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1.) Kels Dirks

I learned that racism has existed for generations and has taken on different forms over time. Your presentation shows that staying silent allows racism to continue, and that educators have an important role in teaching about racism to help change how future generations understand and respond to it.

I want to use age-appropriate lessons and activities that help students recognize racism and learn ways to prevent it, so they grow up being more aware, respectful, and inclusive.

2.) Miranda Murillo

I learned that your book is about someone who struggles with them self and being understood. In your presentation you show that your character has a friend that really helps them emotionally.

I think every activity is great not only to let students try to better understand themselves, but also to understand their peers and what they might be going through and that we need to be more understanding of people.

3.) Rebecca Walker

This book shows that we need to be more accepting of who we are and where we come from. I think that this book as you explained by activity 1, to explain the covers, because to me this means, don't judge a book by its cover and this of course applies to people! We need to talk to people and get to know them before making assumptions about them.

I think that activity 1 is a fantastic way to show that we should not judge people and would be a fantastic activity to do in class to show how quickly we are to judge someone and how it can really hurt people if we judge them wrongly.

4.)Brooklyn Schulz

This presentation shows how that we can be brought together by our cultures food and how this can even help us grow closer with our family.

I think that activities involving different foods to show our heritage and upbringing is a great way for everyone to learn were people are from, about someone and like the book shows, to bond with people. This would be a great way to show how diverse our class is and also to have a class lunch involving different foods that we can talk about and learn about different cultures, states, countries and our peers.

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Book: Feather by Jaqueline Woodson

Kels,

I learned that identity and first impressions can tend to be the best introduction when it comes to teaching privilege and race. I did a very similar activity for my introduction using a silhouette and words in the outside. My words were from the other students inside a star. I thought It was important to teach visible and invisible parts of identity as an introduction. I plan to have my students jot ideas from the book as well. I think the sticky note idea is something I can incorporate in my future classroom. I also plan to incorporate more class discussions  about each activity.

Book: What Was Stonewall by Nico Medina

Logan,

I learned that timelines are a great way to help students keep information organized, this helps important parts of the book from getting lost in a sea of information. I am a huge fan of collages and cutting out words and images to tell a story. I think that collages bring students back to something that can be forgotten with technology. I most definitely plan incorporate trading cards into my lessons and activities. This is a great way to instill historical figures in a students’ mind.

Book: Finally Seen

Rebecca,

I learned that that a dissection of the cover of the and the back of the book could be a great introduction to the book. I think keeping a reading log is a great way to make sure the students are staying on task and understanding the elements of the book. I also think that using character development as a time for discussion is a great idea. Some students  may notice things that were commonly noticed by the students.

Book: Slyvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling

Emy,

I learned that I can incorporate my note taking methods into student learning. I plan for my students to have a journal for reading as well. I add sticky notes to my notes  for more like a one pager to help me keep my notes organized and visually pleasing. I like using the idea of students creating their own books to help them keep track of different themes or aspects of the book. I plan to use this method in my future classrooms.

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1.       Kels Dirks

From Kels’s presentation, I learned that Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson tells the story of a young girl who is trying to understand changes in her school, especially around race and where she belongs. The book uses simple moments and the symbol of the feather to show how hope can exist even when things feel confusing or unfair.

As a future teacher, this book stood out to me because it could help students talk about inclusion, empathy, and respecting differences. I would use Feathers in my classroom to guide discussions about how students can support one another and recognize that even small actions can have a positive impact on others.

2.       Miranda Murillo

I learned that Melissa by Alex Gino focuses on a student who struggles with being understood and accepted at school while trying to be true to who they are. The story shows how identity and friendship play a big role in a child’s emotional well-being.

This book reminded me how important it is to make classrooms feel safe and welcoming for every student. I would use Melissa to help students practice empathy and respect, and to show that everyone deserves to feel accepted and supported for who they are.

3.       Gisel Dominguez

Esperanza Rising is about a young girl whose life changes suddenly, forcing her to leave everything she knows and learn how to adapt to a new way of living. The story shows how she grows through hardship and learns the importance of family, hard work, and resilience.

This book connects to the real-life experiences of many students and families. I would use Esperanza Rising to help students talk about change, perseverance, and understanding different life experiences while building empathy in the classroom.

4.       Blair Huffman

Blended by Sharon Draper focuses on a young girl who is trying to figure out who she is while living between two different families and cultural experiences. The story shows how race and family dynamics can affect how a child feels about belonging.

As a future teacher, this book stood out to me because many students may struggle with identity or feeling caught between different worlds. I would use Blended to help students reflect on their own identities and to build empathy and understanding for classmates who may have different family situations or experiences.

