Students Tackle Their Challenges Through a Story Slam

“All bodies have strengths and needs that must be met. We are powerful not despite the complexities of our bodies, but because of them.” – Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is Our People, A Disability Justice Primer, Second Edition.

5th graders held their annual Story Slam this week using this quote as inspiration. They brainstormed strengths they have, challenges they encounter, and supports they need to help them utilize their strengths and manage their challenges. Examples included one student who wrote about talking to family about anxiety before a sporting event, and another who spoke about ways they’ve learned to adapt their ADHD in order to get homework done on time.

After drafting their short stories, they received peer feedback with a partner, made revisions, planned and rehearsed telling their story with their partner, and finally shared their story with the rest of the class in a “story slam” event.