There are some interesting leaves sprouting from an oak tree on the campus of Sterling School in Greenville\u2019s Nicholtown neighborhood.<\/p>\n
On May 9, about 50 elementary students, teachers, administrators, police officers and other community members gathered outside the school to commemorate their very own \u201cwish tree.\u201d Tied onto branches with bright blue and yellow ribbons, handwritten wishes, hopes and dreams became the tree\u2019s new foliage.<\/p>\n
Leading the charge was Sterling third-grade teacher Kimberly Anderson \u201915 who earned her master\u2019s in school leadership from Furman. \u201cI fell in love with this area and I wanted to find ways to connect myself and my classroom to this beautiful community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Anderson\u2019s class is also contributing to an upcoming book by Furman education professor Katie Kelly tentatively titled, \u201cReading to Make a Difference: Literature to Help Students Speak Freely, Think Deeply and Take Action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published by Heinemann and coauthored by noted Asheville, North Carolina, education consultant and writer Lester L. Laminack, the book includes a chapter titled \u201cUnlikely Friends.\u201d The chapter explores creating relationships with people who have differing backgrounds, staying open to new friendships, and making connections to strengthen individuals and communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I introduced the unlikely friends topic to the class and let my kids know their input would be used in the book, they were thrilled and anxious to get to work,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n
To prime the class on the subject, Anderson checked out a \u201cton of books\u201d from the library for self-selected reading time. Then she waited and watched. Like moths to light, the children gravitated to titles dealing with bridging gaps between race and culture, accepting and befriending those who look different, and creating bonds with people of varying ages.<\/p>\n
One of the books offered was \u201cWishtree\u201d by Katherine Applegate. In it, a wise oak, \u201cRed,\u201d teaches lessons about loving, accepting and appreciating others \u2013 the inspiration for Sterling\u2019s wish tree.<\/p>\n
Anderson\u2019s desire to create tightknit classroom and community relationships was celebrated with the May wish tree event. A film crew from New Hampshire-based Heinemann was onsite to capture footage of Kelly\u2019s and Laminack\u2019s discussions with children and teachers at Sterling.<\/p>\n
The crew also filmed the wish tree ceremony, which, like in the namesake book, will happen every year on the first of May at Sterling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want my students to always believe in themselves and believe they can make a difference in their community and the world,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cHaving our own wish tree will be a constant reminder that our dreams really can come true.\u201d<\/p>\n