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Ashley Butch – I had a great time reading through your work! You did a wonderful job making the activities easy for students to understand and engage with. My favorite part was your takeaway that anyone can be a superhero through kindness. It’s such an important lesson for today’s world, and it’s something I strive to teach my own kids every day.

Logan Power Beemer – I really enjoyed your take on making LGBTQ history inclusive and relevant by linking Stonewall to current events. I loved the pride symbol project you created; since I wasn’t very familiar with the various symbols myself, I found it incredibly helpful. I look forward to using a similar activity in the future so my students can understand these meanings too.

Miranda Murillo: I loved how you broke down the main character to help students understand different viewpoints and feel reflected in the lesson. Your presentation showed great ways to teach kids how to communicate their feelings and practice perspective-taking. I’ve already noted down your "Find Someone Who..." and "Empty Backpack" activities to use in the future; they seem like powerful tools for creating a safe space where students feel ready to learn.

Gisel Dominguez – Your project was incredibly detailed and maintained a strong connection to the text. I learned how a student's background can significantly impact their classroom performance. It is so important to create a safe space where students can embrace their past experiences and express themselves authentically. Your second activity actually reminded me of an education class I took in high school; it’s a powerful way for students to reflect on their academic and personal growth while building deeper connections to the material.

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Rebecca Walker                                                       Peer Reviews

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Rebecca Walker                                                       Peer Reviews

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Christopher Burness-I learned a different way of describing how privilege and discrimination. You used the words tangible and biracial. I will take your explanations and find ways to use them to share with my students. I also like that you had students pick out an issue in their own community to make this issue real. Sierra Baughman-Your presentation was very thought provoking. I liked how you brought focus to home issues in a safe way. Your writing activity about a perfect home is something I can see myself using in the future. Ashley Butch-From your presentation I learned about how the idea of heroes can have such a strong impact on how kids see someone. Your activity of having the students come up with a way to help the community is inspiring. I think this sounds great. Michelle Selph- I learned from your presentation a good way to use the Venn diagram for a contrast and compare activity. This is a great way for students to showcase their differences. I really like this book and your activities. It holds a special place for me because I am a retired Vet.

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Ashley Butch-

I enjoyed your presentation and looking at all the activities. I thought your activities really helped to focus not only on oneself but on the world around them. I particularly liked what you said in activity number four, that “we don’t do acts of kindness for recognition but understand that it’s okay to be recognized.” I thought the way you created your activities, where you started by looking at oneself, then transitioned to world problems, and finally discussed how to solve them, while also talking about doing acts of kindness without seeking recognition, was a wonderful lesson to teach your students. In a world today where we are more about ourselves and what we can get, I think it is so important to teach the future generation that it is better to do for others and make our world a better place. That’s the kind of legacy I think we should be teaching is most important not an internet star with a bunch of likes. I can resonate with your presentation and book in that it can be hard to teach kids in our world today that acts of kindness and thinking about one’s community aren’t the “cool thing” to think about or do. It makes me think about ways I can get my own kids and my future students involved in helping the community and world as a whole. Helping with food drives, animal food drives, and teaching about recycling to help the planet are just a few simple ways my students could participate in helping their community.

Logan Powers-Beemer-

I enjoyed watching your presentation. Your activities were great, and I think they would really help students understand the history of the LGBTQ movement and do so in an inclusive way. I think the timeline in the beginning is a great way to get students thinking about the events that took place to bring about change for the LGBTQ community. I could see myself using your newspaper activity as a great activity for students to show what they learned from the book, such as the Stonewall Inn getting raided again, and how the LGBTQ community stood up for their rights, establishing pride marches to commemorate Stonewall. I think your activities gave students a way to appreciate how this group was able to go from being silent to standing up for their beliefs and rights as LGBTQ members. I can see this being a great way not only to teach LGBTQ inclusion but also to show students that they need to stand up for their own rights and the rights of others. I would want to use this book in my future classroom to show my students that our voices need to be heard on this topic and many others because the only way to bring about change is to stand up for what is right. I connected with your presentation and book because I feel that in today’s world, we can sometimes live in a bubble and not think of others. I want to change that with the next generation and to get them to think about their peers and how to change the world for the better, and that is inclusion for all people.

Gisel Dominguez-

I enjoyed watching your presentation, and I thought your activities helped students understand the transformation Esperanza went through and to prove their understanding through direct examples from the book. I liked that you had an activity to help students experience what it was like for people living in the 1930s with your activity number three. I think it helps them get a glimpse into a life they probably never thought about, people living like. I liked how your presentation tried to get students to know what it felt like to be in Esperanza’s shoes from writing a diary entry in Esperanza’s voice, showing how her character changed from privilege to understanding that she has responsibilities, and her life is much different, and she had to learn to be resilient. I think professionally, I can connect with this book in that I could use this book to show students what life was like during the great depression for migrant farm workers. I could see myself using your activity #3 poster when reading this book or another book similar to this in a future class. I think it is important to teach students history and how people used to live, just like you said that we don’t always remember what happened so long ago in the 1930s, and students of this generation need to understand what people had to go through and how they learned to be resilient during this hard time.

