2021 Elementary Working Group Meetings

August 24th, 2021

The Elementary working group gathered for the first time to dream and plan for how they’d establish and expand their newly launched working group. During this time, the 3rd-5th grade educators found common interest in having a subgroup for bilingual education resources and started to think about their goals and structure. 

October 5, 2021

During their October meeting, the Elementary working group became reacquainted through structured reflection about the school year so far, sharing their successes, challenges, and intentions moving forward. It’s been a tough academic year to date, most educators communicating this year has been tougher than the 2020-2021 school year. From there, working group members spent time drafting the language of their mission statement to be used in the announcement inviting more D.C. area social justice elementary school educators to apply to join the group. 

November 16, 2021

For their November meeting, the Elementary working group began with teacher leaders Hannah Halpern and Raphael Bonhomme sharing their vision of the group’s structure. They proposed subgroups that are dedicated to encouraging wellness, sharing knowledge, and building resources for the wider group. The working group members that were present then signed up to serve in these subgroups and started planning. From there, the group spent time sharing and providing feedback on lessons and resources on teaching Thanksgiving and founding myths from a people’s lens--specifically from the perspective of Indigenous people.