What Might You Do?

“I tend to be drawn into stories that deal with very honest, real topics that allow parents and children to process the world together. Children live in the same world we live in, and I think they appreciate stories that include them in the conversation.”
~Christian Robinson

Dear FJECC Families, 

On Friday, March 17th the FJECC staff had a glorious day visiting the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. We experienced first-hand all that the museum offers - in particular a deep respect for the art of children’s books that is manifested throughout the building. By art I mean the illustrations, of course, and also the art of storytelling - whether in words or pictures or both. This was evident as we toured the gallery in which the illustrator Christian Robinson was on display, in an exhibit called, “What Might You Do?” It was evident as we sat in the art studio and used the materials there to make our own stationery. It was also evident as we participated in a 3-hour workshop on race and representation in children’s books.

All week long, I have been thinking about our day at the museum, why it was so meaningful - and the different ways in which we each made meaning of the experience. I cannot do justice in my own words to the impact of this experience on our staff. Teachers have expressed gratitude for the time to view art, for the respectful learning about race and literature, for the gift of choosing a book for the school’s library. I have tried to capture what we did and saw and heard and learned. Take a moment to look at the documentation on the bulletin boards in the school hallway. Look at the photos of your teachers learning - and your teacher’s learning. Ask your child’s teachers about what they took away from the day. Ask them about the book they chose for the library. Ask them what questions they have. Help us make this learning visible for each other, for the children. 

OH! And the weekend of art-making with Hanoch Piven! I'll save that for another day. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Amy