Miranda Murillo-

I enjoyed watching your presentation and thought the way you approached teaching this book was thoughtful to looking at the whole character, not just the parts that seemed different. I liked that you started the students off with an activity about themselves that led into an activity about the character Melissa and how she may be different than others, but that is not a bad thing. I think activity# 3 with the sticky notes was a great way to show that we are all different and that it isn’t a bad thing, as you said. I agree with what you said that our classrooms should be a safe space for kids to feel themselves because we are a classroom family/community that should accept everyone. I liked many of your activities and think they are great ways to build our classroom community and appreciate everyone for who they are. While also creating a safe space for all the students. I could see myself using your activity # 3 with the sticky notes and the kindness chart in my future classroom. I think this would be a great visual for all students to know that they are in a safe and accepting classroom. I also really liked your backpack activity and thought it was a great way for students to unload what they are feeling in a safe space with no judgment. They could talk about it or not, but at least it was out in the open, and maybe they would have a little less stress on them. I think this would be a great tool for any classroom, and I could use this to help students unload some of the stress they have bottled up inside.

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Michelle Selph- I appreciate the outline of your presentation and how well organized and easy to follow it is! I learned how your book ties to the different realities military children face and how it can impact them physicially and emotionally in or out of the classroom. I really like how you address possible misconceptions students have about military kids while also allowing military kids to feel heard. A connection I made with your book/presentation is that my sisters future kids will potentially be military kids who could live lives similar to what you described. She is in the Army and plans to build a family while continuing to work in the military.

Kels Dirks- I like the outline of your presentation and love that each activity is highlighted in a different color. In your presentation, I learn that identity and race can play a huge role in a students life. It is important to normalize "different" in the classroom and teach students that racism is not okay. I would like to do something similar to your activity 4. I like how it encourages students to be vulnerable while also providing students with the bigger picture to treat others the way you want to be treated.

Gisel Dominguez- Your project was very detail oriented and made strong connections to your book. I learned a lot about background and how it can have an impact on a students performance in the classroom. It's important to allow students to embrace their backgrounds and past experiences so that they can express themselves properly and find safety in the classroom. I made a connection to your second activity. In high school I took an ed class where we did something very similar to show our growth both academically and physically. This allowed us to reflect and build deeper connections to the content.

Brooklyn Schulz- This project stood out to me because it made such deep connections to the book. All of the activities were very detailed and allowed students to become comfortable with their own backgrounds, families, traditions, etc. I learned about how big of an impact family can have on students and how it can be a very beneficial thing for students to be able to portray their family backgrounds to peers. I made a connection with activity 4 as I have done something very similar various times in the past. I like these types of activities because they allow students to build deeper connections and an overall community in the classroom.

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Sierra Baughman - From your presentation on Rain Reign, I learned that the book explores themes of family, acceptance, and empathy through the experiences of Rose and her dog Rain. I appreciated how your lesson activities connected language skills, literacy analysis, and social-emotional learning. Your presentation clearly showed how the story can support comprehension, critical thinking, and reasoning in students. I found a strong connection to my future classroom in the way you integrated empathy and social-emotional skills into literacy instruction. The combination of independent work, partner discussion, and creativity aligns with strategies I hope to use to engage students with different learning styles

Gisel Dominguez - From your presentation, I learned about the themes of resilience, identity, and social change through Esperanza Rising. Your activities, like the two suitcase charter analysis clearly shows the change in the character. I appreciate hoe you used hands-on and visual activities to engage students. I can see myself using similar strategies in my classroom.

Emy Wolfe - From your presentation, I learned that Sylvia & Aki explores the experiences of two girls from different backgrounds facing discrimination. This presentation clearly shows how students can analyze barriers like discrimination and compare cultural experiences. I especially appreciated how flip book activity allows students to visually represent key themes like challenges, actions, and change. As a future teacher, I see how this flip book could be applied in my future to help students analyze social justice issues while connecting them to their own experiences.

Michelle Selph - From your presentation, I learned that your book highlights the unique experiences of military children, including frequent moves, deployments of parents, and the challenges of making and maintaining friendship. I appreciated how you structured activities that will built empathy. I can see myself using similar strategies to build empathy and cultural awareness in my classroom. For example, I could adapt the concept map for other students who may have experienced life changes. Your approach reinforced the importance of connecting curriculum to real-world experiences, which I hope to incorporate into my teaching practice.

