Growing up is an important part of people’s lives, regardless of race and ethnicity. Students will relate to this deeply, for they are growing up before our eyes and coming of age is written about in most cultures. We look back at our growth process to figure out what has made us who we are today. What is rare and precious is when we are in one of those moments and realize it. When we ask students to be cognizant of their life, we enable them to recognize history in the making and appreciate and value these moments. Exploring how we grow up also allows us to peer into our heritage. Further, and more fitting for some students, when we deal with the past, we can often put to rest demons that still plague us. Many of my students have had traumatic events in their lives and need to face their past so they can have inner peace.
It is my philosophy that my job is more than only teaching students how to read and write. It’s my job to help students navigate through adolescence, which I consider the most difficult time in life. I do this through literature, writing, thinking, and communication. . . The following lessons are examples of some of the things I will do with my students. These are the types of lessons that I do all year, along with other activities and lessons.
