guest readers from the community and the district. Dr. Tasha Dean, the assistant superintendent of student services and special education, read one of her favorite children’s books Shades of Black, by Sandra Pinkney. Teacher Kevin Davis read from Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee, by Andrea J. Loney, about the famous photographer and artist who captured an important era in Harlem.
Josie McIntosh, a great aunt of two Lakewood students, shared her personal experience of what it was like growing up during segregation. Students then watched a video of author Jacqueline Woodson read her book Each Kindness, a book with an anti-bullying message and a lesson about how even the smallest acts of kindness can change the world. Students were then asked to turn to a partner and share a kindness they have done recently or plan to do.
A group of students called the “Room 14 Hip Hop All Stars” then shared a music video they made of them rapping lyrics that they wrote inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech and based on their dreams for themselves, their school or the world.
The assembly then ended with poetry readings from The Crossover by Kwame Alexander and a video from Kid President called A Tiny Poem to the World, continuing the theme that the smallest acts of kindness can change the world.
Watch the video here:
Article written by Alia Wilson, District Communications Coordinator.
