Belonging in Lower School

Within the Lower School, we believe that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goes hand in hand with Social Emotional Learning

In Lower School, we follow the Responsive Classroom and the RULER approach to classroom management and teaching. Students learn to be kind, honest, empathetic and respectful towards one another. They learn to assert themselves appropriately in academic and social situations, to be responsible, and to develop empathy and self-control.

Responsive Classroom and RULER create the conditions for equity and a shared language around emotions by establishing a classroom and school community where all students feel a sense of belonging and significance.

Cultivating Global Citizens: Our Anti-Bias Curriculum

In line with Berkeley Carroll's passion for learning and its commitment to an equitable community, our Lower School curriculum is designed to help students understand themselves, respect others, and develop critical, ethical, and global thinking.

Building Community & Empathy

Students learn what it means to be part of a diverse community with varied perspectives and experiences. We use specific programs to build these skills:

Student Stories Curriculum: Helps students develop social skills, empathy, conflict resolution, and problem-solving through an anti-bias lens. Students learn to advocate for themselves and others by discussing relatable scenarios representing various aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Honoring Identity: We affirm all children by honoring aspects of identity that highlight the richness of human diversity, including:
- Racial and ethnic identity
- Gender identity and expression
- Sexuality
- Family structure

The Anti-Racist & Equity Curriculum

This curriculum provides a structured approach to exploring equity, social justice, and action. It develops a positive racial self-identity in our students and teaches them to affirm the identities of others.

A Spiraling Approach: The focus expands as students mature:
1. Self/Family: Beginning with personal identity.
2. School/Community: Moving outward to their local environment.
3. Society at Large: Eventually focusing on the broader world.
De-centering Whiteness: Even the youngest children learn through discussions and read-alouds (on topics like skin color and hair) that all people have a racial identity, ensuring whiteness is not seen as the "norm" or default.
Developing Critical Thinkers: Throughout Lower School, students learn to:
1. Explore concepts like race, racism, and bias (explicit and implicit).
2. Understand white privilege.
3. Distinguish between race, ethnicity, and nationality.
4. Analyze the difference between impact versus intent when discussing micro-aggressions.

Health, Gender, and Relationships

This part of the curriculum, also beginning in PreK, fosters respect for physical and personal differences.

Anatomy and Body Science: Students gain an age-appropriate, scientifically accurate understanding of body systems, physical characteristics, and how bodies change over time.
Personal Identity and Respect: Children are given opportunities to explore their own personal identity and develop respect for the identity of others, including different gender identities, family structures, and topics related to sexuality.

Diversity Interwoven Throughout Academics

Topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion are not limited to standalone lessons; they are integrated across the demanding curriculum, particularly in Social Studies and Language Arts:

PreK: Extensive study of families and various family structures.
Third Grade: Learning about the history and contemporary lives of Native American groups in the New York City area.
Fourth Grade: Studying historical and contemporary changemakers and activists while exploring the history of enslavement, the Great Migration, and current immigration.
Literature: Read-alouds and class books provide opportunities for reflection and empathy development—from affirming stories like Julián is a Mermaid to historical sagas like Heart and Soul.

Click here to learn more about belonging at Berkeley Carroll

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