Part of My Heart: A Book that's Meant-To-Be

How can I reach teachers, students, and caretakers all at once, I wondered? This is the question I had after realizing that there's a need in the educational world for culturally authentic literature to support children who learn differently.

After nineteen years of teaching and about two years working as an instructional coach, I began looking for resources to support elementary students for whom English is not native. It surprised me that the list of children's books with home language features was so limited. At that moment, a spark from ten years prior was ignited.

Around 2010, inspired by the birth of my son, I started writing and illustrating children's books. For years, the stories were at rest in a thumb drive in a drawer. The watercolor illustrations once full of hope and opportunity, were neatly sandwiched between papers in a folder in a school room cabinet.

In 2021 during the weeks following the passing of my grandmother, a strange thing happened. My aunt called for a thumb drive with family photos for the funeral program. Since I was nearby, I searched a nearby drawer for the keychain with multiple thumb drives linked to it and headed off to meet my family members. After the drive was inserted into the mortuary's computer, images and files appeared one by one. As the photos popped up, I couldn't help but notice the titles of the document files on the screen. They were titles of books I had written ten years prior!

Was that a confirmation to my new dilemma? Should I revise my books and publish them to fill the void I've uncovered in my profession? I thought yes and began making plans. I reread each story I had written. Which story would reach teachers, students, and their caregivers? I chose one and revised it through the lens of a student who needs a teacher or caregiver who can differentiate instruction to support their social emotional, cultural, and educational needs.

Part of Me: Fractions at Reach is that book of less than one thousand words that builds a student's self-confidence, challenges a teacher to find unique ways to support students through culture, and brings practicality into home support of academics. Every time someone reads the book, they find at least one part that resonates with them. Some see themselves in the struggle of the student character, while others reflect on the teacher who made a positive impact in their educational journey. Others ask, "Where was this book when I was growing up?" They see the benefits of a story where a child can express their inner conflict while be seen and validated. We need more stories like this. I plan to write them.

What life-changing ideas have you sat on for years?