Leading, Loving and Learning Through Literacy

Using lessons learned from virtual learning to more effectively reach diverse students, families and cultures of the school community through schoolwide classroom libraries that are inclusive and representative of the Pinchbeck community.

Since Pinchbeck staff does not represent the changing, diverse community in our student population and data from the 2019-20 classroom libraries survey indicates that many of our classroom libraries do not represent the families, cultures, or heritages of our students, it is important that we are intentional with providing “windows and mirrors” for our students at school. We also acknowledge that that pandemic has caused some students and families to feel isolated and separated from our school community.

Literature is a powerful way to connect people together as well as help see and understand varying perspectives. As more students re-enter our classrooms, it is our desire for them to see characters who look like them and their classmates depicted in the books found in the classroom. Doing so cultivates a feeling of belonging among our students and eventually our community. Such intentional efforts will help students who are struggling with underlying trauma as a result of the pandemic, as well as builds strong connections, broadens our understanding, enhances our instruction, and nurtures our school community.