The We Are America Project is working with teachers and young people across the country to define what it means to be American — and to spark a new national conversation about American identity today led by the next generation.
This book was created in partnership with Jessica Lander, an EL teacher and journalist from Massachusetts. She received a large grant to put together a curriculum and offer teachers from each state to apply for the project. Students and teachers worked on the curriculum throughout the year. Teachers can also hire a photographer or take professional pictures themselves. ( I did the pictures myself, since I am also a photographer) Teachers act as editors and put together the stories to publish. Then teachers submit their photos and stories to The We Are America Project Team to have the book published. The team then sends the teacher 100 copies of the book to sell and distribute throughout the community. Some books are sold to help fund next year's project, since teachers will only receive free copies from the Team for one year, but are welcomed to continue to use the curriculum. Students involved also receive 2 free copies of their book.
In addition, students record themselves reading the stories and submit the audio to the team so that they can feature the audio stories on their website.
My class was the first in our state to produce a book for the project, as well as among one of the first states in the nation to contribute.
My Students wrote about a challenge they had in their lives to help amplify student voices. Topics in the book include friendship, suicide, racism, a new culture, body image and family. The book was created in my Partnership for New Americans class, that partners New Americans with students who were born in the US. Curriculum from 'The We Are America Project' was provided and students explored many topics through writing and other activities related to identity.
The hard copy of the book is For Sale now! All proceeds go back into the project for students to create the book each year. Email me in the comments section if interested.
here is the link to the audio of my students reading their stories (with photos that I took for each student):
https://www.weareamericaproject.com/school/fargo-south-high
This book was created in partnership with Jessica Lander, an EL teacher and journalist from Massachusetts. She received a large grant to put together a curriculum and offer teachers from each state to apply for the project. Students and teachers worked on the curriculum throughout the year. Teachers can also hire a photographer or take professional pictures themselves. ( I did the pictures myself, since I am also a photographer) Teachers act as editors and put together the stories to publish. Then teachers submit their photos and stories to The We Are America Project Team to have the book published. The team then sends the teacher 100 copies of the book to sell and distribute throughout the community. Some books are sold to help fund next year's project, since teachers will only receive free copies from the Team for one year, but are welcomed to continue to use the curriculum. Students involved also receive 2 free copies of their book.
In addition, students record themselves reading the stories and submit the audio to the team so that they can feature the audio stories on their website.
My class was the first in our state to produce a book for the project, as well as among one of the first states in the nation to contribute.
My Students wrote about a challenge they had in their lives to help amplify student voices. Topics in the book include friendship, suicide, racism, a new culture, body image and family. The book was created in my Partnership for New Americans class, that partners New Americans with students who were born in the US. Curriculum from 'The We Are America Project' was provided and students explored many topics through writing and other activities related to identity.
The hard copy of the book is For Sale now! All proceeds go back into the project for students to create the book each year. Email me in the comments section if interested.
here is the link to the audio of my students reading their stories (with photos that I took for each student):
https://www.weareamericaproject.com/school/fargo-south-high