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Ashley Butch - I really enjoyed reading through your presentation! I think each of your activities were easy to follow along with and easy for students to do and understand the lesson relating to the book. I really liked reading the part in your presentation where you said the students learned that even ordinary people can be superhero's! I think it is so important to teach kindness is a cruel world, especially the world we live in now aways, something I connect with is how important it is to teach my own children how kindness and being kind can go along way.

Genesis Stokes - Each of your activities were very easy to follow along with and I felt that they related to your book well. I think the way you approached having students complete activities that make them feel uncomfortable to have them relate to the main character in the book was a great way to bring them into the story. I connected with the feeling chart as this is something we have within the pre-school I work at! I have always been a fan of having something within the classroom that shows emotions to students so they can connect and know it is a safe space to feel the way they feel.

Gisel Dominguez - I really liked how all of your activities were very hands on! I think activities that are hands on are such a great way to engage students and feel their focus on the assignment at hand! I learned that even though Esperanza was privileged for most of her life due to a life circumstance she became resilient and learned how to adjust and grow. I think this is a great book to read within the classroom to teach students that life is about adapting and growing and that we are all brave and strong to handle these kind of things! I connect with this story but in a reverse way that I grew up very poor and had a challenging life and it wasn't until my life circumstances changed when I was a teenager that I became privileged. I learned though from my beginning circumstances that I am strong and determined.

Michelle Selph - I learned from your book that military kids are special kids that endure many challenges throughout their life from moving to new countries, states, schools, and having to make new friends. I really enjoyed your activities and I think they related directly to the book! Your activities were great in having students really connect and understand the challenges and the things that military kids and families may go through with being in the military. I connected with your presentation and the book with my best friend was a military kid and she moved around a lot growing up. I remember talking to her about the new schools and new friends she had made over the years of her family being in the military.

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1. Logan Power Beemer

I learned that there are ways to teach LGBTQ history in a way that is inclusive. I also learned how Stonewall can be connected with modern day. In my future classroom I would like to include a project like the symbol of pride that you made. I feel like I never really know much about the different symbols and what they represent. This would be good for students so they know what they represent.

2. Blair Huffman

I learned that some of our future students might feel different because of their race. With activities like the ones you had, it can help students understand that being different is okay and they should accept themselves. In my future classroom I would like to do the invisible thread activity. I feel like this activity could also be used with other books to help students build a connection with the characters.

3. Genesis Stokes

I learned that the book is about making people realize they are smart in their own way. As students we all learn differently which is why it is important to remember that our differences are valued. In my future class I would like to implement your first activity. Writing with the non-dominant hand can be tricky. I think that it is important for students to know that struggling is okay and it's a part of the process.

4. Sierra Baughman

I learned about homonyms and how I can introduce them in class. I feel like I never really learned what that was when I was a child. I had a personal connection with activity number two. I feel like we all have different interpretations of a perfect home. By drawing my perfect home it could be different from others. I think this is a great activity for kids and for the teacher to know more about home life.

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Logan Powers-Beemer: I really enjoyed learning about your project on Stonewall Jackson and the influential figures who fought for rights and inclusion, such as Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. Two strategies that stood out to me were your use of trading cards and newspaper-style journaling, which beautifully blend Social Studies with ELA and create meaningful, engaging learning experiences. As a visual learner, I also loved your chronological timeline activity. It’s an excellent way to help students grasp cause and effect and understand major historical events in sequence.

Miranda Murillo: I really appreciated learning how you break down the main character to help students understand different perspectives and see themselves reflected in those viewpoints. Your approach shows students how to express their feelings, communicate effectively, and support others through empathy and perspective-taking. One idea I plan to use in my future classroom is your Love & Kindness Chart, Empty Backpack activity, and “Find Someone Who…” all powerful ways to incorporate SEL and build a safe, trusting environment where students feel supported and ready to learn.

Sierra Baughman: One thing I learned about your book is how Rain is obsessed with homonyms and her dog, which made your idea of introducing the book through homonyms a perfect opener to engage students and help them connect with Rain’s character. What I will take into my future classroom is your Kindness Pledge project, especially the “I Promise” activity. Understanding our peers and the people around us is so important, and this activity does a great job of building empathy, a critical SEL skill.

Demonta Bailey: One thing I learned from your book is how important self-awareness and identity are in shaping who we are. Like Deja, the main character, and how 9-11 affected who she is. I really appreciate your point about helping students build confidence in who they are. Your idea of including a Who Am I activity is excellent. Also, your ability to lead discussions with your class and guide their development and understanding is an amazing tool as an educator. Thank you for sharing!