Category: Raising Allies

Allyship

Juneteenth Baskets (and Celebration Ideas!)

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Hey Loves!

One of my absolute favorite things about the culture of our house is that Black History and the celebration of Black people isn’t a day or a month. It’s literally every day.

So, I wanted to be sure to “kick it up a notch” for Juneteenth for a few reasons.

To know me is to know I love celebrating-the big, small and everything on between. I’m also big on traditions. It’s very VERY important that my kids see celebrations of Juneteenth just like they celebrations of Valentine’s Day or Halloween.

One of my favorite quotes is, “traditions make you remember” and I need them to remember the culture of home. Juneteenth helps by being tradition.

As my kids are getting older, they can absorb and comprehend so SO much I am so glad to educate, commemorate and celebrate all month long with these baskets.

Each basket contains:

DIY Pajamas: I ordered solid pajama short sets from Amazon and added patterned vinyl from my local vinyl shop.

DIY shirts: Using shirts from target, I added some vinyl to remind them that their joy is their birthright.

Craft kits- grabbing supplies from home and a craft store with some beads from our favorite jewelry designer, I put together a couple crafts. You can see the deets here.

Books- James got this one and Jude got this.

I also added a blank book for them to create a recipe book and awesome activity kits from Afrocentric Montessori.

I also created a word search for James. You can snag yours below.

Pennants- I designed these and you can grab yours below. Be sure to print in landscape!

JUNETEENTH WORD SEARCH FREE DOWNLOAD!
JUNETEENTH PENNANT FREE DOWNLOAD
Homeschool

Curriculum Picks, 21-22: Bible and Black History

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Hey Loves!

We are sliding into home of this curriculum picks series and with my two favorite subjects. 

Honestly, in our home, they aren’t subjects, they are foundations and pillars. Legit the first two reasons why we started homeschool and keep at it. The Word of God and the illustrious and rich history of our people are the very thread and fibers of our home, our lifestyle, our choices, actions… This list could go on forever but what I am trying to convey is that these items aren’t check marks or tasks, we involve ourselves in them in various ways all throughout the day in different ways. Below I will share some focuses and resources for this year.

For Bible, we are slowly switching gears. In the past we’ve learned about those wonderful bible stories and the great miracles of God. We have also learned some bible verses and scripture passages. We will also review them via podcasts, stories and recitation. We will also continue to learn verses and scripture as I truly believe it is armor.

Here’s the things, 2020 taught me different ways to “do it all” well. One of the ways was continuing the lovely and missional lessons from our church’s Kids curriculum. Y’all, I am so thankful I can say that my church is AWESOME and frankly, if it is ok for them to spend 1.5 hours once a week learning during church, why can’t we continue that during the week? Am I right?

We will also learn about bible subjects such as, what God’s word says about fear, the beatitudes, the Names of God and The Armor God. We will explore mini units from awesome creators like Color and Kindness and BabyDevotions. Will will review daily devotions together. I am so excited for how we are growing as a family in Christ and can’t wait for more! You can find the bible resources we love here.

Black History, for us, is 365. Yes, sometimes we will have a focus. For example James really wants to learn more about Serena Williams and Barack Obama. I also want James to practice presentations from Books and writing short stories so I definitely see some biography presentations in our future. 

My kids also love reading about Black History Figures and Events as bedtime stories or choose those books for individual reading time. They will choose books about certain figures to check out at the library. 
Our quest to absorb all we can about our history to improve our future is just innate. It is the culture of our home and learning and applying is not dependent on me teaching. For some great books to start with, click here.

Raising Allies

Diverse Book Round-Up: Leaders, Activists and Wave-Makers

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Hey Loves!

New Year, more book collabs! Lakeisha from Maya’s Book Nook and I have planned content out for the next six months to keep your book shelves and library hold lists diverse and interesting! For our first one of 2021, we are celebrating all things Activists, Change-Agents and Wave-Makers. With all of the historical first in our country, we are excited to share this book list! Don’t forget, all the books are linked to bookshop for purchase or library hold or you can find the complete list here.

A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara is a great way to both introduce and remind young readers of how everyone can act and help our world. It introduces terms such as democracy, feminist, and indigenous with diverse and captivating illustrations. It carries the theme that we must individually work for the greater good of all.

We March by Shane W. Evans tells the story of how protests lead to change. Starting from an early wake up, the story follows a family as they prepare to march. With their family, community and civil rights and religious leaders, the reader sees glimpses of the historic March on Washington for freedom. 

Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton and Raul Colón is centered around the Freedom Riders and their protest in Atlanta. This collection of short stories told from the child protagonists point of view follows a family returning back to the south to fight for equality and against the evils of Jim Crow and racism. 

Superheroes Are Everywhere by Madam Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris is full of examples of superheroes around us every day. Each page is filled with a special memory of Harris, a person who is a superhero to her and a prompt for the reader to recognize what those around them do. This book is great conversation starter for how your little one can be a superhero. The book ends with a superhero pledge because it is easier to be a superhero than you think.

