Canada Announces New School-Wide Curriculum, From Early Years To Grade Eight, Called 'Social Jus
A web page on ETFO.ca features a literature-based resource kit for academics who teach young students which centers around "erasing prejudice for good" while using ten monthly themes: Self-Esteem, Sharing Our Lives, Peace, Building Supportive Communities, Rights of the Child, Caring Hands, Untie the Knots of Prejudice, Local and Global Citizenship, True Worth and Beauty, and Circles and Cycles.
They further explain why to use this particular ETFO resource -
Social Justice Begins With Me promotes:
Acceptance, Respect, Hope, Peace, Empathy, Inclusion, Diversity, Human Rights and Equity.
This Kit addresses “isms” such as:
Anti-Semitism, Ageism, Heternormality, Sexism, Racism, Classism, Ableism, Prejudice and Faith.
The Primary/Junior/Intermediate lessons:
Were written by ETFO members who incorporated their daily equity work into the lessons and activities.
Assist the individual in examining their own personal biases and prejudices.
Implement the Ministry of Educations’ Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy.
Will assist teachers to address issues of equity and social justice in their classroom as well as assist their students in developing awareness, vocabulary and understanding of these issues.
Focus on literacy and the use of the read aloud strategy.
Include cross curricular links, connections to character education, links to safe schools and anti-bullying initiatives.
Help educators teach critical thinking and literacy skills
Foster pride in identity and self-esteem, and builds respect for one another and our world’s resources.
And more...
In a section titled 'Book Lists,' the site posted an extensive list of social justice-oriented categories that link to a whopping number of book titles that may or may not, depending on one's ideologies, be suitable for young children.
Here are the categories:
Ability-Disability
Anti-Semitism
Bullying
Classism-Poverty
Environment
Faith
First Nations, Metis, and Inuit
Gender
Human Rights
Immigration
LGBTQ
Peace
Race
Here are just a few of the recommended books:
The Always Prayer Shawl Author: Sheldon Oberman ISBN-13: 978-1878093226 Suggested Grade: Seven
Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon Author: Jules Bass ISBN-13: 978-1902283364 Suggested Grade: JK/SK
The Boy in the Dress Author: David Walliams ISBN-13: 978-0007279036 Suggested Grade: Five
My Mom Is A Firefighter Author: Lois G. Grambling ISBN-13: 978-0060586409 Suggested Grade: One
My Princess Boy Author: Cheryl Kilodavis ISBN-13: 978-1442429888 Suggested Grade: One
Girls Hold Up This World Author: Jada Pinkett Smith ISBN-13: 978-0439087933 Suggested Grade: Two
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq Author: Jeanette Winter ISBN-13: 978-0152054458 Suggested Grade: Four
Daddy’s Roommate Author: Michael Willhoite ISBN-13: 978-1555831189 Suggested Grade: Three
Welcoming Babies Author: Margy Burns Knight ISBN-13: 978-0884481232 Suggested Grade: One
I Hate English! Author: Ellen Levine ISBN-13: 978-0590423045 Suggested Grade: Four
Our New Home: Immigrant Children Speak Author: Emily Hearn and Marywinn Milne ISBN-13: 978-1897187326 Suggested Grade: Six
I Am Latino: The Beauty in Me Author: Sandra L. Pinkney ISBN-13: 978-0316160094 Suggested Grade: Two
All the Colors We Are: Todos los colores de nuestra piel Author: Katie Kissinger ISBN-13: 978-0934140805 Suggested Grade: Three
