Elementary Students Learn Power of Words During Black History Month in Edwardsville

EDWARDSVILLE - Woodland Elementary School students commemorated Black History Month by creating a wall of important words.

Every morning, the school comes together to recite their “Bobcats on the Prowl” motto and start the day on a positive note. Last week, Principal Andy Williams and Assistant Principal Alicia Hiller read “Martin’s Big Words” to the students to teach about Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and speeches. The students put together a display of important words, including concepts like “respect” and “equality,” to remind each other of these ideas.

“We try to direct their focus to positivity and making good choices and doing the right thing,” explained Williams. “Those words are very powerful. We try to stress, during Black History Month, the power of words through the context of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his efforts to work toward desegregation and those important aspects of being a community.”

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The students could choose any word to write on a piece of paper and decorate however they wanted. Then, these papers were put together in the shape of a brick wall and sealed behind glass, so students can remember the important words as they walk the hallways every day.

Williams and Hiller hope the display reminds students of their values. They encourage students to think about how these words relate to them.

Williams also noted that students chose different concepts to highlight. Staff members at Woodland use the display to “challenge [students] to think more deeply about the words that they use and their importance.”

The school hopes to build up students who are confident and kind in their words and actions. Their goal as teachers and administrators is to help their students become well-educated individuals as well as engaged, thoughtful community members. The Black History Month celebration and display is an example of this work.

“We have just such a wide variety of students here that we serve, and I think it’s important for us to meet those students where they’re at and help support them to have a meaningful educational experience regardless of where we’re meeting them,” Williams added. “We hope to provide a well-rounded education for every student that we serve.”

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