GIFTS

Words are Gifts

Tattered Books

Strewn on the table

as if discarded

books lay open

tired pages

crumpled pages

stained pages

with words from long ago

childrens’ voices

travellers’ voices

books kept for others to ‘see’.

Walking down the stairs after work yesterday was a worn wooden table holding a number of student created scrap books. Books that they travelled with from their home countries to Ellis Island. An annual fourth grade simulation that students live and are taught to live through the steps of the immigrants.

This year, the books looked exceptionally convincing. I’m grateful they are being shared with the rest of the school community.

Juliette Awua-Kyerematen's avatar

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Juliette Awua-Kyerematen

8 responses to “Tattered Books”

  1. mbhmaine Avatar
    mbhmaine

    This sounds like an amazing experience for students. If I’m reading this correctly, the kids created scrapbooks to share, documenting an immigrant experience? That sounds so engaging, and what a wonderful opportunity to fully embrace a different perspective!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Juliette Awua-Kyerematen Avatar
      Juliette Awua-Kyerematen

      Our fourth graders create scrapbooks that they take on their trip (simulation.) There are letters, stamps, diary entries, photographs and more.

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  2. Erika Avatar
    Erika

    Sounds like a project that the whole community can learn from!

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Radutti Avatar
    Radutti

    I can honestly see this so clearly in my mind. Soak it up, what an experience you create for kids. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Stacey Shubitz Avatar
    Stacey Shubitz

    This is a fantastic experience for your students.

    This reminded me of something… My grandfather came through Ellis Island in 1921. We found the ship manifest several years ago. It was fascinating to see his name on it. It’s amazing what exists in the archives.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Stacey Shubitz Avatar
    Stacey Shubitz

    This is a fantastic experience for your students.

    This reminded me of something… My grandfather came through Ellis Island in 1921. We found the ship manifest several years ago. It was fascinating to see his name on it. It’s amazing what exists in the archives.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Melanie White Avatar
    Melanie White

    Your poetic description drew me into the experience before I even knew this was a constructed lesson for students – experiencing history leaves students with a physical and emotional experience rather than just facts and information and your narrative demonstrates the power of this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Donnetta Norris Avatar
    Donnetta Norris

    I love this idea so much.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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About Me

I am an Elementary school teacher , I taught at an International IB School in Accra, Ghana. I am now teaching in Hanoi. Writing is my passion and I try to write daily, at least in my sentence a day journal, to capture all the blessings around me. I write with groups of writers, such as Teach Write and sometimes Ethical ELA. I also encourage my friends to write , so I created a platform to make that possible -Writing Run.

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