Modern children's books help families explore diversity". CNN. 8 March 2012 . Retrieved 2 May 2013. DC School District Restores Gay-Themed Titles to Summer Reading Lists". SLJ . Retrieved 2 May 2013. Family Portrait –I love this simple family portrait craft because no matter how old your child or students are, they can participate. How can you teach tolerance and the bringing of a community together as one, but make it quite clear that certain types of people are not welcome in that community? Tags: banned bullying censorship education Erie gay Illinois lesbian Parenting schools The Family Book Todd Parr•

This book is censored because it refers to same sex parents. The book talks about how some families can have two moms or two dads. I think this should not be censored. This book is about students understanding what different families can look like. By not teaching students this, you do not allow them to understand not every family has to nor does look just like their own family. Also, singling out this book as censored because it refers to same sex parental families is demeaning. Whether you censor the book or not, children will still come from homes with parents of the same sex. If we do not allow students to hear at a young age that families can look differently, we do not give them the opportunity to understand just because someones family is different than ours does not mean they should be treated as any less than our own family. It’s probably a bit of a misrepresentation to say that it’s just a few parents who have a concern when in fact, at the end of the day, it was a school board representing the views, values and philosophies of a community that really made the decision,” said Cox. “I think our community has very clearly said if those topics come up with 6-year-olds or 7-year-olds that they would rather have those topics discussed at home. We’re still going to teach tolerance, we’re still going to teach diversity.” Todd Parr's The Family Book is a great way to share the differences of families to children. The book goes through a number of different family dynamics, from adopted children to same sex parents. There are colorful illustrations that engage early readers to the more advanced.

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Cox says that the curriculum will not be changed, only the materials that will be used to teach the students; but the district’s policy from this point on states, according to Cox, that under no circumstances will topics involving alternative lifestyles be discussed at the elementary level. A joyous picture book about the importance of family and all of the strength it can give you.The message is subtle, but it's a crucial one: every family is special and the only thing that matters is love. Not only that, but if you feel like your family stands out, then don't– there are so many different sorts of families out there that the "normal" family doesn't really exist. Self-Portraits can be very useful when learning about families. Who are you in your family? Students can make themselves or a family member. But Superintendent Cox claims he was only listening to the voice of his community. Unfortunately, yet again, the heated mob-mentality of a few, fueled by emotion rather than reason, has dictated policy for the many. Shape House– this shape lesson and art project is a beautiful way to talk about homes and families.

In a whimsical, engaging way, the daily lives of all kinds of families are depicted, celebrating their differences and their similarities; and supporting acceptance of them all.House numbers ( FREE printable) – This math activity asks children to count the homes on the card and then clip the correct digit. Controversial Decision in Erie Gathering National Attention". WQAD 8. 5 June 2012 . Retrieved 2 May 2013.

This reassuring idea is played out in a fun, vivid way that gives you plenty to giggle about. The pop-art illustrations show both human and animal family life. There are adoptive families, step families, families with two mums or two dads, noisy dog families and a single bird parent looking after its nest. Parr even shows you families without children, which is a sweet and modern touch. There are 'families [who] look like their pets' (cue two adults who look just like their pet poodle) and 'families [who] like to be quiet' (see the woman curled up on the sofa with her cat). It's a book to make you all laugh, as well as aid emotional development and allay any fears. Brookhart said that the censoring of these materials, which have been proven effective in schools nationwide in combating bullying, would hurt the progress they have made at the local level. The joyful art features both human and animal characters- such as pigs portraying both clean and dirty families. Some families include stepmoms, stepdads, stepsisters, or stepbrothers; some adopt children; other families have two moms or two dads, while some children have only one parent.My class is learning all about families right now, and I wanted to share some of the activities we are exploring. This book is one of my favorites for exploring families, and this year, as I teach over zoom, it is especially well suited for reading over zoom. This family-themed circle time activity is one of my favorites and it helps to show children how unique every family is while working on counting. Many of these activities work well in class, but some are perfect for at-home during remote learning too. Simple enough for any family to do on any budget. Have fun exploring these preschool activities for The Family Book by Todd Parr.