"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Friday we read the story, Martin's Big Words, by Doreen Rappaport. The book is a biography with pictures that tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr. It explains the world he lived in as a child, and how he worked to make it a better place, not just for himself, but for all people. Your first graders responded by making a list of words that were important to Dr. King. Our classroom door is filled with these words, reminding us to work together in peace and love and respect for one another.
Whenever we read with children, we have the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations. We can ask and answer questions and encourage children to think deeply. I'll be asking your first grader about the above quote by Dr. King this week. ...can't wait to hear how they process it.