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Wellbeing For Children: Identity And Values

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What other parts of your life inform your identity?

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In response to the fear- and hate-mongering alive in our country today, I have joined Julie Landsman?a writer, teacher, and activist based in Minneapolis?to create the I Am From Project. Through our website ( iamfromproject.com) and Facebook page, we?re collecting art from around the country prompted by that theme. You can listen to our interview on the National Writing Project radio here: https://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/4673.

We want to gather the diversity of our voices, and we plan to archive the results online and to present them, in some form, in D.C. We?d love to have your voice among them!

The Kentucky Arts Council has wrapped up my Where I'm From?project with a total of 731 poems from eighty-three counties. My thanks to everyone at the Council, especially Tamara Coffey, who put all those poems online. You can visit this website to find the map where you can click on any county and read offerings from poets of all ages.

"Where I'm From" grew out of my response to a poem from Stories I Ain't Told Nobody Yet (Orchard Books, 1989; Theater Communications Group, 1991) by my friend, Tennessee writer Jo Carson. All of the People Pieces, as Jo calls them, are based on things folks actually said, and number 22 begins, "I want to know when you get to be from a place. " Jo's speaker, one of those people "that doesn't have roots like trees, " tells us "I am from Interstate 40" and "I am from the work my father did. "

In the summer of 1993, I decided to see what would happen if I made my own where-I'm-from lists, which I did, in a black and white speckled composition book. I edited them into a poem - not my usual way of working - but even when that was done I kept on making the lists. The process was too rich and too much fun to give up after only one poem. Realizing this, I decided to try it as an exercise with other writers, and it immediately took off. The list form is simple and familiar, and the question of where you are from reaches deep.

Since then, the poem as a writing prompt has traveled in amazing ways. People have used it at their family reunions, teachers have used it with kids all over the United States, in Ecuador and China; they have taken it to girls in juvenile detention, to men in prison for life, and to refugees in a camp in the Sudan. Its life beyond my notebook is a testimony to the power of poetry, of roots, and of teachers. My thanks to all of you who have taken it to heart and handed it on. It's a thrill to read the poems you send me, to have a window into that many young souls.

I hope you won't stop there, though. Besides being a poem in its own right, "Where I'm From" can be a map for a lot of other writing journeys. Here are some things I've thought of:

Where to Go with "Where I'm From"

While you can revise (edit, extend, rearrange) your "Where I'm From" list into a poem, you can also see it as a corridor of doors opening onto further knowledge and other kinds of writing. The key is to let yourself explore these rooms. Don't rush to decide what kind of writing you're going to do or to revise or finish a piece. Let your goal be the writing itself. Learn to let it lead you. This will help you lead students, both in their own writing and in their response as readers. Look for these elements in your WIF poem and see where else they might take you:

a place could open into a piece of descriptive writing or a scene from memory.

your parents' work could open into a memory of going with them, helping, being in the way. Could be a remembered dialogue between your parents about work. Could be a poem made from a litany of tools they used.

an important event could open into freewriting all the memories of that experience, then writing it as a scene, with description and dialogue. It's also possible to let the description become setting and directions and let the dialogue turn into a play.

food could open into a scene at the table, a character sketch of the person who prepared the food, a litany of different experiences with it, a process essay of how to make it.

music could take you to a scene where the music is playing; could provide you the chance to interleave the words of the song and words you might have said (or a narrative of what you were thinking and feeling at the time the song was first important to you ("Where I'm Singing From").

something someone said to you could open into a scene or a poem which captures that moment; could be what you wanted to say back but never did.

a significant object could open into a sensory exploration of the object-what it felt, sounded, smelled, looked, and tasted like; then where it came from, what happened to it, a memory of your connection with it. Is there a secret or a longing connected with this object? A message? If you could go back to yourself when this object was important to you, what would you ask, tell, or give yourself?

Remember, you are the expert on you. No one else sees the world as you do; no one else has your material to draw on. You don't have to know where to begin. Just start. Let it flow. Trust the work to find its own form.

Where Others Have Gone with "Where I'm From"

Watch a visual poem based on "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon, created by Julia Daniel for Tamalpais High School's Academy of Integrated Humanities and New Media (AIM), fall 2010:

A Young Artist's Own "Where I'm From" in Words and Image:
In Winter of 2008, Sage Hennequin Kuhens was enrolled in University of South Carolina Upstate's "Write Here, Write Now: Sharing Slices of Life Through the Magic of Digital Storytelling," a series of writing and publishing workshops sponsored by the Spartanburg Community Writing Center. At eight years old, Sage was the youngest among her group of about 50 or so students, and was determined to be as independent as she could be. Her delightful instructor, Tasha Thomas, encouraged her independence.

