From Robert Busan: In celebration of April as National Poetry month our elementary after school programs at PS 13, PS 30, and PS 50, are writing poems about their heritage and diversity. Here are poems by two of the students from PS 13 as a sample of what our children are writing.
Where I come from by Quadir Gatling, 2nd grade
I come from Africa it’s a wonderful place it feels like a new heaven.
My Skin My skin is tan, my skin is tan it doesn’t matter what are skin color is. So we are all safe.
My Life My life is great but some people make fun of me about my skin but I just walk past them.
My friends are all colors it’s good too have friends like that because we learn about each other.
My Family by Zene’ Ezell, 5th grade
My family is from everywhere all around the globe even though we’re scattered New York is our home
from Kingston Jamaica to California, L.A. these places aren’t close but they aren’t far away
half of us are Christians Jehovah Witnesses too even though people don’t like us for each other, we come through people can be racists my family doesn’t care we think & know we’re special we won’t be afraid of a bear
each family is different in their own special way from all the places we come from New York is our home to stay
Lost Generation
Wednesday, 08 April 2009 00:00
Have you seen this video, Lost Generation? Over 5million people have. 8600 took the time to give it five stars. 4500 people posted comments. Take a look.
This video by metroamv was created for the AARP U@50 video contest and placed second. If you would like to see the reverse video political advertisement that inspired this video you can find it here.
How to talk with teens about current events
Thursday, 29 January 2009 00:00
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or employer, we encourage you to talk with the teens you know about current events.
BUILD IN TIME TO TALK together about world events frequently. News about war, terrorism, the economy, politics and natural disasters is everywhere. They need a chance to make sense of what they hear. President Kennedy’s father held a daily discussion of current events at the dinner table.
ASK WHAT THEY’RE HEARING FROM OTHERS – sometimes that’s an easier place to start. Correct inaccurate information, or research issues together on the internet.
CONNECT THE ISSUES TO PEOPLE THEY KNOW -- Who has lost their job? Who is serving in Iraq? Or, how could this effect people we know? Teens master abstract issues by connecting them to their own lives. SHARE YOUR PLAN FOR COPING, if the impact is on you and your family. Have a plan teens can participate in. Whether it’s a plan for how to connect with family in a catastrophe or how the family will cut expenses to deal with the economic changes, teens need a role.
BE AWARE OF THE IMPACT ADULTS CONVERSATIONS MAY HAVE on teens and children who overhear them. Give them a chance to participate in the discussion then, or in a follow up conversation later. EXPLORE THE PROS AND CONS OF MANY POINTS OF VIEW. Learning to think for yourself requires trying ideas on for size and accepting or rejecting them in whole or in part. ACT AS A MODEL FOR YOUR CHILDREN. Always show respect for differing views, including theirs. You know you’re being respectful if your teen can have a different point of view without you trying to “win” the conversation as though it were a debate. Acknowledge that in a democracy like the US people can have strong and differing opinions about momentous events.
For more information about how to talk with teens about difficult topics, check out these sites:
Coping with Traumatic Events: Parent Guidelines for Talking with Teenagers about War and Terrorism from SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center
News
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or employer, we encourage you to talk with the teens you know about current events.