The Fairport Central School District welcomed members of the Fairport community, March 8, to attend a virtual presentation on local history as an introduction to new units and texts that students will experience this year and next as part of the new culturally responsive curriculum. The curriculum is part of Fairport’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and fits into New York State Learning Standards, particularly in the areas of Social Studies and English Language Arts.
The presentation was led by two of the 4th grade unit developers, Gabrielle Brannigan, a seventh and eighth grade social studies teacher in the West Irondequoit CSD, and Shane Wiegand, a fourth grade teacher in the Rush-Henrietta CSD. The unit is designed to be presented over the course of five instructional days, but will be tailored to meet the needs of the teacher and students.
The 4th grade unit was developed as an examination of racially restrictive housing practices in Monroe County and beyond, and seeks to illustrate how those practices – and how the local figures who resisted those practices – have shaped the racial, economic and societal map of present-day Monroe County.The fourth-grade curriculum unit is designed to be investigative and inquiry-based. It calls on students to explore primary historical sources and figures, and to interrogate and interpret these sources. The developmentally-appropriate primary sources include local records, newspaper articles, maps, advertisements and charts. Lessons within the unit are designed to encourage positive and honest interactions with other students and instructors.
Fairport CSD’s Director of Humanities Ellen Reed outlined how the curriculums and new texts fit into New York State’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Framework, which requires districts to provide a welcoming and affirming environment with high expectations and inclusive curriculum and assessment. Fairport introduced “read aloud” books at grades K to 5 and new novels that are being utilized at grades 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11.
Other projects include the development of units of study aligned to the NYSED Social Studies Framework at 8th, 11th and 12th grades. Common learning experiences will be developed through a collaborative project with other Monroe County schools called Race, Identity and Inequities Units of Study Project.
Fairport also shared about the ongoing implementation of Restorative Practices. Restorative Practices promote welcoming and affirming school environments by strengthening school communities and managing conflicts by building relationships and repairing harm.