I'm from big blue herons to small river otters,
I'm from big Metasequioas to tall stalks of bamboo,
I'm from cousins that were unknown to the closest of friends,
I'm from my mom and dad to my lab-beagle dog, albino rats, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches,
I'm from roaring water falls to silent flowing streams,
I'm from terrifying Zombie walks and Scarowinds to a gentle princess-loving godsister and godbrother
I'm from pepperoni pizza to microwaved meatballs,
I'm from my inspiration station drawing and writing to a homemade book,
I'm from my old dog Chani to red-shouldered hawks,
I'm from Jack the magic clown to my weird parents,
I'm from a tiny baby to an educated sister showing baby MinMin what school's like,
I'm from bold looking deer to relaxing foxes,
I'm from making a fire in the county to ridin' in a cotton combine,
I'm from a fan of Alexa Vega and Miley Cyrus to a spy lovin' tween (me),
I'm from playing with cockroaches with a friend to Joe and I together,
I'm from my heritages to Mom's mystery heritages,
I have an opinion that none can change...life is great!

-Sage Hennequin Kuhens 1-29-08

The Hale Pono Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii posted ?Where I?m From? by Dixie Castillo on their blog. Read it here.

Here?s a poem based on ?Where I?m From? written by an eighth grade student as part of a study of The Killer Angels. The lesson plan is here.

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official site of george ella lyon writer and teacher

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new words: poems from the appalachian poetry project

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Where I'm From, a poem by George Ella Lyon, writer and teacher

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Where I'm From, a poem by George Ella Lyon, writer and teacher

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Opinion: From embarrassment to celebration of my bicultural identity

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Opinion: From embarrassment to celebration of my bicultural identity

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Adjustable lexile levels

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Newsela - Opinion: From embarrassment to celebration of my bicultural identity

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Author learns from daughter the importance of embracing one’s cultural identity

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Identity SHORT FILM (Award Winning Inspirational Short)

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Identity SHORT FILM (Award Winning Inspirational Short)

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Identity SHORT FILM (Award Winning Inspirational Short)

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206 Personality Adjectives to Describe Anybody

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206 Personality Adjectives to Describe Anybody

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Growing Griots: Modern-day storytelling shapes young people’s identities

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Growing Griots: Modern-day storytelling shapes young people’s identities

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Newsela | Growing Griots: Modern-day storytelling shapes young people's identities

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The Growing Griots program aims to fill in the learning gaps by immersing children in the art of storytelling and offering robust conversations about Black history.

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We Are All Different - and THAT'S AWESOME! | Cole Blakeway | TEDxWestVancouverED

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We Are All Different - and THAT'S AWESOME! | Cole Blakeway | TEDxWestVancouverED

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We Are All Different - and THAT'S AWESOME! | Cole Blakeway | TEDxWestVancouverED

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As one of the "third culture kids," she feels both rootless and worldly

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As one of the "third culture kids," she feels both rootless and worldly

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Newsela | As one of the "third culture kids," she feels both rootless and worldly

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Throughout the history of mankind, the subject of identity has sent poets to the blank page, philosophers to the agora and seekers to the oracles. These murky waters of abstract thinking are tricky to navigate, so it’s probably fitting that to demonstrate the complexity, the Greek historian Plutarch used the story of a ship. Amy Adkins illuminates Plutarch’s Ship of Theseus.

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Need more about The Ship of Theseus? Find this concept interesting? Confusing? Visit the Khan Academy and watch this lesson from Jennifer Wang a Professor of Philosophy! Did this further clarify this concept? For even more, watch: The Paradox of Theseus's Ship from 90 second Philosophy!

Are you now wondering, " What is personal identity?" What makes you, YOU? That certainly is a question worth pondering! What if a person has an organ transplant? What if you uploaded your brain to a computer? Would you still be you? Would the computer be you? Read this article and get more to think about! Work your way through this series of notes on The Puzzle of Persisting Personal Identity and maybe you will come to a better understanding!

John Locke also addresses personal identity. Watch this video and get some insight into his ideas too! Follow it up with Part Two and Part Three: Philosophy: John Locke on Personal Identity.

TED Ed also addresses some questions about how you know you actually exist and who "you" really are. Watch the lesson: How do you know you're real? Find paradox's thought provoking? Then watch: What is Zeno's Dichotomy Paradox and The Infinite Hotel Paradox.

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Who am I? A philosophical inquiry - Amy Adkins

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Throughout the history of mankind, the subject of identity has sent poets to the blank page, philosophers to the agora and seekers to the oracles. These murky waters of abstract thinking are tricky to navigate, so it's probably fitting that to demonstrate the complexity, the Greek historian Plutarch used the story of a ship.

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The majority of U.S. teens have self-esteem issues that will follow them into adulthood.

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Personal Identity: Crash Course Philosophy

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Personal Identity: Crash Course Philosophy

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Personal Identity: Crash Course Philosophy #19

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How to Change the Way You See Yourself | Rock Thomas

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How to Change the Way You See Yourself | Rock Thomas

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How to Change the Way You See Yourself | Rock Thomas | Goalcast

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You Have the Right to Speak Up (phase 6)

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You Have the Right to Speak Up (phase 6)

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For too long, some of us are silent, afraid of voicing what we really want and telling others the important things that they need to hear. It isn't a good policy and with great care and compassion for ourselves, we deserve slowly to learn to discover our own voice.

