The curriculum in fourth grade's Room 302 this year will be assisted by our partnership with The Nora Project to support social-emotional learning in the classroom. The Nora Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach empathy by sparking friendships between students and their peers with disabilities. The organization teaches three essential questions that fourth graders will explore and engage with for a variety of lessons and activities.

1. Why is there no such thing as “normal?”
2. Why do we share our stories?
3. What does it mean to be a good friend?

Everyone experiences the world differently and has their own unique strengths and challenges. They are daughters and sons, brothers and sisters, actors and athletes and poets and advocates. They are not defined by their disabilities, but oftentimes their disabilities do impact the way they experience the world. It is helpful to understand this range of other possible experiences so that we can demonstrate empathy to all people. This also helps us recognize how our strengths and challenges compliment one another and allow us to work together to accomplish great things!