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford tells the story of the incomparable Fannie Lou Hamer. From her childhood in Mississippi, being 1 of 20 children in sharecropping and seeing the harsh reality of inequity and her love of learning. The reader will be moved by the prose that explains her forced sterilization and all the hurdles she jumped through to be able to vote and register others.  This is very detailed and a little lengthy so it is suggested for older readers, age 8 and above.

Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi is a board book that features nine ways parents can raise their children to be antiracist. I’ve used this book as a baby shower gift since it was released. Not only do adults have to confront all of our biases, we have to be intentional when talking about race with little ones. As the research shows, it’s never too early to start the conversation.

Shirley Chisholm is a Verb by Veronica Chambers details the life of the most influential politicians, Shirley Chisholm. Not only was she the first Black woman in Congress, Chisholm was also the first to seek the Democratic nomination to be president. The vocabulary in this book is very rich and we had great conversations using verbs to describe our personalities after reading it. I love this one because it details her childhood and life prior to becoming a politician.

Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change by Robin Stevenson tells the stories of many of our favorite activists. I really like this one because often we hold these iconic figures to such a high regard, we forget that they were children at once. The stories told are extremely relatable and inspire both kids

Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Sáenz and the Great War by Duncan Tonatiuh told a story that was new to me. Although he was treated unfairly, Luz always fought for what was right. He was bullied as a child for being a Mexican American and many showed prejudices towards him as he got older. To show that Mexican Americans loved the U.S., Luz volunteered to join the army during World War I. Unfortunately, he was still discriminated against and did not receive recognition for many of his contributions. Luz responded by helping to start the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is the oldest Latinx civil rights organization, to fight for equality upon his return home from the war.

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom is a book we were introduced to last year on Earth Day. This powerful tribute to water demonstrates its life-sustaining importance. The metaphors in this book are beautifully illustrated. We Are Water Protectors is a call to action for us all.

Allyship

November Fun: Diverse Gratitude and Family Gathering Book Haul

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Hey Loves!


The dynamic duo strikes again! Lakeisha from Maya’s Book Nook and I really have a thing for quality diverse books and today we are sharing all the things we love about November! Gratitude, good food, and fun family time! I’ll be using these books all of November. You can use this Bookshop link conveniently to purchase or add these books to your library holds. Let’s get right into it.

Full, Full, Full of Love by Trish Cooke is a fun and easy read while helping littles learn patience when waiting for a family meal together. The protagonist waits with his grandma for what seems like an eternity for all of his family to arrive for a feast. The wait is hard but Grandma makes fun. It’s after a few helpings of dinner and yummy desserts, he realizes these times aren’t just about the food and it’s not just the food that fills everyone. Being together makes them full of love. 

Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes is the perfect addition to your poetry stash. This book of short poems is apt for the entire family, helping all focus on gratitude. Not only are the images diverse, the poems are diverse in abilities, soci-economic status, and gender. These poems cover gratitude for everything from nature, to neighbors to numbers. 

Gracias Thanks by Pat Mora is a lovely bilingual story that follows the protagonist, a little boy, through his day of showing gratitude for so much in his life. Written in English and Spanish, gratitude is shown for the poignant things like family, parents and nature but are done in a hilarious manner that’s enjoyable for all readers.

Feast For 10 by Cathryn Falwell is a little book packed with goodness. Although geared toward toddlers, my two still love this tale, counting from 1-10 all the ingredients for a family feast. Then, counting from 10-1, all the key ingredients that really matter, the soul in the food, the love that is shared and the people to share it with. 

My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith follows the happy heart of a little girl sharing all the things she delights in. They aren’t toys or material items but rather spending time with loved ones, being creative and cooking. The book inspires readers of all ages to focus on the intangible things all around them that could fill their heart with happiness. 

What is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack and April Harrison is one of the most touching books we’ve ever read.

Don’t Say a Word, Mama by Joe Hayes is a funny bilingual English-Spanish book that focuses on generosity. Two sisters, who love each other dearly, try to secretly out-give each other with the best gifts from their gardens. We love books with repeated lines and this one will have your little one yelling, “Don’t say a word, Mama!” 

I Am Thankful: A Thanksgiving Book for Kids by Sheri Wall was just released in August 2020. The rhyming text and vibrant illustrations follow several families and their holiday traditions. From visiting pumpkin patches to spending time with family near and far, watching parades, preparing special dishes, and serving the needy, this book is sure to get your family in the Thanksgiving spirit. I especially love that the author included several ways for little ones to show gratitude at the end of the book.

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp is an older book that contains a timeless message. Giving Thanks provides a model for how we should show our gratitude for all Mother Earth has provided us with; the water, stars, plants, animals, and more. This is a children’s version of the Thanksgiving Address, a traditional morning message of gratitude, that is still provided at Iroquois ceremonies.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora is not specifically about Thanksgiving, but it’s always seasonally appropriate to read a book about good food, generosity, and community. Omu, which means queen in Igbo (a Nigerian language), is cooking up a delicious stew that makes everyone in the neighborhood come knocking on her door. Maya was genuinely concerned when she realized Omu had given all of her stew away. You’ll have to read this one to find out what happens next!