Diverse Books and Schooling

Is This Curriculum Secular?

Absolutely! This is a secular curriculum, no questions there. However, I do invite those with religious beliefs to learn, as well. All curriculum has representation of different religious beliefs in characters through stories, as well as cultural practices that may look different from your own. When we explore inclusive and diverse voices in literature, we expand our empathy and understanding for global culture. You will find, especially in curricula made for 3rd grade and beyond, LGBTQIA+ characters, living life and sharing their stories. All races are welcome and shown throughout Diverse Books and Schooling curricula.

Stance on AI?

I don’t use AI personally, and don’t agree with folks using it for generative purposes like flyers, art work, website design, etc. Although I know it is an assistive tool in other ways, I do not utilize generative AI knowingly in anything I produce, and actively take steps to avoid it.

How do I know which level of Compassionate curricula to choose for my learner?

Compassionate Play is for learners who enjoy bite sized lessons with play involved, a picture book selection, and caregiver focused lesson chat. It is intended for Pre-K/K, or reluctant learners that are a bit older.

Compassionate Kids has two levels, explained more in depth on the Compassionate Kids curriculum page, however, Chromatic level is roughly intended for K-3rd learners. This is a wide range, however, there are accommodations such as scribing and removal of certain book elements that can lessen the load for younger learners who want to benefit from the full curriculum. You may remove the Growing Feelings spine for younger learners, as well as scribing throughout to allow their brain to focus more on the content of the lesson, not formation of writing.

The Prismatic level is for 3rd-7th grade roughly. I suggest looking at each book description to see if they are a fit for your learner, but many of the featured books are graphic novels, and popular stories that kids are loving! Prismatic level learners may find that one of the spines, Big Feelings Little Feelings, is below them, if they are doing this at a middle school range age. I provide alternate spine suggestions for spines within the Instructor Guide.

Compassionate Teens will be for 8th grade and beyond. This is going to be a heavy content curriculum with mental health and social support at the forefront, as well as emotional support specifically for teen scenarios. You can find more on the topics on the Compassionate Teens curriculum page.

Why Are You Doing This For Free?

Let’s get personal for a minute. I was a child without much social emotional or mental health support, beyond what was fed to me at public school and churches on “character” and “giving” these thoughts to a creator.

Learners, regardless of religious choices, deserve to know what their feelings are and how to regulate them, how to be tolerant and inclusive of others around them, and how to be a supportive friend. Income should not get in the way of learners being able to understand themselves. While I appreciate and welcome donations, small and large, I truly love when folks grab this for free and are able to use their well earned money on other resources and keeping their family comfortable.

What are your credentials?

I graduated with an Elementary and Early Education degree from Glenville State College (University) in WV. I spent a few years in a K-1 classroom in a very impoverished area of WV, which tested me emotionally in many ways, but enriched my life tremendously. After moving to New England, I spent some time in Early Childhood Centers before my oldest came into the world. Since then, I’ve been continuing my self education and focusing on educating my learners at home, meeting our sensory needs, and attending years of therapy sessions for myself, and my learners, too.

Any lessons or knowledge I impart in the lessons themselves are anecdotal, meaning they’re just my story or words put into ways learners can understand. All academic lessons have backing videos and books from professionals in their field. I do not take sharing information about social and emotional learning, or mental health lightly. I have loads of lived experience, with thousands of books read in my life, but curricula shouldn’t be built on that alone. Lived experience is a phenomenal teacher, but sometimes you need to know the science and academic connections behind it all!

Do You Really Read All Of Those Books?

Sure do! I spend my free time with my nose in a book, practicing yoga and mindfulness, or creating. We are a literature heavy home, so many books that I share have been read with my learners or are going directly to our 2k+ book home library. I read digitally often to decide if a book will work for content I am currently teaching, so you will often see digital representations of books, too.