At Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School, learning goes far beyond the classroom. As part of their Wonder unit, fourth grade students explored themes of kindness, empathy, inclusion, and understanding through meaningful conversations and personal stories shared by guests with a wide range of disab ilities and experiences. Based on the beloved novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio, the unit follows the story of Auggie Pullman, a child with a facial difference navigating school for the first time after being homeschooled. Throughout the story, students see how kindness, courage, and acceptance can shape not only one person’s experience, but an entire community. One of the students’ most memorable visits came from Mrs. Erin Richmond and her four-year-old son, Macon, both of whom have Treacher-Collins syndrome. Mrs. Richmond spoke candidly about her journey – from the surprise her parents experienced when she was born to later becoming a mother herself and raising a child with the same condition, along with two older children who do not have it. She shared how her parents always encouraged her to believe she could become anyone she wanted, regardless of her facial difference. Mrs. Richmond has undergone more than 50 surgeries, while Macon has already had three. But beyond her medical experiences, students quickly connected with them in the most relatable of ways. Mrs. Richmond talked about her love for the Baltimore Orioles, Ravens, the musical Wicked, her favorite colors – green and yellow – and her love for animals, while Macon shared his enthusiasm for cars, monster trucks, music, and preschool. The students were excited to realize just how much they had in common. That message became one of the most meaningful takeaways from the unit – that the things that connect us are often far greater than the things that make us different. Fourth graders also welcomed a local Federal Disability Judge who determines whether individuals qualify to receive government disability benefits. The students learned that judges like this listen to testimony, review evidence, and make decisions that can deeply impact people’s lives. The judge also spoke about some of the disabilities that they encounter in the courtroom, including mental health challenges, chronic pain, and physical and cognitive disabilities. Additional guest speakers included adults with hearing loss, vision loss, limb differences, spina bifida, and hypophosphatasia – a rare genetic condition that affects bone strength – as well as a teenager with Down syndrome. At Beth Tfiloh, in addition to academic subjects, students are taught derech eretz – treating others with kindness, dignity, and respect. Through experiences like the Wonder unit, students learn what it means to lead with compassion, empathy, and integrity. The lessons from the Wonder unit will stay with students long after the classroom discussions end. More than anything, these experiences reminded students just how powerful kindness can be, especially when people take the time to truly see and understand one another. ...read more read less