From story time to the streets: Black Lives Matter and families

We apologize that you have not heard from us in so long. We want to take this time to reconnect and continue our work. We here at FREE are working hard with our students and our children to navigate current events connected to centuries of trauma and oppression, and engage in justice-orientated work and care. We know there is a flood of resources out there for working with youth around racial justice and we want to share here specific resources for families, youth, and advocating for justice-based education in your children's school.

• For families with younger children: Follow Woke Kindergarten for their read alouds, word study, and more.

• For all ages: The Black Lives Matter at School coloring book and activity book (free downloads). The coloring book has pages in Spanish and Arabic too!

• Check out the Philly Children's Movement's Family Day of Action for ideas of how to engage the whole family and children of all ages with action and protest.

• Scaffolded anti-racist resources and reading lists because there are different entry points and experiences in engaging with the work of dismantling white supremacy and racial oppression.

• See out our collection of book lists and media for more ideas.

Join us in continuing the conversation with FREE as we celebrate Black families and Black voices, make space for pain and rage, and engage all our families, children, educators and schools in this work. We thank you and we are grateful to you for adding your voices and efforts for change.

photo credit: Kate Seltzer and family (@kate_anna)

Rethinking Explorers

My first-grade son recently came home with a writing prompt for homework: "If I was an explorer...." In support of fostering independent thought, I sat patiently while he finished writing his ending ".....I will look for dinosaur bones in caves." Then we discussed other possible endings:

"....I would respect the people I met and the land I touched."

"....I would not hurt anyone."

"....I would go to space."

This is only the beginning, as we look over a 4-page activity packet about Columbus and I fear/get angry-in-advance over the paper head dresses and pilgrim hats I foresee next month. With this in mind, and for Indigenous People's Day on October 8, here are resources to start conversations, ask questions, celebrate and critique with our children, families and classrooms for the un-schooling of Columbus Day and Thanksgiving.

Rethinking Columbus from Rethinking Schools

Reconsider Columbus Day from Teaching Tolerance

A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving for Educators and Families compiled by Border Crossers

Books for children and families:

#IndigenousReads by Indigenous Writers: A Children's Reading List

Encounter, by Jane Yolen

Morning Girl, by Michael Dorris

We are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, by Traci Sorell

Squanto's Journey, by Michael Bruchac

#FreeOurFamilies - family separation and the need to do something

The past few weeks have been a new level of heart-wrenching anger with the separation of families at the U.S. border and the realities that thousands of youth are facing in detention centers and a child welfare system that embodies institutionalized racism. As parents, caregivers, and educators, we often feel the desperate need to do something, including and beyond a conversation or dialogue. Here are some resources to help with that something:

Families Belong Together national day of action - June 30, 2018: search for a protest or event by zip code

Playdate Protest Action Guide #FreeOurFamilies

More on #FreeOurFamilies Protest Playdates and how you can organize or participate

Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current Events - Family Separations and Detentions at the Border (from the ADL)

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has created a list of ways you can show your support beyond donations, including protesting and contacting elected officials, and Quartz makes additional suggestions.

John More/Getty Images