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How you think about who you are matters more than ever

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How you think about who you are matters more than ever

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We all have origin stories and identity myths, our tribal narratives that give us a sense of security and belonging. But sometimes our small-group identities can keep us from connecting with humanity as a whole -- and even keep us from seeing others as human. In a powerful talk about how we understand who we are, Chetan Bhatt challenges us to think creatively about each other and our future.

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How you think about who you are matters more than ever - Chetan Bhatt

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We all have origin stories and identity myths, our tribal narratives that give us a sense of security and belonging. But sometimes our small-group identities can keep us from connecting with humanity as a whole -- and even keep us from seeing others as human.

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Is your identity given or created? | Marcus Lyon | TEDxExeter

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Is your identity given or created? | Marcus Lyon | TEDxExeter

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Is your identity given or created? | Marcus Lyon | TEDxExeter

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Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body?

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Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body?

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The rubber hand illusion shows our perception of self is not coherent and the way we experience our body is a dynamic process that is constantly regulated by our brain. The rubber hand illusion is just an example of a larger group of illusions called Body Ownership Transfer Illusions, in which, by integrating different types of sensory inputs from a real body and a fake body, one can be tricked to feel a fake body part or even an entire body as one's own.

There are reported cases of patients who feel their hand or foot does not belong to them or is out of control. One such condition is known as Alien hand syndrome. In extreme cases such as body integrity identity disorder (BIID), patients desire to remove a healthy limb by amputation because it feels alien.

By studying body ownership illusions and clinical disorders, scientists try to understand the cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie the mind-body interaction. Interested in learning more? Take a moment and watch this excerpt video from the "Through the Wormhole" series.

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Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body? - Maryam Alimardani

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Our bodies - the physical, biological parts of us - and our minds - the thinking, conscious aspects - have a complicated, tangled relationship. Which one primarily defines you or your self? Are you a body with a mind or a mind with a body? Maryam Alimardani investigates.

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Lessons on Self Confidence from a Teenager | Reece Doppenberg | TEDxYouth@Langley

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Lessons on Self Confidence from a Teenager | Reece Doppenberg | TEDxYouth@Langley

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Lessons on Self Confidence from a Teenager | Reece Doppenberg | TEDxYouth@Langley

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Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality

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Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality

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Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality - Brian Little

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What makes you, you? Psychologists like to talk about our traits, or defined characteristics that make us who we are. But Brian Little is more interested in moments when we transcend those traits. Join Little as he dissects the surprising differences between introverts and extroverts and explains why your personality may be more malleable than you think.

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Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

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The analysis of the relationship between mind and body dates back to the Greeks, but it is with René Descartes in the 17th century that we owe the first systematic account of the mind/body relationship. Centuries later, the American philosopher-psychologist William James published Principles of Psychology, arguably the most important text in the discipline, in which he advocated for the development of cognitive psychology of consciousness. The self-help industry is mired in ideas about positive thinking that are at best ineffective and at worst destructive. If you want to be more confident or successful, says Richard Wiseman, the best thing to do is act the part. These simple reality checks can help managers see past social categories and recognize individuals' true talents, thus avoiding the high cost of mistaken judgments. Occupational back pain is a disorder that commonly affects the working population, resulting in disability, health-care utilization, and a heavy socioeconomic burden. Although the etiology of occupational pain remains largely unsolved, anecdotal evidence exists for the contribution of personality and posture to long-term pain management, pointing to a direct contribution of the mind-body axis. In the current study, we have conducted an extensive evaluation into the relationships between posture and personality.We all grow up learning about how to deal with each other based on facial expressions. And yet, that might not at all be the best way to judge other people's emotions.It's well known that good communication is the foundation of any successful relationship, be it personal or professional. It's important to recognize, though, that it's our nonverbal communication-our facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and tone of voice-that speak the loudest. The ability to understand and use nonverbal communication, or body language, is a powerful tool that can help you connect with others, express what you really mean, and build better relationships. Body language is an important part of communication which can constitute 50% or more of what we are communicating. If you wish to communicate well, then it makes sense to understand how you can (and cannot) use your body to say what you mean.When we talk about dominance or submissiveness we talk about the amount of influence over others. How strong do we feel compared to the rest of the group? How comfortable we feel to take command and make the decisions? Are we the alpha males (females)? Or are we the followers? Or maybe we're at bottom of the ladder? All these signs are visible through the way we talk and walk.

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Your body language shapes who you are - Amy Cuddy

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Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

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Descriptive Essay Text Conventions & Tips

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.

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Newsela | Instructional Content Platform

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Newsela is an Instructional Content Platform that supercharges reading engagement and learning in every subject.