Borders to Bridges is designed to promote dialogue in schools and communities by engendering deeper understanding and discussion about the issue of immigration to counter the myths, bullying, and fears that negatively affect our learning institutions. The Guidebook contains practical lesson plans, narratives, poetry, mixed media artwork and resources for K-12 educators to enrich learning and engage students about issues that touch their lives and communities. Contributors include world-renowned educators, poets, artists, and writers from 32 countries and 15 states of the U.S.

Borders to Bridges:Creativity-Based Immigration Curriculum Guidebook K-12:

  • promotes dialogue in schools and communities;
  • presents more than 50 practical K-12 lesson plans for interdisciplinary connections
  • written by experienced educators;
  • contains sections on Poetry, Prose and Short Fiction, and inspirational Personal Narratives to be used with lesson plans;
  • engages students with project ideas and activities using interview techniques, roleplay, creative writing, economic analysis, scientific exploration, historical and political research, mural painting, service learning, music, dance, and graphic arts;
  • provides ideas for sharing information in community performances, exhibitions, and art displays, and on public access television and social media;
  • connects with up-to-date resource lists of news articles, teacher guides, arts resources (books, films, videos, music, photography, media interviews), and service organizations working to further immigrant and human rights.

See the Lesson Plan Summaries at: Focus on Immigration Education and Stories Through the Arts (FIESTA). For more information contact: lynnditchfield@gmail.com.

Why Design a Pilot Model on Martha’s Vineyard?

In three of our seven MV schools, approximately one half of the student population are raised in bilingual/bicultural households, either as recent immigrants enrolled in the English Language Learners (ELL) program, graduates of the ELL program, immigrant children never enrolled in ELL, or children born in the US who have one or both parents or caregivers who are immigrants. There are also a significant number of immigrants and newly arrived immigrants in two of the three other schools. There have been many positive changes in island economics, healthcare, business and culture as a consequence of the population shifts over the past thirty years. However, there have also been considerable difficulties, and incidences of prejudice, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and hate which have been magnified by our current political climate and are reflected in schools. Educators are at the center of the crossroads (see Statement of Purpose of Borders to Bridges: Creativity-Based Immigration Curriculum Guidebook). The issues of immigration surround teachers daily. Because they are intimately connected to community through their students, they are also equipped to deal sensitively with these issues despite challenges, stresses and difficulties encountered in relation to administration, to parents, to community. The pilot program does not impose an additional obligation for teachers. It provides creative ways for teachers to enhance their curriculum while exploring the issues of immigration in depth, with support led by teacher facilitators.