March is Women’s History Month! It provides 31 days that we, as a society, can celebrate and explore the important ways women and girls can contribute to and shape the world they inhabit. As early childhood educators, it is important to instill in all children feelings of importance and empowerment. One way we do this is by offering past examples of individuals in which children can recognize parts of themselves.
Newport Children’s Academy has come up with some exciting ways help students recognize the important contributions women have made. Throughout the school, there are several bulletin boards and hallway decorations celebrating influential and important women. These displays provide opportunities for children to see and recognize that women have a prominent role in the world.
Several classrooms are using literacy and storytime to feature books with influential female authors, diverse female protagonists, and inspiring messages. One preschool classroom is specifically focussing on Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boigers’ “She Persisted.” Students are learning all about the thirteen inspiring women featured in the book. The class has also been watching videos of the olympic athletes featured in the sequel, “She Persisted in Sports.” A Pre-K classroom of 4-year olds is using review time to talk about one woman each day whose contributions to society and culture can be appreciated by our young students.
